This designer had to turn a blank canvas Brooklyn townhouse into a vibrant mid-century style family home that felt like an escape from the city

The owners of this recently constructed family home had fallen in love with the property on its quiet, tree-lined street in a family-friendly area of Brooklyn, New York City. As lovers of the outdoors, the enclosed backyard was a big bonus.

The house itself was a bit of a blank canvas, however, and they were looking for ways to personalize and add warmth and create a comfortable family home for them and their new baby.

With the help of interior designer Lucy Harris, the home now has a coherent and harmonious look and feel, with a mid-century modern style. 'The clients' must-haves were seamless transitions from the interior to the exterior, super durable pieces that would work well with a young child, and a light and bright color scheme,' says Lucy. 'The overall feeling they wanted was a natural-feeling oasis in the city. '

Take the tour to discover how designer Lucy brought style and flow to this special home, and married interior and exterior design.

Part entryway, part mudroom, with its custom millwork for shoes and coats, this colorful tiled space just inside the front door sets the scene beautifully.

'We wanted to create something that felt cool and eclectic and reflected their hip Brooklyn neighborhood while still being very practical for their young family,' says Lucy, who was upfront about her intentions from the off.

The custom tile floor pattern uses tile from Heath Ceramics. 'Bright blues and golds make a fun, welcoming statement upon entering the home. The oak built-ins were accessorized with a natural-feeling leather mail/key holder from Lostine, and a simple half-moon mirror from Bower,' adds Lucy.

Since the house was a new-build, the kitchen had only just been installed. While the cabinets and layout might not have been what the new owners would have chosen if they had been starting from scratch, they were elegant and good quality. Lucy also came up with some easy fixes to give the space character and an instant lift. The results help to tie it in with the oasis aesthetic in the home as a whole.

'The kitchen was left mostly as-is,' says Lucy, 'but rattan counter stools from Stahl and Band were used to bring in a natural material, and green pendants from In Common With were used to tie in the green color scheme of the dining area.'

'The project was a great experience in terms of creating an atmosphere that is casual and inviting, while still interesting and cool,' says designer Lucy. This eat-in kitchen area epitomizes that approach, and besides the revamped entry is the most dramatic of all her alterations.

To seat as many people as possible in this corner nook, Lucy designed custom banquette seating using a deep green wool boucle fabric from Tibor, adding various shades of green to tie the space into the leafy street view.

'A brass fixture from Apparatus introduced a textured patina. A table from Yucca Stuff was made to custom dimensions, and its solid wood top can be refinished in a few years, if needed. Tre 3 chairs by Angelo Mangiarotti were selected to add warmth, and the caramel color also gives them a vintage feel,' adds Lucy.

Lucy's living room ideas were to create a space that felt 'casual, peaceful and fresh, using a mostly serene palette with touches of earthy vibrancy'. Pieces from small-scale makers and fabricators furnish the room, as well as vintage and contemporary designs to create a unique blend.

'The star here is the colorful area rug by Christopher Farr, an original design by Bauhaus textile designer Gunta Stölzl that ties in the colors in the living room and from around the whole house,' says the designer. 'The soft and inviting sofa is from Poiat. We contrasted the geometric rug with an organic-shaped coffee table in the style of Paul Frankl.'

On the opposite side of the living room, is a comfortable reading area with the Ojai chair from Lawson Fenning in leather, a material used frequently throughout the house and which references the mid-century modern inspiration behind much of this project.

'The Miniforms Soda glass side table incorporates a different materiality,' says Lucy. 'The millwork, designed by us, displays the homeowner’s vintage objects and gives the space that warmth and personality that had originally been missing in the new build.'

There's a strong link between the outside and inside spaces in this modern townhouse, perfect for a family who loves the outdoors. Inside, it's the abundance of large house plants and earthy and fresh green color palettes that create the connection. Outside, it's the inviting balcony dining space with steps down to the enclosed garden that offers up an outside room.

The backyard was designed by landscape designer Michael Cafiero, a friend of the homeowners. Furniture includes classics like the Fermob Luxembourg chairs and the Croft House dining table, which was customized to be extra narrow on the tight terrace.

In the family room, there's a slight change of pace and palette, as Lucy explains. 'Deep blues and rich, rusty oranges contrast each other to create an inviting and comfortable space. Patterns are mixed to create a warm and casual feel.'

The rug is a custom design collaboration between Lucy Harris and Carini. The ottoman is also custom, mixing wool and leather, and the Albarese sofa by DePadova is generous and comfortable. There's even space for a small home gym adjacent to the outdoor terrace.

Tough peleton sessions in the home gym are made much more enjoyable with this leafy view from the family room. Sliding glass doors open onto the landscaped modern backyard where, says Lucy, 'there are multiple areas for enjoying nature in the urban environment', a precious thing in a New York City home.

As a fresh contrast with the cedar decking, durable Hay chairs were used on the back lawn, continuing with the verdant green theme.

'In the primary bedroom we created a backdrop that was colorful and interesting as well as serene and relaxing,' says Lucy. 'The palette is mostly pastels, with a few moments of vibrancy.'

Some of the notable items include the walnut nightstand by Hedge House, scalloped sconce by Nickey Kehoe and colorful quilt by Thompson Street Studio.

'A subtle patterned wallpaper by Rebecca Atwood adds another layer of texture while the Caroline Z Hurley drapes infuse a bit of quirkiness. The painting above the bed is by Bryce Anderson, courtesy of Uprise Art,' adds Lucy.

The owners are avid hikers who spend a lot of time out West, so they chose a fun desert theme for the nursery.

'Playful and geometric patterns were mixed to create a space that felt vibrant and fun, while natural materials helped maintain an overall sophisticated feel,' says Lucy. 'Cactus wallpaper in a neutral shade gives warmth and interest without overwhelming the room and a terracotta-colored Kartell Componibili mimics the colors of desert rocks.'

Pops of cactus green are found in the Rebecca Atwood-fabric drapery and in art collected by the clients from Mexico. The Dream rug with child-like shapes by Minna adds soft texture.

The owners also wanted a dedicated guest bedroom for their nieces and nephews who visit often.

The mix of natural beiges, oranges, and browns continues into this space, with a second walnut nightstand from Hedge House, and a rug from Nordic Knots. Vibrant greens and blues were also carried through with the Room & Board bed and the Rebecca Atwood-fabric for the drapery.

From the ground-level family room with its lush green view of the backyard right up to this bright and breezy fourth-floor guest room, this modern townhouse has been transformed. Designer Lucy Harris has steered it from blank canvas builder's spec finishes, to a soulful city oasis, full of characterful touches and stylish updates.

Interior design: Lucy Harris Studio
Photos: Brian W. Ferry
Styling: Katja Greeff