Designer Chelsea Frommer and her spouse acquired a four-story brownstone in Jersey City's historic Hamilton Park neighborhood in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Frommer, founder of Rose + Co Interiors, recognized the property's potential despite requiring extensive renovation. Their goal was to convert the existing four-family home into two units: a triplex for their family and a one-bedroom rental unit on the garden level. The renovation faced challenges due to the pandemic, including high costs and material backorders, requiring Frommer to be resourceful with readily available materials.
Purchased with a vision to honor its 1885 origins, the renovation prioritized preserving historical elements. Features like dog-ear molding, plaster crowns, a grand staircase, and a marble fireplace mantel were meticulously saved and restored. Even the original wide-plank pine subfloors were retained, bleached, and whitewashed to remove their orange tint. The family moved into the house in May 2021 and now, with three children and a Bernedoodle, they appreciate Jersey City's family-friendly environment and its proximity to Manhattan for commutes. The home's design expertly blends high-end and cost-effective items, creating a space that marries sleek modern elements with traditional pieces and antiques, bridging past and present.
Other historical renovations have also embraced similar philosophies. For instance, in Milwaukee, a limestone Tudor from the 1890s underwent a two-decade-long renovation by Deep River Partners across three owners, transforming an inefficient, mostly original kitchen into a spacious, semi-professional kitchen with gleaming white cabinets while integrating historical details. In Philadelphia, an 1860s home on the city's historical registry was reimagined, requiring strict adherence to preservation codes for exterior changes and the retention of vaulted ceilings and original timber trusses. The project involved shifting the kitchen layout, adding a new staircase, an expanded entertainment space with a 10-person bar, and converting a carriage barn into a primary suite and three children's bedrooms. Similarly, a 1935 Victorian bungalow in Austin, relocated in 1950, was purchased by Holly Beth and Matt Potter. They worked with Side Angle Side architects to expand the home from 1,460 square feet to 3,400 square feet, preserving irreplaceable charm by rescuing and reusing original doors, floorboards, trim, and interior shiplap while creating a modern family home with a backyard pool.
