Join Claire Hung as she walks us through her design of a contemporary renovation for a family of three in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

*Interior Design by* *Claire Hung Design*. *Photography by Seth D. Caplan*

Claire, please tell us a bit about the project.

The two bedroom, two bathroom residence is located in the St. George Tower. The St. George Tower was formerly a hotel built in the late 1800's and later converted to a co-op in the late 1970s. When the Client acquired the residence, it appeared to have not been updated since the initial co-op conversion. It was covered in decaying parquet wood floors and an unfortunate galley Kitchen. There’s nothing more satisfying than a before and after, so here’s what it looked like when the Client acquired it.

Where is the project located?

Brooklyn Heights, New York

What convinced you to work on this project?

I was actually pregnant at the time & had recently joined Park Slope Parents (a wonderful community btw). There's a renovation group that I joined to not only learn more about renovations in Brooklyn, but to also lend advice where I could. The Client had posted a question about how to embark on a renovation at a co-op, something I have done a lot of here in NYC (condos too), and so I laid out the process in a quick list & they reached out directly to inquire about working with me. When we discussed my studies in Scandinavian & Japanese design, it aligned with their aesthetic and vision for the space.

Who lives in the home?

The Client had recently had their daughter and were looking to create a home that was both functional with tons of smart storage solutions, but also stunning and sophisticated where their mid-century modern furniture collection could sing.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in designing the home?

The biggest challenge were the ceilings. There are large beams throughout the home with some overlapping in areas. The goal was to refocus the eye on the interior design elements through millwork & raising the ceilings in the bathrooms and kitchen. We also opened up the galley kitchen into the living space to expand its footprint by both elongating the countertop into an eat-in peninsula, and connecting the storage space to the kitchen via seamless millwork and panel-ready appliances. Doing this allowed for the space to feel larger and more expansive.

To do that, I painstakingly designed the fully custom kitchen to contain a large 36” wide refrigerator (seen above at the far left), along with a trash & recycling pull out, and dishwasher to the left of the kitchen sink. I brought the countertop down to meet with the existing window sill, which was cladded with stone, and contains vegetable & fruit drawers below. On the stove side, deep drawers contains pots and pans, while a shallow drawer within the top drawer allows for utensil storage.

What were your sources of inspiration to design and decorate this home?

Inspiration is often a collaborative process with the Client. We were both inspired by Nordiska Kok cabinetry, as well as the Client’s stunning collection of mid-century furniture pieces. The styles blended well together, but I still wanted to elevate the space, so I suggested that we take a trip to BAS Stone to see if there was a natural stone that would add a touch of richness and sophistication. Well of course we found two of the most perfect Italian marble slabs. For the backsplash, a stunningly veined Macchia Vecchia slab with ochres, umbers and blacks, and paired it with a more subdued but very similar Italian marble, Paonazzo, for the countertop. From there, the stone informed the tones of the wood cabinetry and flooring.

What type of atmosphere did you want to create and how did you achieve it?

When I did my initial walk-thru, the prior owner was still residing in the space, and the walls were a very stark white. It felt cold, and even more so due to the windows facing north. I knew in that moment that the home needed warmth while simultaneously feeling contemporary yet timeless.

What type of colors and materials did you decide to use in this home and why?

While warmth was the goal, so was a sense of light and airiness - adding any heavy paint tones felt like it would just compound with the dense structural beams overhead. As such, I specified Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore - not an overtly creamy or warm white, it’s more a white that transforms based on the materials within the space - a reflective surface in a way. So with the addition of new honey toned White Oak flooring from EKO Flooring, and bespoke oak cabinetry with a custom chocolate caramel tone, made by the contractor GILD Renovation, the white walls and midcentury furniture married well together. We also replaced all of the interior doors with red oak slab doors, and matte black Emtek door hardware. A stepped base trim nodded to the art deco history of the St. George Tower, while a minimal door frame detail reduced any heaviness on the walls while adding a contemporary minimalist vibe.

For the bathrooms, I sought out materials that evoked nature - from travertine-like floor tiles by Bedrosians and Portola Paints lime wash in the daughter’s bathroom, to a bespoke walnut vanity in the primary bathroom paired with a floor and storage shelf made of Breccia Romana marble from BAS Stone, along with a grid of warm creamy tiles from Daltile.

For the primary bedroom, I paired a Crate & Barrel bedcover and lamp designed by Athena Calderone with their existing bedframe and dresser (not shown). Lastly, I had fun imbuing color of all kinds into the daughter’s room. With cotton bedding and pillows from Urban Outfitters atop a vintage bedframe, and the Lucina Watercolor Printed chenille rug full of vibrant color. All of this paired well with the existing Maitland Smith dresser and vintage midcentury rocking chair with the Paloma Canvas Print by Upton adding graphic geometry to the wall space above.

If you had to describe this home in one sentence, what would it be?

A luxurious yet accessible blend of Scandinavian elegance with warm finishes, that create a contemporary sanctuary for a family of three in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

At Claire Hung Design (CHD), we believe your space should reflect your story, lifestyle, and aspirations.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, CHD is a full-service creative studio specializing in contemporary and transitional interiors that marry understated luxury with the grace of European and Scandinavian design.

Every project is infused with a sense of timeless sophistication, thoughtfully responding to the architectural time period of the space, while drawing on Claire’s expertise in Scandinavian minimalism, Nordic functionality, and the refined simplicity of contemporary Japanese architecture. From serene bedrooms adorned with soft textures and curated accents to bespoke kitchens showcasing bold natural stone and artisanal craftsmanship, CHD creates spaces that exude both elegance and warmth.

With over 20 years of experience spanning new builds, historic brownstone restorations, and the intricacies of NYC real estate, Claire Hung brings a globally influenced yet deeply personal approach to design. Her California upbringing and European studies inspire a balance of light, texture, and a harmonious palette that transforms any room into an inviting sanctuary.

Let Claire Hung Design turn your vision into an extraordinary, livable masterpiece—crafted with the precision of an architect, the heart of an artist, and the eye of a discerning curator.

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