Architecture by Gregory Merkel and Ana Catalina Rojas
Photography by Carl Bellavia
Brooklyn, NY
This brownstone renovation is created by two architects who are a little more relaxed about the rules of the game. Interventions often deviate from the standard solutions, most prominently on display in the open floor plan on the parlor level, but sometimes more subtle in moving a door to accommodate a better kitchen layout. I like the inverse relationship between color and space. As you move up the house the rooms get smaller and the color palette lighter. This gradient from dark, to grey to white is applied on trim, cabinetry and floors. Hat tip to remodelista for finding this house.
Openings and thresholds are treated as architectural elements in their own right. Doorways, reveals, and trim depths establish a clear order through the rooms, so circulation reads as a connected sequence instead of isolated moments.
Material contrast remains disciplined: warmer timber notes balance cooler painted or stone surfaces, while metal accents are concentrated at touch points like pulls, fixtures, and hardware. The result is tactile without becoming busy.
What stands out most is consistency of detail language. Joinery lines, panel rhythms, and floor direction support how each space is used, giving the project a calm, lived-in character that still feels specific to Merkel and Rojas.
