The architecture of 19th-century Shanghai was a study in eclecticism, a blend of traditional Chinese design and Western classical styles that was a direct reflection of the city’s foreign concessions at the time. This is the period from which designer Melissa Lee, principal and founder of Brooklyn-based Bespoke Only, drew inspiration when she was tapped to overhaul a Clinton Hill duplex a couple of years ago.
Referencing a design period that happened halfway around the world more than a century ago may seem unusual, but Melissa saw a connection between Shanghai then and Brooklyn now: “We found a compelling resonance between Clinton Hill’s layered, eclectic architecture [where Victorian, Beaux-Arts, Queen Anne, and Neo-Greek styles coexist] and the decorative traditions of 19th-century Shanghai—both born of cultural intersection.” Not to mention, her clients, a young couple with three dogs, wanted to incorporate their Chinese heritage in the redesign of their home.
Said home is two floors inside a stately 1878 brownstone, designed by architect John Mumford, that had been converted into condos. “The apartment had good bones, including a few original fireplaces, but much of its historic detailing had been lost to a succession of renovations over time,” says Melissa. “The millwork had been stripped, and the sense of architectural hierarchy that once defined the brownstone had all but disappeared. What remained felt more like a generic condo than a space rooted in the identity of a historic home.”
Melissa and her team started by rethinking the flow in the home. Downstairs, they repositioned the kitchen so that it became “the central social center of the home.” Upstairs, they reconfigured the floor to include two bedrooms and two bathrooms. “These changes brought a sense of hierarchy and rhythm back to the space while aligning it with the couple’s day-to-day needs,” she says.
Then, they “folded in references to the owners’ Chinese heritage—not as overt gestures, but through materiality, structure, and detail,” shares Melissa. “Elements like wormy vintage chicken wire glass, lattice woodwork, and timber-framed components speak to traditional architectural language, while small ornamental touches—fringe, wooden beads, printed textiles—add a layer of personal and cultural texture.”
Below, she gives us a tour of the reimagined space, now an alluring intersection of East and West, old and new.
Photography by William Jess Laird, courtesy of Bespoke Only.
Above: The duplex isn’t large, but oversized windows and high ceilings make it feel open and airy. Like much of the home, the living room is a mix of vintage decor (a Chippendale coffee table, a 1940s Austrian wood and fabric pendant light) and contemporary pieces (a sofa and side table from Audo, a rug from Nordic Knots).
Above: Green “is a unifying thread woven throughout the home,” says Melissa. “We were drawn to green for its versatility and emotional nuance. In its varying shades, it can feel earthy, contemporary, or even slightly retro—each hue subtly shifting the mood from one zone to the next,” says Melissa, who chose Benjamin Mooore’s Bonsai for the coffee station. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore Silver Satin.
Above: In front of the restored fireplace, a 1940s Kozelka and Kropácek lounge chair in green linen.
Above: In the middle of the first floor is the kitchen, with cabinets by Reform. The Ginger Pendant by Joan Gaspar for Marset floats above the island.
Above: On the other side of the kitchen is the dining area. The vintage oak dining table is surrounded by a motley array of mid-century dining chairs. The ruffled glass Fazzo Pendant light is from In Common With.
Above: In a corner of the dining area, an arresting painting by Sean Pressley hangs over an early 19th-century canterbury (magazine rack) in rosewood. The jute rug with checkerboard border is from Nordic Knots and nods to the tiled fireplace surround in the living room.
Above: The space is also used as an office, thanks to a wall desk unit from Vitsoe.
Above: A concrete sink with a hint of green in the minimalist powder room. Above it is a mirror from Muuto.
Above: Upstairs are a guest room and the primary bedroom, shown here. A mid-century Orrefors dual-glass chandelier lends elegance and a soft glow to the room. The lower half of the walls in here are painted Farrow & Ball Lichen.
Above: An ensuite bath was slotted into a corner of the primary bedroom. “The inspiration for it came from traditional Chinese architectural elements—particularly the carved wooden room dividers and timber structural frameworks often found in historic buildings across China and broader Asia,” says Melissa. The bed is from CB2.
Above: Inside the ensuite bathroom. “We were particularly drawn to the combination of jade and maroon—a pairing that feels both rooted and familiar,” says Melissa.
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