Some renovations start with a blank slate. This one started with a pile of beautiful things—and a whole lot of ambition. When a young Brooklyn couple moved into their 1890s rowhouse, they came armed with an enviable collection of furniture, lighting, and materials they’d been saving for “someday.” But between a young son, a busy work life, and a house full of crooked floors and crumbling brick, that dream project quickly stalled. That’s when they called in OA Design to help turn their ideas (and their stash of design gems) into a real, working home.
When OA came on board, the clients—a pair of creative small business owners—had already gathered a compelling mix of furnishings and materials. Their collection included moss-green Heath Ceramics tiles, a sculptural fibre chandelier, and an oak dining table, all waiting for the right context. The home, however, was in disrepair. Bouncy floors, compromised joists, and patchwork fixes made it clear that the structure needed more than a facelift—it needed reinvention. OA responded by reorganising the house from the inside out, using the family’s cherished items as guiding elements. The chandelier and dining table, for instance, inspired a sculptural ceiling detail in the parlour level that conceals necessary infrastructure while lending architectural character to the open-plan living area. The Heath tiles became the starting point for a serene, tactile bathroom palette.
Each level of the house now serves a distinct, purposeful role. The garden level functions as the family’s everyday entrance, with a built-in mudroom, guest quarters, and a recreation space. Above, the parlour level provides a welcoming social zone with kitchen, dining, and living areas that flow seamlessly. The top floor includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a home office—efficiently organised and ready to adapt as the family evolves. Connecting it all is a newly designed staircase capped with a skylit oculus.
The rebuilt stair niche adds charm and continuity between floors, while changes in texture and light mark the transition between calm, understated spaces and those meant to make a statement.
Quincy House doesn’t shout for attention. Instead, it draws you in with its layered details, its thoughtful use of materials, and the way it honours its owners’ eye for design. The result is a home that feels curated yet comfortable. It’s a renovation that respects history, embraces individuality, and proves that great design often begins with the things we already love.
Design: OA Architects
Photography: Matthew Williams
