Garden Street Brownstone: Where Historic Charm Meets Modern Family Living

Located in the historic core of Hoboken, the Garden Street Brownstone is a testament to thoughtful transformation: honoring the architectural heritage of a building erected in 1889 while adapting it for a growing, active family. Marie Burgos Design reconfigured the traditional brownstone layout into an open, light-filled, and highly functional space for this couple, born in Hoboken, and their two children, a perfect intersection between transitional design and coastal calm.

With a full remodel and rear extension, this stately home is converted into an abode that signifies comfort, character, and contemporary life rather than dim, disjointed rooms.

 
 

Preserving the Past, Embracing the Present

Every element of the project was treated with reverence due to the original architecture. Original period pieces like grand mahogany doors, Victorian pocket doors, and marble fireplaces were carefully preserved, while new period touches, such as a Chesney marble mantel and handmade mosaic tiles, were smoothly woven in to further the home's timeless story.

The sweeping staircase with its elegantly carved banister acts as the sculptural focal point, giving the house a 19th-century grounding while integrating a fresh, open flow.

 

Design Challenges Turned Deliberate Moments

A distinctive feature of the brownstone is its narrow, elongated footprint that sets the stage for spatial and light amplification.

The rear kitchen extension brought in a panoramic window, showering the central part of the house with daylight.

The old hallway and laundry space were converted to a gracious dining room-elegant, airy, and perfect for hosting.

The laundry was shifted upstairs for a more efficient flow.

The bathrooms were remodelled or added on each floor to fulfill the needs of a busy family in terms of function and aesthetics.

 

An Organic Palette with Coastal Echoes

The interior palette draws on sandy neutrals and sea-inspired blues in tribute to the couple's love for breezy coastal calm. Rich oak flooring grounds the design, while woven wallpapers by Phillip Jeffries, vintage cement tiles, and grasscloth finishes add a sense of texture and depth to each space.

Custom millwork throughout the house--designed by Marie Burgos Design--idealizes function and aesthetics, giving rooms a crafted warmth.

Spaces Reimagined for Real Life

Living Room

The Chesney Carrara marble mantel works as the anchor for this tranquil assembly space. The room is bordered by handmade cement tiles and loaded with textures from the coast, custom banquette seating, and soft transitional furnishings that beg to be relaxed upon.

 
 

Dining Room

What had previously been a simple hall now stands as a destination for celebration. With mirrored backdrops, grasscloth wallpaper, and an artistically formed glass prism chandelier by RH, it's a dining space that stands tall to welcome you warmly for elegant fun, dinner parties, and casual family gatherings alike.

 
 

Kitchen

This sun-kissed retreat, equipped with Veneta Cucine cabinets, a sky-blue glossy AKDO backsplash, and Caesarstone countertops, associates high performance with refined style. The rear window frames garden vistas while a shower of natural light dances over gleaming surfaces.

 
 

Family Room

This enticing space, preserving the soul of the home, features the original marble fireplace mantel, combined with whimsical patterns, textures, and colors. The Victorian pocket doors remain intact, sharing intimate moments and flowingly.

 
 
 

Primary Suite

Soft textures and quiet luxury mark this serene hideaway. Donghia wallpaper, custom draperies, and polished Calacatta tile in the en-suite bath create an atmosphere of elevated calm—specially designed for repose and restoration.

 
 
 

Children’s Bathroom

Infused with whimsy and charm, this space is timeless in tone. The marble basket weave floor, interspersed with powder celeste tiles, indulges in a tango of subtle color implication, retaining the home's dignified essence.

 
 

 Crafted Details That Tell a Story

Each room displays bespoke touches, ranging from custom cabinetry to hand-sewn pillows, draperies, and sconces, nurturing their larger design narrative. Lighting ascends from sculptural pendant lights to modern traditional types while splashing leisurely layers of mood and intimacy on every space.

 Furnishings are chosen with care from Restoration Hardware, Ballard Designs, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and the Marie Burgos Collection. This brings about a seamless integration of class, utility, and self-expression.

A Family Home, Rooted in Heritage and Designed for Tomorrow

This Garden Street Brownstone exudes timeless reinvention where respect for history and full embrace of future living are evident. The designers at Marie Burgos need not call it a renovation-they see it as a sanctuary where paint flows, family gathers, and design is in harmony with life from an earlier time and actual living in the present.