A New Jersey brownstone home feels like living among the clouds

Designer Crystal Sinclair breathes new life into a centuries-old New Jersey home with colourful, storm-inspired interiors

There is a storm brewing in the brownstone townhouse located in Hoboken, New Jersey, which Crystal Sinclair Designs was brought in to reshape the aesthetic vision to be more in tune with the homeowners’.

“The project was already in the framing stage, and it was a race to stay at pace with a project that was already in full swing,” recalls Crystal Sinclair, who co-founded the eponymous design studio with her husband, Ben.

“It was a fast process, and within a week, we had pretty much all the concepts put together: there were several changes to the floor plan, and we added a lot more detail that was not in place prior to us working on it.”

Above Homeowners Maggie and Ryan with two-year-old daughter, Delaney

Homeowners Maggie and Ryan with two-year-old daughter, Delaney

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Owned by couple Maggie and Ryan, the home is part of the row of brick houses originally built in 1901, with a brown sandstone façade quintessential to the quaint neighbourhood since the early 19th century.

“It was in pretty bad shape, and had lost a lot of the ‘brownstone character’,” the homeowners remember, when they saw the listing for the home right across the Hudson River from New York City.

“But immediately, we thought it had a lot of potential, and we knew we wanted to invest in finishes, such as beautiful mouldings, while making the home functional to us.”

Above The bright entry vestibule leads into the moody entry hall

Above The black stairwell with wall mouldings in the four-storey home

The bright entry vestibule leads into the moody entry hall

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Above The teal-coloured den is reminiscent of the water or the river nearby

Above The basement full bath adheres to the overarching storm palette

The teal-coloured den is reminiscent of the water or the river nearby

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During the planning process, the homeowners shared some inspiration images for colourful monotone rooms, and it was a particular photo of a city rainstorm that galvanised Sinclair forward creatively for an overarching dark palette throughout the full-time home.

“I call this home Dark ‘N’ Stormy—one of my favourite beverages as of late,” Sinclair jokes.

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A photo of a city rainstorm inspired the overarching dark palette throughout the full-time home

Above Circles bring a sense of continuity and unity

Circles bring a sense of continuity and unity

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Above A custom-designed sofa ties well with the hard edges of ceiling light

Above Furnishings with circular accents juxtapose the angular marble mantel

A custom-designed sofa ties well with the hard edges of ceiling light

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The small, white entry vestibule represents the light, likened to the calm before a storm that is forthcoming almost immediately in the entry hall.

Here, the stairs and landings are all black, complemented by a textural artwork by abstract painter and sculptor comparable to the rain.

Above The gold-coloured kitchen recalls sunlight peeking through the clouds

Above The pink dining room with a chandelier made from 3D printed plastics

The gold-coloured kitchen recalls sunlight peeking through the clouds

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Bold yet desaturated colours drive each room in the four-storey home that spans 2,750 sq ft. The different hues evoke a different feeling in every room, making the home almost like a livable art installation in a metaphorical conversation with the clouds.

Teal, reminiscent of the water or the river nearby, encompasses the basement comprising a den/media lounge, gym, full bath, laundry room and integrated study room.

Whereas, the parlour floor, where it is “under the clouds” with rays of sunlight peeking through, features a gold-hued kitchen and a pink-toned dining room, decorated with a statement chandelier made from 3D-printed plastics, and a Christy Hopkins abstract art piece.

Above One of the three guest suites on the second floor

Above The black guest bathroom moves “into the clouds”

One of the three guest suites on the second floor

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The design narrative moves “into the clouds” on the second floor, where black- and grey-coloured primary and guest bathrooms play off the soothing purple palette in the primary bedroom.

“The primary bedroom was the most difficult to work on, because the soft lilac was a difficult find, and we went through a lot of samples before settling on the right pairings,” Sinclair chimes in.

Finally, the top level is the safe haven for Maggie and Ryan’s two-year-old daughter, Delaney, where “above the clouds,” the nurseries are bathed in calming aqua and sunshine yellow with matching ensuite bathrooms and a playroom.

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Above The soothing purple palette in the primary bedroom

The soothing purple palette in the primary bedroom

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Above Beautifully crafted built-ins with ample storage

Above A fluid interplay between the old and the new

Beautifully crafted built-ins with ample storage

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The play on colour-on-colour extends to the luxury materials, natural materials and shiny accents used in accordance with every space’s thematic colours.

“Wool rugs, velvets and mohairs, alongside marbles, polished chrome, unlacquered brass, crystals and 3D printed plastics—they all play together to create [spaces that are] moody and dramatic, but also inviting and cosy,” Sinclair elaborates.

“These contrasting textures keep the rooms from feeling too monotone; the lush textures make it feel more inviting, while the contrast and metallic splashes add drama and sexiness.”

Above The subtle ensuite bathroom with a boxy square design

Above Another ensuite bathroom gilded with an ornate mirror and marble

The subtle ensuite bathroom with a boxy square design

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To round out the design, structural shapes were incorporated throughout the space.

Boxy squares and angular edges set the stage through ornate mantel accents, detailed mouldings and intricate medallions.

Meanwhile, circles and rounded edges of lighting fixtures, furnishings and archways bring a sense of continuity and unity—keeping each space distinctive from the other, without breaking cohesion for the entire home.

Above One of the nurseries in calming aqua

The other nursery room drenched in sunshine yellow

Above The other nursery drenched in sunshine yellow

One of the nurseries in calming aqua

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“For example, the living room sofa—something Ben and I designed together—ties well with the hard edges of ceiling light,” explains Sinclair, in regards to one of the favourite rooms she enjoyed working on. “They contrast nicely against the circular accents, such as the round polished chrome sconces, the coffee table and accent chair.”

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Credits

Photography: Tim Lenz

Styling: Mariana Marcki-Matos

Topics

Interior Design Contemporary Colours

Celeste Goh

Senior Writer of Tatler Homes, Tatler Malaysia

Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.

Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.

Home tour: A dramatic brownstone home in New Jersey that feels like living among the clouds