Lofty Goals: How the Fashion Experts Behind Brooklyn Tailors Transformed 100 Lexington Avenue

 Represented by The Agency’s Maurice Singer,  100 Lexington Avenue, Loft #2L is a stunning 1,400-square-foot residence on Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill border that has been lovingly revitalized by owners Daniel and Brenna Lewis, founders of design firm, Brooklyn Tailors . Guided by their keen eye for timeless style and quality, Daniel and Brenna have polished this industrial-chic townhome into an extraordinary jewel, beautifully blending historical charm with modern luxury. Here, the duo shares the creative inspiration behind their design choices.

The building’s exterior in the 1940s.

The exterior of 100 Lexington today.

Brooklyn Tailor founders, Daniel and Brenna Lewis.

Daniel: Our biggest inspiration in the design of the apartment was the space itself.  Before finding our apartment, I don’t think we ever imagined we’d be able to own a real New York City loft apartment.  These increasingly rare loft spaces, which were converted from factories and other industrial spaces in the 20th century, are increasingly hard to come by in the city and they fetch prices that are typically out of our reach.  

So, when we found one that we could potentially call home, which was so respectfully and tastefully converted into a residential space, we felt truly lucky.  When it came time to make subtle changes and improvements to better suit our needs, we always had the building’s legacy front of mind.  Our taste in architecture and interior design is diverse.  But, we believe it should always start with an awareness of context. 

Brenna:   So often, people ignore the space they are working with and try to bend it into something it’s not.  If you’re trying to make a country farmhouse into a mid-century city home, you are swimming upstream, and the result is bound to not feel right.   We asked ourselves how we could retain and celebrate the industrial loft character of the apartment while modernizing it to better suit a contemporary lifestyle.  This meant restoring elements such as wood floors, rather than replacing them.  And, when bringing in new elements, for example, the renovated kitchen, it meant sticking with clean, simple, honest materials and minimalist designs.  More straight edges and sharp corners.  More natural wood and natural stone and metal.

Brenna: A converted industrial loft space that blends a clean, contemporary sensibility with the warmth and patina of its 20th-century roots.

Daniel: Carefully and with restraint!  I think a major key is that we used natural, organic materials such as oiled hardwood, solid marble, and extruded metal to improve the space.  So many of the fixtures you see in modern renovations employ man-made materials which are either poor imitations of old-school natural materials or are intended to have a more hyper-modern, synthetic look.  

I’m not saying all of that is bad.  But, if you’re trying to make improvements that feel seamless with a space that was built in 1899 and converted to residences in the 1980s, those choices might not work out.  

Its also knowing what to keep for its inherent longevity, and what to replace.  The solid oak floors are old, and only getting better with age.  Why replace them with engineered floors?  On the other hand, we updated the home with modern appliances, smart home features, and expanded closet space.  All of these things are changes that respond to modern needs.

Daniel: We’re proud of the overall end result of over 10 years of small, incremental improvements.  We made changes slowly, one at a time.  And, the place has never looked better.  I think that homes that get gutted and renovated all in one go tend to show it.  That isn’t necessarily bad, but it can mean the space feels a little bit one note.  

Brenna: When you make small improvements over time, you end up with something a little more eclectic, and hopefully more carefully fine-tuned for living.  Each subsequent change can be in response to the changes that already came before it.

Daniel: My favorite is the area we call the “den,” where we have our books, sofa, TV and sound system.  While I love how the rest of the apartment feels expansive and wide-open, I love how this little area feels super cozy and private in contrast.  This is our place to relax at the end of the day, reading, or watching a movie.  It can be hard to create a sense of coziness or seclusion in an open floor plan.  It took us a while to figure out the layout but as soon as we did, it just clicked for us.

Brenna: My favorite space in the house is the kitchen. As someone who loves to cook and entertain, this is my dream kitchen. When we purchased the house, the kitchen was closed off and filled with ’80s white cabinets and pink Formica countertops. Aside from being generally outdated, nothing made sense when you used the space. When it came time to renovate, we made sure every detail from drawer height to the location of outlets and appliances made sense for a proper kitchen workflow. Now it’s not only gorgeous, but it makes cooking and cleaning up easy. I will miss this kitchen dearly. 

100 Lexington Avenue, Apt 2L is offered at $1,265,000. Contact Maurice Singer of The Agency New York to arrange a private tour. 

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