Inside 17 Prospect Park West: Modernizing a Victorian Masterpiece

It’s the project that every interior designer dreams about: the new owners of 17 Prospect Park West, one of Park Slope’s most fabled limestone mansions, were in need of an interior designer to modernize and revitalize the 5,200-square-foot Victorian beauty. 

Shortly after its purchase in 2008 from movie star couple Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany for a whopping $8.45 million, interior designer Tamara Eaton embarked on this project of a lifetime.

Eaton, of Tamara Eaton Design, LLC in Manhattan, along with architect Ben Fuqua at DHD, LLC and contractor Interior Alterations, Inc., were tasked with making this turn-of-the-century gem more livable and contemporary, while preserving and restoring the rich period details – a priority for the new owners.  Every detail of this two-and-a-half-year renovation and restoration process was meticulously planned and artfully crafted.

Built in 1899 by renowned Brooklyn architect Montrose Morris, this grand Classical home has an abundance of period details including ornamental plaster ceilings, original stained-glass windows, wood-carved mantels, seven working fireplaces, a dumbwaiter and shout hole (previously used by servants between floors), and a stunning skylight at the top of a stately staircase.  At the front of the home, oversized windows look out onto beautiful Prospect Park; at the rear, tall bamboo surrounds a private and tranquil outdoor garden area.

The limestone exterior, with its signature columned loggias, was cleaned and restored, and the historic chimneys were reconstructed brick-by-brick on a new roof.  Inside the home, the garden level and three of the four baths were entirely gut-renovated to replace the 80’s-style renovation done by a previous owner.  A sizeable temperature-controlled wine room was added off the kitchen, and smaller rooms were combined into larger ones on the top floor for better functionality.  Great care was taken to seamlessly integrate new infrastructure, including electrical, plumbing and A/V, behind original finishes.

Inside the home, Eaton’s talent for blending old and new is unmistakable, with salvaged, antique and vintage pieces alongside newer design elements. 

In the modern kitchen on the gut-renovated garden level, a gorgeous antique tobacco cabinet complements the bronze-lined walnut cabinetry, custom-made by millworker Dan Paul.  A stunning modern light pendant by Brooklyn-based artist Lindsey Adelman, hangs like a piece of fine art near an original stained glass window.

The parlor, originally a gloomy space with dark grey upholstered panels, was transformed into a sophisticated, yet livable area.  The paneling was removed and walls were painted a soft cream color, thus making the exquisite cake frosting ceiling and detailed woodwork pop. 

Eaton’s design approach for much of the home – using modern pieces with classical forms – is clearly reflected in the parlor’s furniture and decor.  Majestic burgundy Wingback chairs by British designer Tom Dixon evoke a contemporary Victorian feel, while the custom red sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, punctuates the room with intense Victorian color.

In the grand, mahogany-wrapped dining room, Eaton added hints of color, including light purple walls and deep orange silk drapes, to offset the heavily woodworked area.  In keeping with the contemporary Victorian feel of the parlor, the dining room features a brilliant Swarovski “Glitterbox” chandelier suspended above a modern, yet timeless slab wood dining table from BDDW.  The room retains a quirky Victorian quality with décor such as a taxidermied fawn and two rabbits, which are displayed in an original, built-in china cabinet.

The master suite on the second floor has a more contemporary feel, yet traditional design elements are present as well.  Enveloped in a luxurious white sheepskin rug, the sophisticated master bedroom features a stunning chandelier from Ochre, a custom-made leather wardrobe from BDDW, and gorgeous chairs upholstered in an over-sized damask fabric by Proenza Schouler for Knoll Luxe.  In the new master bath, pale pink walls pick up the warmth of the original stained glass window, while the lovely milk glass tile makes the space feel classic and clean.

With a stately balcony overlooking Prospect Park, the spacious master den is drenched in sunlight and comfortably styled in mid-century décor, including a 1950’s Italian-designed wood coffee table.  Two large sculptural sofas from Vladimir Kagan for Pucci sit back-to-back, allowing for the enjoyment of television on one side of the room and relaxation by the original marble fireplace on the other.

On the third floor, the children’s suite was tastefully designed with clean lines and open space in mind.  Soft chairs in rich colors, whimsical décor, and minimal clutter make for calming surroundings.  In the little girl’s room, non-traditional toile wallpaper depicts urban street scenes (designed by Timorous Beasties), while a roomy play teepee is propped in the corner of the little boy’s room. 

One of Eaton’s favorite rooms, the children’s library, features a wall of stunning steel windows.  A plethora of books, games and artwork, including an enchanting shadowbox by artist Jacqueline Schmidt of Moomah, makes this the perfect room for inspiring creativity and imagination.

Originally oriented for service, the top floor layout was significantly altered to create a more functional use of space.  The refined home office, originally two rooms combined into one, features a two-person desk with leather inset top and a custom-made barrister-style bookcase.  A new elegant wet bar is tucked away behind a panel of folding doors, while the audio/visual equipment is undetectable behind a hidden closet.

“This has been my favorite project by far,” says Eaton enthusiastically, about the two-and-a-half-year renovation and restoration that brought new life to this treasured Park Slope home.  “I had wonderful clients who were very involved and cared deeply about preservation.  Together we created a very livable home, and I wouldn’t do anything differently.”