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When interior designer Jila Keshavarz-Miller and her husband, Scott Miller—the founder of hospitality design and strategy studio Ensemble—first set eyes on the parlor floor of a circa-1843 Brooklyn Heights brownstone, they clocked its pitfalls right away: a ceiling reduced to a zigzag of horizontal lines, choppy rooms, and finishes in a sterile wash of gray and white. The crown moldings and medallions that once bedazzled the space were long gone. But the couple knew better than to judge, focusing instead on its future, not its past. “We decided to move in anyway,” says Keshavarz-Miller, who runs an eponymous New York City–based studio. “We spent the first year just understanding the light.”
By year two, they knew exactly what to do with it. That’s when the real transformation began, in partnership with I&N Builders, which worked on the build. Ceilings were lifted to bring back the parlor floor’s original sense of height and proportion—a move complicated by HVAC ductwork and electrical lines. “It was a bit of a balancing act,” Keshavarz-Miller says. “Every inch had to be negotiated.” There were surprises along the way: a deteriorated waste line from the unit above and abandoned lead pipes discovered resting on the downstairs neighbor’s ceiling. “An accident waiting to happen.”
The couple moved out for demolition, only to return before things were fully wrapped. “Short-term rentals in Brooklyn were nearly impossible,” she says. “So we spent a few weeks hotel-hopping with a toddler and a dog.” Their 4-year-old daughter, meanwhile, befriended the crew and carried around her own mini measuring tape. “She took it very seriously,” Keshavarz-Miller laughs.
Removal Can Make Way For Character to Shine
Inside, the biggest shift came from taking things away. Removing the wall between the kitchen, dining, and living areas turned what was once a series of choppy rooms into one continuous space. Sightlines now run the length of the apartment—from the bed at the back to the trees out front—while the dining area looks onto a backyard on one side and a livelier streetscape on the other. “It’s that mix of stillness and energy we’ve always loved,” she says.
Original character was carefully brought back—crown moldings, a restored Italianate fireplace hearth, and salvaged 200-year-old French doors—reintroducing a sense of scale without tipping into anything overly formal. The kitchen—with custom cabinetry by Werki by D—pulls focus. A last-minute material switch led to Arabescato Fiorito Viola marble, its veining running across countertops, toe kicks, window sills, and even jambs. “It was definitely our biggest splurge,” Keshavarz-Miller says. Painted in Farrow & Ball’s Paean Black—a deep aubergine—the cabinetry makes its own statement. “We’ve always believed kitchens can have personality.”
Unexpected Pivots Can Lead To New Wins
Mind you, not everything went to plan. A long-awaited soaking tub never arrived after the vendor went silent. “The panic set in,” she recalls—until their daughter swiftly decided she was “too grown up” for baths anyway and wanted a “big girl” shower instead. The pivot led to a marble bench and a reworked shower setup, now one of their favorite features. “Our contractor was extremely patient,” she adds. There were smaller wins, too. Discovering an old vent during demolition was oddly exciting. “Everybody knows—a venting range hood is a big deal in NYC,” she says. And after two weeks without a working kitchen sink, its return felt unexpectedly luxurious.
Find Furniture For Fantasy and Real Life
A vintage Florian Schulz Onos pendant, long on her wishlist, now hangs over the marble island. “We thought the offer would be declined,” she says, referring to her bid on 1stDibs. “When it wasn’t, it felt like a pinch-me moment.” Vintage finds carry through the rest of the home—MR-10 chairs, a teak buffet, Hans Wegner tripod chairs, and a Michael Boyd paddle chair, all sourced at auction and reupholstered by Keshavarz-Miller—alongside contemporary pieces like Ellison Studios’ Float sofa. A burl wood chest doubles as discreet toy storage. “We needed something that worked for real life without adding visual clutter,” she says.
Let Materials Act as Binding Agents
Material choices pull everything together: plaster walls, refinished white oak floors, mohair, aged leather, and a mix of stone. Brass fixtures add warmth, while commissioned artwork brings in another layer of personality. It’s a home that holds onto its history but doesn’t feel precious about it—designed for a young family, a dog, and the messiness of everyday life. A place that’s grown into itself, one decision at a time—dog, child, and everything in between.
