Before & After: Their Job Is Discovering Hidden Gems. Their Brooklyn Townhouse Is One of Them
Charmed by a historic home’s ornate details—but wary of its run-down state—the couple behind Untapped New York save what they can and refresh the rest.
Charmed by a historic home’s ornate details—but wary of its run-down state—the couple behind Untapped New York save what they can and refresh the rest.
In 2008, Michelle Young left her job in the fashion industry, where she had worked since college—first as a merchandiser at Abercrombie & Fitch, and later at J.Crew and Calvin Klein. "I had a summer off and I wandered around New York, which is a place where I grew up," says Michelle. "I discovered all these things about the city when I wasn’t going from my apartment to work and back, always taking the same route."
During those walks, Michelle got the idea to start Untapped New York, an online magazine and tour company that highlights New York City’s secrets and hidden places. Part publication, part experience company, Untapped New York aims to surprise and intrigue even native New Yorkers.
Before: Exterior
Before: Michelle Young and Augustin Pasquet bought this townhouse in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn and sought to modernize it without losing key historical features, like the main floor layout and decorative woodwork in the entry.
Courtesy of READ Architecture Design
After: Exterior
The front door is painted a shade of blue that’s repeated on the kitchen cabinets. The design team inserted new Quaker windows with slim frames in the old openings to allow more light inside.
Zack Dezon
Fast forward several years, and Michelle and her husband, Augustin Pasquet, were both running Untapped and living in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. They were looking for more space for their growing family, and a new project to work on, when they discovered a run-down townhouse for sale two blocks away from their apartment. "It was in terrible shape," recalls Augustin. "I was like, ‘Great, this will scare people away.’"
For Michelle, it was the home’s intact historical details—like the scrollwork in the entry foyer and ornate fireplace surrounds—that sealed the deal. "This is it," she said at the time. "We can do something with all of the historic bones."
Before: Staircase
Before: The stairs were warped and had to be rebuilt. The contractor removed key historic details, like the "carousel" framing, and restored and reinstalled them.
Courtesy of READ Architecture Design
See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: Their Job Is Discovering Hidden Gems. Their Brooklyn Townhouse Is One of Them
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