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The temperatures have dipped into the 50s in the mornings here in New Jersey, which always makes me ache for New York City. It’s about time I introduce my baby to the Best Saturday EverTM: a stroll through Central Park, poking around some shops downtown, and peering into the glowing windows of all the dreamy brownstones along the way. (Back in suburbia, we’ll be rethinking our bar cart, the topic of Home Front this week.)
There’s a chance one of those brownstones was remodeled by Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum. The design duo, who aptly go by The Brownstone Boys, has more than 25 gut renovations under their belt in the city, and as of this summer, a new book that digs into their hard-earned know-how. We’ve featured their projects quite a few times in Domino over the years, and I’ve come to expect that restored original woodwork will make an appearance. Their love for the material runs deep, as you’ll see below. Happy reading! —Lindsey Mather, digital director
Current Mood
What we’re loving right now: Dark wood tones. They’re that perfect blend of old-world charm and modern confidence, effortlessly standing their ground in both minimalist and maximalist environments. There’s something timeless about dark wood, an earthy connection to craftsmanship that instantly adds a layer of sophistication. When you introduce it into a space, it’s not just a visual statement; it evokes a feeling of groundedness and maturity that speaks volumes about design choices made with intent.
We’d recommend it to someone who also likes…eclectic decor with a vintage slant. Dark wood is a beautiful canvas for layering textures, adding contrast, and incorporating bolder colors.
Three real-life ways we’d try it:
- Refinishing a vintage chair or console table. Stripping away old varnish to reveal its authentic beauty beneath is a transformative process.
