Before & After: There’s a World of Color Hiding Behind the Front Door of This Park Slope Limestone

You might not guess it from its front facade, but this historic limestone in Park Slope is positively packed with color. The homeowners, Tim and Tara—he works in documentary film and is a record collector; she’s a textile designer with a sharp eye for color and pattern—reenergized it from top to bottom with the help of New York–based architect Sarah Jacoby.

The couple previously lived in a smaller apartment, and as they started to crave more space they reached out to Jacoby, who had worked with them on a previous renovation. With two growing kids, they were ready for a home that could flex with family life, and they wanted a trusted collaborator to help shape it.

Finding the right house, however, wasn’t straightforward. "We saw so many different places," Tim says with a laugh. "Newly renovated homes were nice, but they felt off. You were paying a premium for someone else’s choices."

As they debated whether to choose a move-in-ready home or one that needed work, Jacoby provided a key insight. "If you go for something that needs more work, you’ll get to put your stamp on it," she said. Her words stuck, and their patience paid off—eventually, they found the one, a charming limestone that hadn’t been touched since the 1940s. "It had historic details we wanted to preserve, but it needed an update," Tim explains.

After: Entry

The couple purchased the home in 2021, and construction began in October 2022, guided by a clear, joyful vision to fill the home with levity, color, and pattern—an approach shaped in part by the pandemic. "During Covid, we realized how much our environment mattered," Tara explains. "It’s like you start to appreciate joy and space in a whole new way."

Tara picked wallpaper she loved, and Jacoby selected coordinating "friendly" hues and vibrant tile to give the home a palette and personality perfectly suited to the fun-loving foursome.

Before: Living Room