Brooklyn Townhouse Became a Forever Family

 Three years and a full gut renovation later, here they are. “This is our forever home,” they both insist. “It was a hell of a project,” says Athena. “It nearly broke us—financially and emotionally.” Because the townhouse had been converted into apartments, much of the history was wiped clean. “We salvaged what we could,” she says, pointing out the original mantels and an ornate medallion in the living room from which a handmade chandelier now hangs. They weren’t total purists, though. Speakers are set into the ceilings, and partitions between the living and dining rooms were demolished for a more open entertaining space.

The kitchen—Calacatta Paonazzo marble counters on chalky gray cabinetry with Parisian-style open shelving—is literally “the star of the show,” Athena says. “For shooting purposes, you need side light, so that’s why we ended up with a square island instead of a rectangle. It sounds crazy,” she concedes, “but I needed to make certain things work for my brand.” They also added a wall of bifold glass doors onto the terrace just beyond, creating a spectacular indoor/outdoor experience seldom seen in New York City homes.

In terms of furniture, they started almost completely fresh, curating a sophisticated mix of new (Apparatus coffee table and horsehair sconces) and vintage (a 1970s Mario Bellini sofa, 1950s French chairs). “I was obsessive about Royère and these incredibly prolific French designers,” says Athena, noting the Jacques Adnet sideboard in the dining area. “This was way beyond my budget. I lowballed the dealer almost a quarter of what it was worth. Didn’t even tell Victor. Then he was like, ‘Some crazy charge just came up on the Amex. I think someone stole my card.’ I said, ‘You don’t even know the deal I got.’ ” Next she showed him a photo of it. “He was like, ‘It looks like something in my grandmother’s house.’ I said, ‘Just trust me.’ ” Some may shudder at what she did next, having it stripped and bleached. But voilà! It worked.

Upstairs, they devoted an entire floor to the master suite with double doors that lead from the bedroom to Athena’s walk-through closet to a bath lined with pink-veined white marble. “I legit asked Victor, ‘Are you man enough to shower in a pink bathroom?’ ” His response: “Hell, yeah.” Victor’s recording studio sits opposite the landing, while the top floor is where Jivan’s room, a library/family room, Athena’s office, and a guest room are situated.

So how does Jivan feel about what’s been a lifelong game of musical chairs with respect to his homes? “A lot of people are like, ‘Isn’t it unsettling for your child to always be in a new space?’ ” Athena says. “But I feel like we are home. We make home wherever we are, and Jivan’s always been a part of the process. He’s designed every one of his rooms.” Perhaps the most telling indication of how the experience has rubbed off on him was this past summer, when he expressed interest in an internship. “He said, ‘Mom, I want to study architecture.’ ”