British Stylist Gives Antiques a Modern Feel in Fort Greene Brownstone

When stylist Hilary Robertson moved to Brooklyn nine years ago, she left behind nearly all of her furniture in England. Finding the right kind of pieces to furnish her new home was initially challenging, but a visit to the Brimfield Antiques Flea Market in Massachusetts proved a revelation.

Robertson’s Fort Greene home isn’t jam-packed with the heavy, dusty cast-offs of other eras. Rather, a carefully curated selection of antiques adds character to the designer’s elegant aesthetic.

The feeling of her home is light and modern, in spite of the vintage objects and the house itself — a 19th century Italianate with classic marble mantels and ornate ceilings. Part of the effect can be attributed to the predominantly light and neutral color palette and the strategic balance of ornament and empty space.

Achieving this refined look doesn’t mean every piece is precious. Some of the items were improvised and repurposed — a white trashcan became a chandelier, and a pair of French chairs were roughly reupholstered with plain muslin and a staple gun (the New York Times once described it as “upholstery sauvage”).

Robertson’s kitchen diverges from the light-hued palette with a dark blue wall color

[Source: 6sqft | Photos: Hilary Robertson]

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