Park Slope Brownstone: Now and Then

In November 2008, Domino featured pictures of the Park Slope brownstone owned by J.Crew's Creative Director Jenna Lyons and her then-husband, artist Vincent Mazeau. The photos appeared again and again all over the blogosphere, but two years ago, Jenna sold the home. Tracy Martin and Vince Clarke, a founding member of Depeche Mode and part of the band Erasure, bought the brownstone for $4 million, paying $250,000 more than the asking price. According to Curbed, Jenna moved on to a $6 million loft in Soho. Today's New York Times offers photos of the former Lyons den, which has been redesigned by the firm Roman and Williams. The color yellow, which appeared in the Lyons-Mazeau home on a George Sherlock sofa and the striped ceiling of son Beckett's room, plays a starring role in the Martin-Clarke powder room's Fromenthal wallcovering. Eggplant shades by Fine Paints of Europe have replaced the master bedroom's formerly black walls, but a bit of the macabre has entered the space through skeleton prints and a framed "Mourning Hair" wreath. Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams describe the made-over abode as "embroidered wallpapers meets the toughness of buffalo hide." Which version of the home do you prefer?  Let's begin with the current Martin-Clarke version . . .

"The brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark has been washed clean of the contemporary finishes of its previous owner, J.Crew's Jenna Lyons, and reworked by the design firm Roman and Williams to look as it it were furnished early in the last century."
Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"Ms. Martin is the executive director of the new Morbid Anatomy Museum (think peculiar Victorian taxidermy, illustrations of medical pathologies and preserved insects, among other curiosities), opening in Gowarus, Brooklyn, next month."
Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.

Redesign by Roman and Williams.

Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.

"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.

The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"The '19th century kitchen' was designed and built by Roman and Williams, with oversight from Vince Clark, who is the family chef. The midcentury French chairs are oak and rush; the early-20th-century oak table is Belgian. The vintage schoolhouse globes are from Olde Good Things."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"The bedroom is painted an eggplant color from Fine Paints of Europe. The 1850s Indian four-poster bed is from Anglo Raj Antiques in Manhattan. The botanical engravings are 17th-century Dutch. The chandelier is from Bagues in Paris."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"The powder room walls are covered in hand-embroidered silk paper from Fromenthal in England. It takes a month or so to 'cure,' said Robin Standefer, the designer. The vintage pedestal sink is from Demolition Depot. The R.W.Atlas Marquee faucet in unlacquered brass is from Roman and Williams's collection for Waterworks."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"In the sitting room upstairs is a Louis XVI daybed, an Aubusson rug from the Nazmiyal Collection and hand-painted silk wallpaper from Fromental in England."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"In the bathroom off the sitting room, the vintage light fixture is from Olde Good Things. The eggplant paint is from Fine Paints of Europe."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.

Redesign by Roman and Williams.

Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.

"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.

The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"The 19th-century serpentine dresser in the master bedroom came from a dealer in Belgium. The Syrian lamp is from Second Hand Rose. The flowers are by Emily Thompson."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.

Redesign by Roman and Williams.

Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.

"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.

The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"The early 20th-century cabinet in the dining area is French. Among the curiosities within is 'Migrant Feet,' bottom left, a pair of porcelain feet by the artist Kate MacDowell, whose work has appeared on an Erasure album and single cover."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.

Redesign by Roman and Williams.

Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.

"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.

The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"Tracy Martin's desk in the living room is a 12-foot Belgian console table. The framed 'Mourning Hair' wreath, at right, is from Obscura Antiques and Oddities in the East Village. Its proprietor, Evan Michelson, is the library scholar in residence at the Morbid Anatomy Museum. The 19th-century French artist's mannequin was found on Etsy."

Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.

Redesign by Roman and Williams.

Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.

"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.

The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"Also in the living room are a pair of American Art Deco club chairs, a vintage Berber rug from the Nazmiyal Collection and a HUB table in claro walnut by Roman and Williams."
Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"The Swedish Baroque armoire in the master bedroom is from Laserow Antiques. The tapestry slipper chair is vintage French Napoleon III-style. The eggplant color paint is from Fine Paints of Europe."
Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

"Mr. Clarke moved his collection of synthesizers into the cedar-planked basement. Last week, he was on deadline for a new Erasure album, out this fall."
Park Slope (Brooklyn), New York, brownstone of Tracy Martin and Vince Clark.
Redesign by Roman and Williams.
Photography by Bruce Buck for The New York Times.
"It's Mourning in America" by Penelope Green.
The New York Times (April 10, 2014).

Here is a look at the same brownstone - circa 2008 - when it was the home of Jenna Lyons, Vincent Mazeau, and their son Beckett . . .

"An old-school George Sherlock sofa gets updated with vivid yellow, kicking up a turn-of-the-century parlor."

1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"The black candles in the chandelier are real, and yes, they've been known to drip on dinner guests."

1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"Lyons obsessively sprayed the fixtures with ocean water, so the brass would appear as seasoned as the herringbone floor."

1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"A black Calder-esque mobile and vintage dresser lend grown-up panache to a spunky nursery."
1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"Old signs and letter blocks spell out Beckett's name above the mantel."

1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"Lyons likes how the thick poured-concrete countertops absorb wine stains, giving the kitchen a lived-in quality."

1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"A threadbare Oriental rug next to the bed captures the play of humble and haute."

1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).

"At home, Lyons has the great luxury of allowing her extensive wardrobe a room of its own."

 1890 Brooklyn brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's Creative Director.

Photography by Melanie Acevedo.

Text by Lauren Sandler.

"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.

Domino (November 2008).