Most insane splurge: The homeowners had been eyeing the La Cornue range, and were delighted when Dana suggested it. “The French aesthetic works with the tuxedo concept, and, given their penchant for cooking, investing in a top-notch range made sense,” the designer says. The marble backsplash was pricey too, so they offset the cost by using quartz for the countertops.
Sneakiest save: The biggest save, however, came from forgoing the custom banquette in favor of a modular system from West Elm. It cost $4,100, just one third of the price of the bespoke option. “It’s supercomfortable, chic, and matches the specific dimensions of the nook to the inch!” Dana says.
The best part: Celebrating the charm of this 1840 brownstone by leaning into the intricacies and occasional quirks of the existing conditions, which served as a guide.
What I’d never do again: “Nothing I can think of!” Dana says. “If I have second thoughts during a project, I try to address and fix them as I go.”
Final bill: The homeowners estimate that it cost about one and a half to two times as much as anticipated.
