This West Village Townhouse Takes You Through Decades of New York

Chief marketing executive Jennifer Johnson welcomes us inside her extraordinary five-story Manhattan brownstone, originally built in 1861 and reimagined by her close friend and interior designer Francis Toumbakaris. A Greek immigrant and former ballet dancer who went on to work as a handyman and general contractor before becoming a designer, Francis brings an unconventional path and a deeply hands-on approach to his work.

Together, Jennifer and Francis transformed the historic house during an 11-month renovation, preserving original details while creating a home that moves through distinct eras and moods. The tour includes an Art Nouveau-inspired kitchen and dining room, a glamorous 1930s-style speakeasy, a playful pink office, a retro-glam primary suite, and a top-floor lounge inspired by a luxury yacht. Custom furnishings, vintage finds, dramatic wall coverings, and antique lighting add layers throughout.

From the home’s intimate history to the friendship and creative partnership behind its transformation, Jennifer and Francis share what went into making this one-of-a-kind Manhattan house feel entirely her own.

Generally speaking, the first room to greet guests is the foyer, but in Jennifer's West Village townhouse, it's the kitchen, so making sure it represented her style was paramount. "This is the first room that people see when they enter the home, so I really wanted this to be a space that invited people in from the get-go." Unlike so many traditional kitchens, Jennifer's is not bright and white. In fact, it's on the moodier, more dramatic side. "I love colors, I love depth, I love textures, and so I really wanted that to start right here." 

Francis and Jennifer wanted this area to feel like a 1930s-era speakeasy, so dark tones, touchably soft textures, and metallic finishes are king. "My partner Mike and I love entertaining, and we love having people over from the neighborhood. So I thought, instead of all of us going to a bar, why don't we just create a bar and people can come to our house and congregate?" Enter the speakeasy just downstairs. 

Though the home doesn't have an overtly coastal feel, Francis, who's from Greece, managed to incorporate a bit of beachiness in the cinema room. "I wanted to create something that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the ocean, and this was the choice of wall covering," he notes. "It feels like either sunset or dawn in the middle of the sea." Plus, there is plenty of mahogany, the preferred wood for all millwork inside yachts.

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