Atelier Chroma

03/04/2026

One of our standard services!

This wood entrance door at a six-story residential building in Park Slope, Brooklyn was carefully stripped back to bare wood,fresh stain applied to bring out the natural grain, and finished with a breathable natural oil for long-term protection after a quick turnaround.

We also cleaned, polished, and detailed the original brass hardware and kick plates—small details that make a big difference at the front door.

Thoughtful restoration beats replacement every time.

02/19/2026

Hunterfly Road Houses Restoration at Weeksville Heritage Center Continued.
The porch at Building 1698 was re-imagined by CTA Architects NYC as part of a sensitive historic restoration. Working from their design, we produced detailed 3D renderings and shop drawings to fully resolve the construction prior to fabrication.

The porch structure was framed in pressure-treated lumber, while all visible architectural elements were fabricated in Accoya wood for durability and long-term performance. This included custom-made spindles, handrails, posts, brackets, and steps—each fabricated specifically for the project and installed to align with the historic character of the building.

02/06/2026

At first glance, this reads as a simple before-and-after of a window re-paint. It wasn't.
During restoration of the Hunterfly road houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center, we encountered widespread deterioration concealed beneath decades of piecemeal repairs. Many window sills and assemblies had lost structural integrity entirely—failed fillers, trapped moisture, and incompatible past interventions meant that once exposed, original fabric often disintegrated.

In coordination with XBR Inc., new subsills and waterproofing membranes were installed, and nearly every window opening was selectively disassembled, repaired, and rebuilt. Replacement components were fabricated in Accoya wood, chosen for dimensional stability, durability, and long-term performance in a preservation context.

The work prioritized minimal intervention where possible, full reconstruction where necessary, and efficiency where required to respect project budget—while maintaining fidelity to the historic assemblies.

The following images document the process behind the final appearance.

01/29/2026

Black History Month — Building 1700, Hunterfly Road.

As part of our work at the historic Weeksville Heritage Center, and in partnership with XBR Inc., we restored all doors and windows across four historic buildings at the Hunterfly Road Houses.

Building 1700 was, without question, the most deteriorated of the four—and also the one with the greatest amount of original woodwork still intact.

Before restoration, the shutters were failing, window frames and lower sashes were heavily rotted, and nearly all window sills had deteriorated beyond serviceability. In many areas, the wood would crumble and disintegrate at the touch.

We went deep.

All shutters were repaired, all sashes restored, casings rebuilt, and new window sills fabricated. All new repair wood was milled in Accoya, selected for its durability, stability, and environmental performance. We also restored the building’s doors and fabricated a new hatch door for the cellar.

These before-and-after images only begin to tell the story. We’ll share more in an upcoming post that shows just how extensive the work behind the scenes truly was.

09/04/2025

✨ Window transformation in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn ✨

This beautiful historic home had original wooden sash windows that were in tough shape — cracked frames, peeling finishes, and years of wear. We carefully removed and restored each window in our workshop, giving them new life with traditional techniques and durable finishes.

During the process, we installed temporary replacement windows so the home stayed comfortable and secure. After meticulous repair work in the shop (with a little help from our workshop doberman puppy 🐾), our team returned to install the fully restored sash windows — airtight, functional, and true to the home’s history.

Preserving the past, one window at a time. 🪟

08/21/2025

06/06/2025

In this follow-up from our Brooklyn Heights entryway restoration, we turned our focus to the interior woodwork, where decades of wear had left deep scratches, damaged trim, and broken details on original decorative elements.

What we did:

Hand-sculpted new wood to restore missing and broken Corinthian-style column details

Seamlessly integrated new material into the original carvings

Repaired and blended deep surface damage from heavy use

Custom-blended a finish to match the existing interior tone and sheen — making repairs invisible

Unlike the exterior, the interior woodwork had a different historical finish. Our goal was to restore, not replace, using traditional techniques and a conservation-focused approach. When done right, the repairs disappear — and the craftsmanship remains.

Location: Brooklyn Heights Historic District
Style: Classical details in quarter sawn white oak
Techniques: Hand carving, surface repair, color matching

06/05/2025

This stunning Brooklyn Heights entryway in quarter sawn white oak had seen better days — but we brought it back to life using time-tested restoration techniques and a deep respect for the building’s original character.

Our scope included:
🔨 Stripping damaged finishes and replacing deteriorated wood
🚪 Installing new sections of door leaves and reusing original materials where possible
🔩 Cleaning and updating original hardware
🎨 Repainting historic metal security grills
🌿 Applying a hand-rubbed natural oil finish (3 coats!)
🌬️ Adding weather stripping for improved energy efficiency

Every step was completed by hand, preserving the texture and soul of this landmark structure. This is what real historic wood restoration looks like — built to last another hundred years.

📍 Project: Brooklyn Heights Historic District
📆 Duration: [insert project timeframe, optional]
🪵 Wood Species: Quarter sawn white oak
🌡️ Season-Ready: Improved insulation and weather protection

05/21/2025

We’re proud to share a glimpse into our latest project: the restoration of the historic Hunterfly Roadhouses at the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn, NY.

These rare, surviving 19th-century structures are a cornerstone of African American heritage in New York City and the United States. Originally built and occupied by free Black families in the mid-1800s, they are an essential part of the story of Weeksville — one of America’s first free Black communities.

This is Atelier Chroma’s first major preservation project in New York since relocating from Canada, and it’s a true honor to be trusted with the restoration of all the original doors and windows on these fragile wooden buildings.

We’re working on this project as a subcontractor under XBR Inc., who are leading the work as General Contractor. They’ve been a fantastic team to collaborate with on this challenging and meaningful job.

After years of weather exposure, many of the architectural elements are deeply damaged — decayed by sun, rain, and time. Our work involves carefully repairing and preserving as much original material as possible, using traditional methods and materials to maintain historical integrity.

Swipe through to see:
📸 An original archive photo of the houses when they were occupied
📍 A site overview before restoration began
🪟 “Before” photos of a weathered window and door
🚪 A sneak peek of a fully restored door — one of many to come

We’ll be on-site all summer, and we’re looking forward to sharing more as this important project unfolds.

03/06/2025

✨ Why Restore Historic Windows? Because They’re Built to Last. ✨

Swipe ➡️ to see the DETAILS of our process and final results of this sash window stripping & restoration in a Flatbush, Brooklyn townhouse. These original old-growth wood windows were buried under layers of paint, making them hard to open and reducing their efficiency. But with expert restoration, they’re now fully functional, airtight, and beautiful once again.

🔹 Our Process:
✅ Infrared heat stripping to carefully remove layers of old paint
✅ Exposed & restored the stunning original wood
✅ Repainted using Ottosson linseed oil paint from – a beautiful, natural product that allows the wood to breathe 🌱🎨
✅ Applied new putty to the exterior, replaced damaged glass, refitted with new weather stripping & sash chains/ropes for smooth operation and air tight insulation.

💡 Why Restore Instead of Replace?
Historic wood windows are made from old-growth wood—a material that’s nearly impossible to find today. Unlike modern plastic or aluminum windows, these can last forever with proper maintenance!

Restoration is about function first:
✔️ Do they open & close properly?
✔️ Are they airtight & energy-efficient?
✔️ Are they secure & durable?
✔️ And finally—do they look as stunning as they once did?

With expert care, these old sash windows will outlast any modern replacement.

📍 Serving Brooklyn & NYC – If your historic wood windows need professional restoration, let’s talk! 📩

02/27/2025

✨ Why Restore Historic Windows? Because They’re Built to Last. ✨

Swipe ➡️ to see the process and final results of this sash window stripping & restoration in a Flatbush, Brooklyn townhouse. These original old-growth wood windows were buried under layers of paint, making them hard to open and reducing their efficiency. But with expert restoration, they’re now fully functional, airtight, and beautiful once again.

🔹 Our Process:
✅ Infrared heat stripping to carefully remove layers of old paint
✅ Exposed & restored the stunning original wood
✅ Repainted using Ottosson linseed oil paint from – a beautiful, natural product that allows the wood to breathe 🌱🎨
✅ Refitted with new weather stripping & sash chains for smooth operation and insulation

💡 Why Restore Instead of Replace?
Historic wood windows are made from old-growth wood—a material that’s nearly impossible to find today. Unlike modern plastic or aluminum windows, these can last forever with proper maintenance!

Restoration is about function first:
✔️ Do they open & close properly?
✔️ Are they airtight & energy-efficient?
✔️ Are they secure & durable?
✔️ And finally—do they look as stunning as they once did?

With expert care, these old sash windows will outlast any modern replacement.

📍 Serving Brooklyn & NYC – If your historic wood windows need professional restoration, let’s talk! 📩

02/20/2025

✨ A Grand Entrance, Restored. ✨

Swipe ➡️ for the before & after transformation of these historic white oak double doors in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn—also known as the famous Halloween House! 🎃🏡

These doors had lost their luster over time, but with some expert restoration, they’re now refreshed, polished, and ready to stand beautifully for years to come. 💪🪵

🔹 Process:
✅ Stripped away the old varnish ✨
✅ Made careful minor repairs 🔨
✅ Applied a rich, custom stain 🎨
✅ Finished with a penetrating natural oil to moisturize & protect the wood 🌿

Restoring history isn’t just about looks—it’s about preserving craftsmanship & integrity. If you have historic woodwork in NYC that needs expert care, let’s talk! 📩