“Before construction, we removed every finish and covering to expose the layers beneath. It was almost like an archaeological exercise.”Allison Reeves, architect When Joe and Ali Pivar purchased their 1890s townhouse in Red Hook in late 2012, their realtor told them they got the last good deal in the transitioning Brooklyn neighborhood. But like all good deals, it came with a downside. The house, unaltered since the ’70s, was a warren of small, windowless rooms, serviced by ancient utilities. A gut job was needed, which Joe largely took on himself. By the time the couple met their architect, Allison Reeves of ardesign, through friends, the house had been hollowed to a shell. “Whenever there was an option between something fussy and something stripped down, we chose the latter,” says Ali.…
