Schoolhouse Visits Roll & Hill Founder Jason Miller’s & Erin Pollard’s ’70s-Inspired Brownstone

Apartment kitchen with large windows and man sitting at countertop working on laptop

When Jason Miller, founder of the New York-based lighting and furniture company Roll & Hill, and his wife Erin Pollard, founder of Underwater Weaving Studio, first stumbled upon their Brooklyn brownstone in 2017, they knew they were about to embark on a thrilling transformation. “We had signed a letter of intent for a smaller co-op, but something didn’t feel right,” Jason recalls. “Then, I found this townhouse just a few blocks away that needed a full renovation, but at a price that felt too good to pass up.”

Frames of people talking and details of the home - black boots on green carpet and corner of tiled counter

What began as a leap of faith soon became a labor of love. Over nearly two years, Jason, the interior designer behind the project, and Erin worked with Palette Architecture to honor the home’s early twentieth-century charm while bringing in modern touches and a dash of groovy, 70s flair. The result is a space that’s both cozy and cool, with vibrant pops of color and unexpected details—as in a carpeted platform bed built into the floor. Below, Erin and Jason share how they’ve crafted a home that balances family life with timeless style (and a touch of the unexpected).

Tell us the story about how you found your home—what drew you to it?

We had already signed a letter of intent for a co-op in the neighborhood, but we were having second thoughts. It was smaller than we wanted and even though it was brand new, we wanted to renovate parts of it. So, I looked around online and found a listing for a townhouse just a few blocks away. It was in need of a full renovation, but the price was only a little more than the co-op. So, we decided to take a chance.

Can you tell us about your personal style, and how it’s reflected in your home.

I think we’re attracted to spaces that are both cozy and cool. We designed the space so that it retained the early twentieth century details on the parlor level but looked more modern as you ascend. On the top floor is the primary bedroom and bathroom with a groovy ’70s vibe.

frames of bedroom and smiling woman fixing her glasses

Are there any design eras that inspired your home?

I love ’70s interiors with their alternate uses of space—especially sunken living rooms—and deep rich colors like brown, green, and mustard. I also love pre-industrial wood work, and I feel like we managed to get both.

What is your favorite detail of your home?

We have a platform bed that’s seamlessly integrated into the carpeted floor, all in a deep green hue. I’ve had carpeted platform beds in my last three homes, and I feel like this one is the perfect version.

What did you learn from the renovation process?

You need extreme fortitude to get through a full renovation. There are a handful of decisions that were made at the end just to get it all done. I should have kept pushing!