Park Slope

Did we get your attention? With the upcoming release of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, a wider audience will no doubt become familiar with Christian Grey's infamous "red room". But we're guessing a very different kind of decadence is likely to be served up in the partially red (okay, it was a bit of a stretch) and very proper formal dining room located on the parlor level of this neo-Italian Renaissance limestone townhouse at 593 3rd Street in Park Slope.
Check out the 'red room' and more

Distinctive Homes

January 23, 2015

Stunning Mahogany Woodwork Steals the Show in This $3.5M Park Slope Brownstone

It’s everything you imagine a classic brownstone to be. For nearly 50 years this townhouse at 266 Berkeley Place in Park Slope has been under the careful stewardship of a single owner, and the love they showered on their home is evident in every one of its four floors—even the basement is immaculate with its whitewashed walls and brick archways.
take a tour here

Distinctive Homes

January 14, 2015

Home Temporary Home: Picturesque Park Slope Rental Makes Perfect Short-Term Retreat

If you’ve ever wanted to try out living in one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods without making a long-term commitment, now is your chance. This picturesque Park Slope two-bedroom located at 473 13th Street beautifully combines traditional touches with modern conveniences—and "stays" available from one month to twelve offer a rare opportunity to decide if one of Brooklyn’s premier locales is the right place for you. Even better, since it’s fully furnished all you need to do is move in and enjoy!
See more of this picturesque rental

Distinctive Homes

January 2, 2015

The Brooklyn Home Company Blends the Old with the New to Transform a Park Slope Home

As an artist, there’s nothing more liberating than being given total control to show what you can really do. So we’re guessing the design team at The Brooklyn Home Company was more than happy to be approached by a Park Slope family to renovate and redesign this historic four-story Lincoln Place townhouse. The team was given complete creative license while incorporating the family’s substantial art and furniture collection into the design. The final product is a completely fresh and new look for the owners, even though it features many familiar elements of a classic Brooklyn brownstone.
More photos inside

December 8, 2014

Park Slope’s Iconic Pavilion Theater May Go Residential

By Ondel Hylton

Images on the website of architecture firm Architecture Outfit reveal that Park Slope's historic Pavilion Theater at 188 Prospect Park South may go residential. The theater is currently owned by a consortium led by Ben Kafash who purchased the theater from Morristown, NJ-based Cinedigm in 2011. One scheme shows a six-story residential building rising behind the theater's sublime Moorish façade and from a neighboring lot just south of the theater. It conceptualizes a mix of apartments along the circle dubbed Bartel-Pritchard Square and contextually scaled townhouses along narrow 14th Street. The second scheme preserves the theater in its entirety and limits new construction to the neighboring lot at 190 Prospect Park West where a nondescript one-story building currently stands.
More information here

New Developments

December 3, 2014

Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities

Interior design buffs are undoubtedly familiar with J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons's former home; it was featured in countless magazines and blogs, hailed for its mix of traditional pieces with mid-century modern and pops of color. But in 2012, after a bidding war that included prospective buyers being asked to write personal essays, she sold the 19th century Park Slope pad for $4 million to Vince Clarke, founder of Depeche Mode, and his wife Tracy Martin, CEO of the Morbid Anatomy Museum. And needless to say, they gave the 4,000-square-foot home quite the overhaul, infusing it with a mix of historic styles and curious touches that could serve double duty in Martin's taxidermy-filled museum. The masterminds behind the transformation were Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the founders of design firm Roman and Williams, who created a home that looks like it was furnished in the last century. Their goal was to embrace the home’s historic details while achieving an idiosyncratic and moody approach.
Tour the curiosity-filled home here

November 19, 2014

Spectacular Park Slope Pad with Bookshelf-Lined Walls Asks $1.5 Million

There are few things New York buyers love more than prewar detail, modern updates, and a great location. Well, this parlor-floor apartment of the brownstone at 917 President Street has all that wrapped up with nice wooden bow. The two-bedroom 1,350-square-foot co-op was lovingly renovated to preserve its origins while catering to the needs of the modern day homeowner, all while offering a relaxing haven on a tree-lined street in Park Slope. If wood isn’t your thing, consider yourself warned, but if you have an appreciation for exquisite millwork you’ll love the charm of this $1.495 million unit.
See more, here

Distinctive Homes

October 23, 2014

Park Slope Townhouse Featured in ‘Moonstruck’ Asks $4.3M

One of Park Slope’s most recognizable homes is available for $4.29 million. The 4,800-square-foot, semi-detached townhouse—which has been featured in numerous music videos, as well as in the movie Moonstruck—is one of a row of townhouses on 4th Street built by the Allan Brothers in 1892. A five-bedroom triplex with a beautiful garden, this red brick and stone Romanesque Queen Anne townhouse features such romantic details as a turret bay façade, a castle-style balcony, transom stained glass, and a Spanish-tiled spire with an ornamental finial. The terracotta roof of this landmark dwelling also stands out with elaborate cornices. And we haven’t even stepped inside yet.
There's more, here

Distinctive Homes

October 20, 2014

NYC’s First Certified “Passive House” by FABRICA 718 is Lean, Mean and Incredibly Green

When this Park Slope brownstone was first built in 1899 we’re pretty sure energy efficient design wasn’t a guiding factor in its construction. But over 100 years later an award-winning Passive House retrofit by FABRICA 718 has turned this classic residence into one that consumes approximately 90% less heat energy than the average home and 75% less energy overall.
See what consuming 90% less heat energy looks like

October 17, 2014

Mayor De Blasio Finds a Tenant for His Park Slope Home

By Diane Pham

All the buzz surrounding Mayor De Blasio's home has yielded some great results for NYC's First Family. Bill and his wife Chirlane McCray have rented their house to the first folks who came to check out the property located at 442 11th Street. De Blasio listed the Park Slope home less than two weeks ago through Brooklyn Properties for $4,975 a month. Let's take a look inside...
Find out more

October 15, 2014

Landmark Limestone Townhouse in Park Slope Returns for $4M

One of Park Slope’s landmark limestone townhouses has just returned to the market. The 5,100-square-foot, Frederick Tyrrell-designed home was built in 1901 at the height of the neo-classical style’s popularity. With a well-maintained original four-story building, along with a new extension, original details, and a private gated driveway, this $3.995 million home is definitely worth a look.
Take a closer look, here

October 10, 2014

$3M Park Slope Brownstone is Perfect for Multigenerational Living

Not only is this rare 1882 brownstone situated in the heart of one of New York City’s quintessential family-friendly neighborhoods, the home itself is perfectly suited for familial bonding of another kind – multigenerational living. With an owner’s triplex over a floor-through garden apartment, this lovely residence at 107 St. John’s Place in Park Slope speaks to the time-honored tradition of sharing space with extended family. But if you’re not quite ready for the whole “Everybody Loves Raymond” scenario, having a sought-after income-producing rental is still a wonderful perk, and only one of the home’s many charms.
See more of this classic 1882 brownstone

October 7, 2014

Own a Romantic One-Bedroom in Park Slope’s Iconic Chiclet Mansion

By Rebecca Paul

Part of what makes New York City so romantic are the picturesque historic buildings that have been maintained over the past few centuries. Now you can live this romance all day, everyday, in this 600-square-foot one-bedroom located at 115 Eighth Avenue in the Park Slope's iconic Chiclet Mansion (yes, a mansion designed for the gum magnate). Co-ops like this are very rarely available, and with its current listing price at $549,000 this one will not be on the market for very long.
Take a peek inside

October 2, 2014

Tour Mayor de Blasio’s Park Slope Home Now Renting at $4,975 a Month

Mayor de Blasio's Park Slope clapboard house, located at 442 11th Street, has hit the rental market today, asking $4,975 a month. The 100-year-old, three-story home has a private backyard (complete with herb garden and crab apple tree) and three bedrooms...but only one bathroom, which is up on the third floor. Chiara and Dante definitely had a hand in painting their bedrooms (photos and video after the break), and the dwelling retains some of its original, historic details. It may not be Gracie Mansion, but according to its broker, this mayoral abode offers a lot for it's price.
Let's see for ourselves in the video after the break

September 30, 2014

Makeshift Mansions: How Today’s Filthy Rich are Creating Homes of Epic Proportions

By Bonnie Clark

For Manhattan’s jet-set crowd, the 2010s are starting to look an awful lot like the 1900s. New York’s upper crust are embracing a return to the Gilded Age, moving out of their fancy penthouses, co-ops and lofts and into opulent single-family mansions. From Aby Rosen’s quest to build the largest private mansion on Park Avenue to Jared Kushner’s conversion of three former Brooklyn Law School buildings into single-family townhouses—the most affluent buyers are now on the hunt for New York’s ultimate trophy prize.
More on makeshift mansions

September 17, 2014

Beautiful Brownstone Mansion on Prospect Park Asks $7 Million

What if you had the opportunity to live in a 7,000-square-foot brownstone mansion on a picturesque block just a stone’s throw away from Prospect Park? That’s just a taste of what 312 Garfield Place has to offer, for $6.995 million. It is believed that the brilliant home was built by developer William Flannigan for New York businessman J. J Galligan sometime during the turn of the 20th century. The resulting five-story building has a distinct Victorian charm with a light Renaissance touch.
Take a look inside, here

September 4, 2014

Unique South Slope Loft Breaks the Mold with a Steel Mezzanine

On a quiet tree-lined block, among the rowhouses of South Slope, you’ll find 459 12th Street. Being a mid-century loft surrounded by turn-of-the-century conversions might already set this building apart from the rest. Yet, unit #3D takes it to the next level, as a previous owner decided to make the most of the high ceilings… and added an entire second floor.
Take a look inside this quirky loft, here

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

Photo: Cafe Grumpy in Greenpoint by Premshree Pillai cc

September 3, 2014

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

By Michelle Cohen

From “coffices” to lab-like minimalist gourmet coffee meccas to cozy neighborhood hangouts, neighborhood cafes are a fine example of the essential “third place” mentioned in discussions of community dynamics: that place, neither work nor home, where regulars gather and everyone’s welcome. Along with yoga studios, art galleries, community gardens, vintage clothing shops, restaurants with pedigreed owners and adventurous menus and, some say, a change in the offerings on local grocery shelves, cafes are often the earliest sign of neighborhood change. The neighborhood cafe serves as a testing ground for community cohesiveness while adventurous entrepreneurs test the still-unfamiliar waters around them. Beyond the literal gesture of offering sustenance, cafes provide a place where you can actually see who your neighbors are and appreciate the fact that at least some of them are willing to make an investment locally.
Get a fleeting glimpse of old New York City cafe culture in the West Village, meet the future of coffee distribution in Red Hook.

September 3, 2014

Park Slope Loft in Former Ansonia Clock Company Building Has Timeless Appeal

There are lofts, and then there are lofts like this three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath duplex in an 1880s factory building at 420 12th Street. Once home to the Ansonia Clock Company, the building was converted into a co-op by Hurley & Farinella Architects, nearly a century after being constructed. With intentions of keeping the building's provenance intact, the architects worked diligently to maintain original details like exposed brick, factory beams and wood ceilings, and combined them with modern updates that mesh seamlessly with the building’s historic bones.
See more of this timeless beauty

Distinctive Homes

August 28, 2014

More and More Brownstone Owners Are Turning Their Homes into Condos

By Diane Pham

For all of you who've stared down a four-story brownstone and wondered "What family needs all that space?", the answer appears to be not many. According to the folks over at Douglas Elliman, more and more owners of Brooklyn brownstones are carving their homes into multiple condos for resale. The piecemeal move they say not only manages to bring in more bucks than an individual sale, but also welcomes more housing without compromising the integrity of a neighborhood—i.e. they help keep tall, glass towers at bay.
More on the trend here

Real Estate Trends

August 25, 2014

Landmarked 1887 Townhouse is Right at Home in 21st Century Park Slope

This meticulously renovated four-story townhouse located at 27 7th Avenue in Park Slope is a stunning example of the “best of both worlds”. While careful to retain gorgeous period details such as decorative mantels, original millwork, plaster mouldings, pier mirrors and pockets doors, The Brooklyn Home Company left no stone unturned in its quest for modernity within the home’s classic interior.
See how old seamlessly meets new

August 20, 2014

Adorable Park Slope Apartment Comes With Its Very Own Pied-à-Terre (Sort of)

Homes like this adorably perfect apartment don't come on the market all that often in this neck of the woods -- because who would ever want to leave? Even if Park Slope hadn't been "New York" magazine's choice for the 'Most Livable Neighborhood' in the city in 2010, one would have to look no further than its charming, small-town feel and notable residents (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kerry Russell and Steve Buscemi, to name a few) to know they hit the neighborhood jackpot. Plus, this gem of a home located at 99 Berkeley Place has a fun bonus all its own. We'll get to that a little later on.
This way for a great apartment in a great neighborhood

Distinctive Homes

August 8, 2014

Humberto Leon is Second Opening Ceremony Cofounder in a Week to Buy a Brooklyn Townhouse

Last week we learned that Opening Ceremony cofounder Carol Lim picked up a $3.43 million Prospect Heights townhouse, and it looks like her partner Humberto Leon got a bit of apartment envy, because he too just purchased a brownstone in nearby Park Slope. The two fashion magnates met 19 years ago at the University of California, Berkeley and have been joined at the hip ever since, turning their brand into an international destination for streetwise style. So it's no wonder that their homes share a few similarities; both are four stories, have picturesque backyard spaces, and retain a good amount of historic details. According to city records, Leon nabbed his new digs at 758 Union Street for the asking price of $2.85 million.
READ MORE

July 26, 2014

Sunny Park Slope Townhouse Gets an Artsy Makeover from The Brooklyn Home Company

From making the list of most popular baby names, to having whole stores devoted to its wares, Brooklyn has become quite the brand these days. But for a classic feel of living in the borough that bucks trends, we can always look to The Brooklyn Home Company for their tasteful, functional, and timeless spaces — like this stunning 5th Street Park Slope townhouse. The firm undertook the entire interior/exterior renovation, as well as the nine-foot extension that was added to the garden and parlor floors, those which the building owners occupy. They transformed the space with a mix of historic and modern details, custom built-ins, and impressive millwork. During the demolition, the original beams were discovered behind the drop ceiling, a feature that was left exposed and now anchors the entire living space.
Take a tour through the rest of this expertly crafted home

July 10, 2014

Classic $2.1M Park Slope Co-Op Is Right at Home in One of NYC’s Most Desirable Neighborhoods