House of the Day: 946 President Street
One word: Wow! This new listing at 946 President Street in Park Slope is stunning. Designed in 1886 by by Charles T. Mott, the Romanesque Revival house is more than 25 feet wide and dripping, absolutely dripping, in period detail. It’s also been updated with a new kitchen, modern HVAC and updated bathrooms. Droolworthy to…
One word: Wow! This new listing at 946 President Street in Park Slope is stunning. Designed in 1886 by by Charles T. Mott, the Romanesque Revival house is more than 25 feet wide and dripping, absolutely dripping, in period detail. It’s also been updated with a new kitchen, modern HVAC and updated bathrooms. Droolworthy to say the least. So much so that we won’t be surprised if someone steps up for close to the asking price of $3,795,000.
946 President Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
Oh yeah plenty of people here on East Coast agree Victorian tacky, must be Federal. Whatev.
Thanks to Montrose for identifying the wallpaper. Someone can change it and the furniture will be gone. I’d like to say that this is a great location. I have logged many stroller-pushing miles and hours from living almost across the street. It is close to the subway, the museum and 7th ave. shopping. Also have admired the facades of these Romanesque buildings together. Perhaps a Google employee will buy this house (as was mentioned about the house at Carroll and PPW). 🙂
I chuckled over cmu’s comment about this house seeming worthy of “snooty upper-class Brits behaving badly.” Speaking as a member of the almost equally despised British upper-MIDDLE class, I can safely say my generation was raised to abjure any hint of affection for Victorian style. We were carefully coached to believe that only houses and antiques that dated from the 18th century — or preferably earlier — were in good taste. Victoriana was strictly non-U. Despite being a born-again brownstone lover, there are days when I look at the heavy, ornate woodwork in my own house and involuntarily wince.
Hi Nomi! Actually, I am going to try to start a house blog this weekend. But you are right, the wallpaper will be a while. Although I am highly tempted to start wallpapering first and leave all the trim painting, wall plastering, baths, and kitchens till last. I guess that won’t work at all, will it!
If you have any photos of your place, would be interested also.
After 3+ years of reading Brownstoner, I finally understand why i usually disagree with the evaluations of the houses and apartments. I can see why some people would find this kind of period detail impressive, but I find it totally overwhelming and , frankly, a little creepy. I think it looks like a cheesy historical museum. It’s not that I don’t like classic brownstone detail. I love thick moldings, wedding-cake plaster, high ceilings, etc. But all of that heavy dark wood? Ick. I think a house should reflect its past and history without looking stuck in time.
Also, if you’re really interested in recreating the past, wasn’t the wood detail in these brownstones typically painted a bright color, back in the day? Not that I would want that; I’m just saying, if you’re a purist…
I know you’re all in bed by now, but I’ll post anyway.
Mopar, I would LOVE to see how your paper looks in the end. I guess it will be a while (ahem)? But I hope you post pictures somewhere when the day comes.
Chuck, your post (dumbwaiter) made me laugh.
I don’t know. I could go either way on the Victorianness here. I don’t find it to museum-y. And yet . .. . well, a hair more “done” and it would cross over into sort of high end B&B land. But it stops short of that. I don’t know enough to know what’s “authentic” or not, unless it’s really obvious. This looks authentic enough for me. And I guess I’m confused about what that means. Reproductions of, say, prints from the late 1800s, or must everything actually BE from the late 1800s.
Anyway, I think this house pulls it off pretty well. While I can’t say I can really imagine living here, I wouldn’t mind being there, visiting . .. .
I love Josef Frank also. I forget the price, but it’s over $100 a yard. Good for pillows and footstools.
I’ve been madly researching period wallpaper, and I really prefer the crazy examples available at such sites as Carson and Co. Also hand made. Just not the tasteful matching sets from Morris et al we are already so used to.
My plan is to use a mix of mostly geometric prints all over the place. (Halls and dining room only, not every room.) I’ve picked out a beige and gold geometric dot ceiling pattern for the hall, and a totally crazy and botanically correct yet authentically Victorian pattern of California poppies, the state flower of my native state, for the back hall. Of course I have to order samples first to check, and then there’s the question of what to do with the horribly painted woodwork first, and then there’s the stair that’s pulling away from the wall, not to mention the non-functioning bathrooms and kitchens…..etc…….etc……..etc……
LOVE the Park Slope Limestone link.
Much more to my taste the this HOTD.
And is it just me, or does the exterior feel lopsided, like part of it was just sliced off?