House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

The yard is a bit much, I agree. I'm not sure what they were thinking with that "stone castle look" to the firplace and crown moldings in the living room.

The tub in the middle of the bthroom is a bit ostentateous, yes. But HELLO, it's one of the few houses that really understands ensuite master bedroom & bathroom.

The kitchen may not be to everyone's taste but I think it looks fantastic.

All this place needs is a return of the parlour floor crown & fireplace details and about $15,000 (at most) of yard work.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 1:20 PM

WOW, moreteasir, we haven't seen you in some time. I missed our arguements though I can't remember what any of them were about. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 1:31 PM

"That yard is straight out of Mill Basin. I love it. :P"

I couldn't quite come up with the words to describe the yard but that about sums it up.
It's only lacking the faux marble fountain.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 1:35 PM

I'm pretty thick skinned, I can take what they throw at me.

You should have seen what they were saying about the place before I bought it when it was HOTD very early in 2007. I never saw that thread until after I bought the house. LOL

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 1:43 PM

I think I'd like to meet the broker. It'll be fun getting him out of that Jermyn Street suit, shirt & tie combination.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 1:51 PM

It also needs a deck on the parlour level.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 1:55 PM

mopar....they were loving the architectural detail but they thought the seller delusional about the price they were asking...Only because it was in the ghetto and would have been 2 1/2X that price in Ft. Greene.

Note: I did note pay full ask. I may be stupid but I'm no fool

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 2:27 PM

I think it's a disgrace to the city that such property carries a $5K tax. It should have been 6-8 times than that.

Posted by: bklplebe at August 19, 2009 2:21 PM

Spoken like a true democrat. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 2:34 PM

I'm sure you're happy to walk down the hallway to use the bathroom with the kids, shillstoner but when a house reaches a certain price, you get your own private bathroom for use by the master suite. A simple concept really.

It's got nothing to do with city vs. burbs. I already stated that the tub in the middle of the floor was unacceptable...can't really see much of the rest.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 2:58 PM

If you look at the floorplan, bxgrl, and shillstoner (I assume this is your criticism), the master bath and the bedroom area are NOT all in one room, in fact about 30' away from each other separated by a large closet area.

I agree that you don't want the tub/shower/sinks and toilets visible from the bedroom area.

But walking out of the room and down the shared hallway with the kids or the houseguests to share the bathroom stops once you can spend a certain amount of money.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:02 PM

Well, once you start paying over $2 MM, a lot of things might look like "a complete waste of space." Thats' the luxury.

And please, don't anyone start on carbon footprints.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:07 PM

And, when many of them were built there was no such thing as indoor plumbing. Times change.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:08 PM

Well, ACHL, you too can traipse down the hall and use the bathroom with everyone else that lives in the house.

Can't really understand what your problem is with a bathroom that's solely for the use of the master bedroom. Yes, that is a luxury. Is it the only luxury I look for, no. What is your idea of a luxury when it comes to bathrooms?? Those rubbery plastic toilet seats?? Gold plated fixtures??? A whirlpool for 5???

Please see the Mill Basin listings and give me some ideas.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:21 PM

I agree that the tub in the middle like that is pretty ridiculous and damn ugly.

You didn't spell that out earlier, otherwise we would have been in agreement from the beginning and you wouldn't have wasted all this time with this petty back and forth bitching. :)

Very truly yours,

DIBS

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:31 PM

So yours is more an argument about what's an appropriate amount of space for each room, shillstoner? Where's the cutoff??? Mine is 9' X 14'. It's got two sinks, a toilet, a standard whirlpool and a shower stall. Is that too large and obscene and in bad taste?? There's also one down the hall for the second bedroom that is about 5' X 12'. Should that be reduced to the standard 5' X 7' because it's obscene & tasteless???

I've also got a walk-in closet that's about 5' X 9'. Is that too obscene & tasteless????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:36 PM

Is it a carbon footprint/green issue with you?? I'm just wondering why you can't grasp the fact that once you start spending certain amounts of money on a home, why the luxuries are not important and, in your mind, become "obscene."

Is there a Quaker/Puritanical thing that I'm missing?? "I will force myself to bathe and poop in the smallest possible space that one can imagine."

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:41 PM

rob, there needs to be a door separating the bathroom. Besides, everyone likes his own brand.

I don't want my guests' poo mist in my master bathroom. In your words, GAAAACCCCKKKKKKK

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 3:55 PM

I'm glad they enjoy going down the hallway. It has nothing to do with respecting the integrity or authenticity of an old house. I have three that all date before 1900, one as old as 1805.

What do their kitchens look like??? Do they have an island??? Are there stainless steel appliances?? That certainly does not respect the authenticity of an antique home; and most likely on the main floor as well.

I still can't understand your hangup with remodelling what are otherwise chopped up old useless victorian rooms on the second and third floor of a brownstone.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:05 PM

I too am a believer that we are only temporary custodians of these buildings. So lets stick to the discussion of brownstones. Do you mean to tell me that you believe it's necessasry to keep all those small useless chopped up rooms with two or more entrances on the second & third floor for the sake of the authenticity of the buiding???

And not make some more usable modern living space out of them??

I have kept the doors in the hallway yet refigured the rooms behind them. I have original doors from the bedroom to the bathroom and the bathroom is done in period wainscoting.

Don't tell me you take a bath in a clawfoot tub because a modern shower is an obscene intrusion on the authenticity of the building.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:14 PM

"An island? Stainless steel appliances? Certainly not. I don't know tacky people."

WOW, HOLIER THAN THOU.

What are the appliances made of then, WHITE METAL????

Gimmie a fuckin break.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:17 PM

I bought the house I found with the most original architectural detail.

I have a kitchen on the parlour floor. I guess I'm going to hell.

When you come over though, I still have the pocket doors so I will pull them shut so as not to offend your sensibilities. Also, so you won't have to look at tacky Bosch stainless steel. I'm sorry, I can't cook in the fireplace every night.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:19 PM

bxgrl,

Converting a bedroom to become an ensuite bathroom is a far cry from installing electricity and running water.

Posted by: shillstoner at August 19, 2009 4:18 PM

This guy is a madman. I really want to see your house.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:20 PM

Actually, bxgrl, I did put the refrigerator in a room off the kitchen in Bucks Co. so it wouldn't spoil the 18th century look. However, if you look below the cabinets you will se a dishwasher and a range. I know, very, very, very tacky.

BTW, I have cooked in the fireplace there and used the beehive oven for warming.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:22 PM

I get it, shillstoner. I've restored many homes. Whether the appliances are black or stainless steel has nothing to do with it. Unless you have aperiod table in a period room, it doesn't matter whether you have a table or an island.

If you actually entertain with people that want to have fun, the island is a better option, though I'd never have one on a parlour floor.

My hallways are gorgeous too but behind the closed doors I have modern, truly functional bathrooms. I would never want a guest to have to take abath in a clawfoot tub and not have a shower available. Nor do they come and go in coaches with footmen and stepping stones out front.

I can't imagine what you'd think of my 1805 Federal in Philly with a modern kitchen, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances all out in the open and visible.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:38 PM

No bidets, shillstoner. Now you've gone too far.

Doublesinksinbedstuy would be appropriate. i'm sure my brownstone never came with them.

Oh, and btw, I still have original gas and gas/electric antique light fixtures but alas, all converted to electricity.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:40 PM

I do have a lolling sofa and I get naked guys to feed me peeled grapes and fan me with elephant ear palm leaves. We share an occasional dose of snuff as well. Antique Chinese snuff bottles, not those cheap Victorian Endglish ones.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:42 PM

I also get carried around the neighborhood in a sedan chair manned by 4 men in nothing but loincloths.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:44 PM

And my venereal disease goes untreated because penicillin was not invented at the time my house was built.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:46 PM

DeLepp, if anyone, you could see to a 21,000 square foot house.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 4:52 PM

"A clawfoot tub is the most comfortable shower around. And a kitchen table is far better for socializing than an island."

Yeah, I love the plastic period shower curtains.

When I have people over, we socialize in the "den" on the deck, on the porch in the living room or around the island. We then have dinner around the dining room table, formally, not a kitchen table. Dinner around a kitchen table is really tacky when you have a nice brownstone with a formal table on the parlour level. Up your entertaining game.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:02 PM

denton, it's not about money. We are all underwater Asshats, including shillstoner, and we've been told time and time again here that these prices will NEVER recover.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:07 PM

A truly formal dining room cannot be on the garden level. PERIOD. The homes were built originally with them on the parlour level. Making people dine "below grade" as opposed to within the rooms with the high ceilings, plaster molded crowns and fireplaces is just tacky.

As far as clawfoot tubs and showercurtains, I cannot think of anything more annoying to deal with. Like I said, those clear plastic shower curtains with the multi colored fish on them are not period to the aesthetic of the building.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:12 PM

I don't have an island in this house.

Just what appliances did you use that will never go out of style???

And what are your countertops made out of??? The ONLY thing that might be more appropriate would be soapstone. If it's not that then you've made some truly bad choices. I have that with a farmers sink in Bucks Co, but it's very "farmhouse" and not befitting a brownstone.

Are you one of those people who are "afraid" of microwaves as well??

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:17 PM

Arkady, my kitchen was already on my parlour level so I knew I was screwed when I bought the house and that it was immediately unsellable from that point on.

I dickered and dickered and dickered because the countertops were granite and I knew no one would ever want them in the future. Uba Tuba is such a ghastly greenish black. I really wanted the lapis lazuri with the gold fixtures.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:22 PM

Snark, I would have assumed that you were one of those shallow gym rats already; hanging out with the buffed "gym buds" and drinking nothing but water in the bar all night long and talking about American Idol. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:27 PM

Also, I can't imagine what types of hideous changes you did to update your Ditmas Park place.

Stainless steel appliances, granite, ahower stalls with thick glass???

These are all trappings of an obscene and tacky lifestyle. You will burn in hell for not only your hedonistic desires but what horrors you have come to wrought on blessed buildings.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:29 PM

OK..I gotta run home and change. Because of the bad econmoic times I've had to let go of the house help so the fire has gone out in the kitchen. I'm going to one of those newfangled places to eat dinner tonight, a restaurant. I just hope they have the mutton pie I'm so used to cooking in the fireplace.

It's quite a trip out to Brooklyn from the City in the horse and buggy.

shillstoner, it has been fun. i hope we can resume this discussion here tomorrow morning, or on tomorrow's HOTD. I'm sure there will be ghastly, obscene and tacky parts of that house as well.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 5:41 PM

OK...getting ready to go out. Maybe too much information but I'm sitting here in my ensuite bathroom right now typing away while on the commode.

shillstoner....you obviously have a computer. How does that fit into the decor?? I don't see you as a laptop kinda guy but one with a big old CRT monitor. God forbid. Talk about tacky.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 6:49 PM

OK...getting ready to go out. Maybe too much information but I'm sitting here in my ensuite bathroom right now typing away while on the commode.

shillstoner....you obviously have a computer. How does that fit into the decor?? I don't see you as a laptop kinda guy but one with a big old CRT monitor. God forbid. Talk about tacky.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 6:49 PM

What kind of fixtures are appropriate for the bathroom? Mine are Bistro from Rest Hardware...polished nickel Can't wait to hear your take on them.

But, as long as I live, I will never entertain formally in the basement.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 19, 2009 6:51 PM

mopar....go back and read his posts and look at who called who tacky. Then reconsider the "ganging up."

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 7:48 AM

shrillstoner.....how do you justify the central A/C vents??? Aren't they as intrusive as recessed lighting???
I bet you don't utilize the cast iron registers like I have. Tsk, tsk. Who's a danger to mankind now??? ROTFLMMFAO

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 7:51 AM

"DIBS is a danger to the very integrity of mankind..."

And I'm sure there aren't many members of womankind that would want to be married to you

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 8:18 AM

Snark, I'll come in "period" attire if you do.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 8:45 AM

DeLepp, the offensive ones are not the kitchen style sinks but when "an obscene & tacky" renovator installs two sinks, side-by-side in a bathroom. That, apparently, just should not be done.

shillstoner has no worries about this though as there'll never be anyone using a bathroom sink next to him with that sort of demeanor.

He must be a very, very angry and lonely person sitting there in that basement dining room eating all alone!!!! The lack of light itself would drive one to depression.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 8:53 AM

The only problem with this house that is not fixable is that it is too far from any subway station. No matter how much money I had, I would not endure the frustration of driving in and out on Manhattan every day. I would want a quick subway ride for the convenience.

From my limited obscene & tacky experience in Brooklyn, that limits one to the A train if you are any further out than Brooklyn Heights.

Otherwise this is a great house.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 8:57 AM

Sorry DeLepp....a bus ride to a subway station is not my idea of convenient. I don't do buses, period.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 9:08 AM

Send the bf, DeLepp!!!!!! :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 9:28 AM

I mean you can do to the quartet and send the bf to the get together. I'll watch over him.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 9:29 AM

shillstoner, you're abigger hypocrite than the What. Everyone has read your posts and you seem to be the weekly laughingstock...as well as the Village Idiot.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 20, 2009 1:34 PM