Updated12/27/2017
Added3/30/2017

538 Decatur St

Bedford Stuyvesant
Brooklyn
11233
Print
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 0 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 1 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 2 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 3 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 4 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 5 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 6 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 7 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 8 - CORCORAN-5108002
  • 538 Decatur St Photo 9 - CORCORAN-5108002
Active
No Longer Available
About this Property
RENOVATION vs RESTORATION? For the discriminating buyer who appreciates a TRUE RESTORATION -- showing by appointment. Presenting, for your time-traveling pleasure: an 1895 Renaissance Revival, bay-fronted brownstone in eastern Bedford-Stuyvesant, 18-feet wide, three stories with a two-story extension, full cellar, and gardens -- front and back. This remarkable townhouse boasts an astonishing wealth of original detail: oak parquet floors with ornate borders; beveled pier mirrors; quarter-sawn oak wainscoting, shutters and moldings; five fireplaces with carved over mantels and tiled hearths and surrounds; oak pocket doors with restored, functioning hardware; magnificent cabinetry with beveled glass; and even the rare speaking tubes. Creativity, ingenuity, painstaking research and great sourcing on the part of the current owners have yielded a home that is unique in both its beauty and functionality.Massive entry doors and transom bear ornate, bank-worthy solid-bronze grilles and cladding, and a polychromatic encaustic-tiled floor in the oak-paneled vestibule hint as to what lies in store. The front hall boasts a nine-foot-tall pier mirror where over-sized pocket doors reveal the cheerful front parlor, with its huge console mirror and stained-glass transoms over twin bay windows. A magnificent and unusual arched fretwork partition divides this room from the rear parlor, with glass-doored bookcases and restored wood-burning fireplace. A powder room is cleverly concealed in a former closet. Beyond the rear parlor, through another set of pocket doors, lies a tranquil guest room adorned with another stately fireplace and richly collaged Persian-style papers on the walls and ceiling.The third floor, formerly a rental apartment, holds two ample bedrooms, each with its own decorative fireplace and abundant natural light. Theyre connected by dual dressing rooms. A former nursery was turned into a galley kitchen, and is easily revertible. Centered off the hall, the sky-lit main bathroom is clad in restored oak wainscoting and has its own on-demand water heater, as well as the rara avis of period bathrooms: a 66-in.-long pedestal tub with nickel-plated fittings.Descend to the garden level to find a less formal entry hall opening onto a cozy front den/dining room with a bay window and another beautiful fireplace. Past the swinging door and through the butlers pantry with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry is the spacious eat-in kitchen -- perhaps the most cleverly fashioned room of the house. A unique and substantial custom-made prep table with drawers on both sides anchors the room. Facing it, a period-styled five-burner AGA Legacy range is nestled appropriately into the chimney, which itself stands between restored (and updated) original glass-doored cabinetry. Under the wide south-facing window sits a fantastic double-welled soapstone sink sporting high-end brass faucets. The paneled Bosch dishwasher blends seamlessly into the woodwork. Across the room, twin utility closets flank a cozy breakfast nook. Toward the rear of the house is a large, cheery laundry room with full-sized appliances and sink. Finally, a sunny full bath boasts a spacious walk-in shower, marble sink with Waterworks faucet and three windows facing south and west.The dry, well-lit, stone-walled cellar has seven-foot ceilings and two south-facing window wells, and houses an updated (09) gas water heater and forced-air furnace. The room makes a terrific studio space, with a slop sink, shelving and lots of electrical outlets.The cedar-fenced back garden has been meticulously designed for easy maintenance. Bluestone paving is accented with an unusual geometry of rusted rectangular steel planters, and notable flora include a Japanese pine, magenta redbud tree, a highly productive cherry tree and a multitude of colorful perennials. Along with the soothing gurgle of a bowl-like fountain this garden fosters a pacific and picturesque respite from city life. The eastern end of Bed-Stuy offers two subway lines (J and A/C), tree-lined blocks of seemingly endless historic architecture and a constantly growing list of exciting restaurants, stores and services.The New York Times, The Learning Channel, and Steven Soderberghs The Knick have all featured the remarkable assets of 538 Decatur Street. Now its your turn! Dont miss the opportunity to find a home that's had the very best in faithful stewardship and love of place.
Details
  • Status:No Longer Available
  • Type:House
  • ID:5108002
  • Tax:$ 300
  • Year Built:1895
Learn about this property's history, neighborhood, taxes, schools and more.
Marketproof building overview
Amenities
Brownstoner Features
Location

Copyright © 2024 Corcoran. All rights reserved. All information provided by the listing agent/broker is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.

Add or feature your listings
$1,825,000
Tax:$300
2.5 BA
3 BD
Is this your listing? Feature it
View listing on Corcoran