Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A Colorful Renovation and Homes Near the Park

The Insider: Cool, Colorful Kensington Rowhouse Gets New Kitchen, Baths and Staircase on a Budget
Fresh and functional, colorful and cost-conscious…that’s the job Alexandra Barker, a LEED-certified architect and principal at the Downtown Brooklyn-based Barker Freeman Design Office, pulled off for a family of four in a three-story limestone townhouse built around 1900.

—

5 Picture-Perfect Victorians in Historic Hudson Valley Towns for Under $400K
Maybe you’re crushing on the idea of an adorable vacation getaway but you’re on a budget and don’t want a fixer. We’ve rounded up five sprawling Victorians bursting with details and charm that appear to be in move-in condition, most with updated kitchens and baths.

—

What Is a Legal Bedroom and Why It Matters
Is that bedroom in a basement apartment legal? What about a bedroom with no windows? Whether you are a prospective renter or buyer in New York City, there are compelling reasons to know the legal definition of a bedroom.

—

Sprawling Ditmas Colonial Revival With Two-Car Garage, Pair of Porches Asks $2.2 Million

This is a fine specimen of a Ditmas Park house, with a couple of trees in the front yard, a deep garden in the rear, a wraparound porch, a two-car garage and seven bedrooms. It’s at 421 East 19th Street, on a fine specimen of a tree-lined and landmarked Ditmas Park block.

—

Commune With Nature: 5 Homes Near Prospect Park for $625K or Less
All of these apartments are located just blocks (if not directly across the street) from Brooklyn greatest amenity: Prospect Park. The location is ideal for getting down with nature daily, taking in arts and culture at the museum or library, and frequent stops at the farmers market. We’re rounded up five apartments for budgets ranging from $550,000 to $625,000.

Related Stories
Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Spectacular Mansions and Prewar Charm
Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A House Remade Worldwide and Low-Cost Two-Bedrooms
Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Best Brooklyn Beaches, a Catskills Colony’s Second Life

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.