House of the Day: 663 Rugby Road
After a fire gutted the single-family house at 663 Rugby Road last summer, the non-profit that owned it sold it to someone in December who did a quick renovation and put it on the market for $1,249,000. As a result, there’s not an original detail in sight. For that price in this area, we’d want…
After a fire gutted the single-family house at 663 Rugby Road last summer, the non-profit that owned it sold it to someone in December who did a quick renovation and put it on the market for $1,249,000. As a result, there’s not an original detail in sight. For that price in this area, we’d want a little more character. Think anyone will bite? There was an open house yesterday. Anyone go?
663 Rugby Road [Kestyn] GMAP P*Shark
Rococo is the way to go. Sheath that house in gold and then it might be worth the price.
It’s only in academia that “modernism” as a general era applies to arts & crafts, art nouveau, or deco. No interior designer or architect would use that term with a client as a visual reference. Art nouveau with its over-the-top romantic flourishes would be the polar opposite taste of a young couple walking in the door asking for a “modern” interior.
I think some people say ‘modern’ when they mean ‘contemporary’. A reasonable misunderstanding.
To architects and designers, ‘modern’ largely refers to modernism, which began around the turn of the last century and includes movements such as Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Di Stijl, Bauhaus, and Art Deco.
If there is any design reference in this renovation, it is seen in the attempt made in the kitchen to be contemporary, and is characterized by the granite counters and (invisible) stainless steel appliances. Contemporary refering to current trends and fashions.
This is absolutely great: “Plus that new French place is opening up any day now.”
Hey, there’s going to be a new French restaurant nearby. Of course I’ll shell out $1.25 million for it.
OMG goodness gracious, this interior is NOT modern. I love a truly modern interior inside an older historic house. But this one is not an example of that. Not even close.
There was a 2-story limestone in LM that was also gutted by fire and the new owners did a super upscale, loft-like interior renovation inside. The house was on the house tour last year. THAT was a modern interior. A renovation like that would have been amazing inside one of these woodframe Victorians. This seller didn’t invest to that degree in this house. The reno looks cheapy Home Depot. It looks like a mid-range condo in the ‘burbs inside.
The renovated house looks good from the outside. Workers put in a new driveway and walkway from the sidewalk to the front steps.
However, the asking price seems a little high. On the other hand, another house on Rugby — about 750 — was renovated over a year ago and offered for roughly the same price. I don’t know the final sale price, however. It was in horrible condition. Floors were collapsing, walls were partially destroyed. Strange people had lived in it for years.
That aside, the house at 663 Rugby is very close to Foster Avenue, which means there are some noise issues. It is also on the stretch of Rugby that has been the site of drug sales. Some of the finer residents of the apartment buildings on Rugby across Foster Avenue have discovered the benefits of completing drug transactions where no security cameras can record their activities. However, the increase in police foot patrols of the area has largely eliminated this nuisance.
those bathromms are hideous.
Not worth anything close to asking price!
Seems like the best of both worlds…modern-ish inside with a nice looking house on the outside. Updated electricals, heating, etc. (Looks like the photo shows the house during renovation, so that would explain the unfinished columns.)
Great location, not far from Cortelyou and very close to a convenient subway line for commuting into the city. Plus that new French place is opening up any day now.