Brownstone Interior Destroyed Modernized by Artist Couple
We had mixed emotions reading the Times Real Estate story this weekend about the older artist couple who financed the purchase of a Stuyvesant Heights brownstone four years ago by selling a Basquiat that one of them had picked up for $100 back in the Eighties. (Anyone know what block this is?) Aren’t there enough…
We had mixed emotions reading the Times Real Estate story this weekend about the older artist couple who financed the purchase of a Stuyvesant Heights brownstone four years ago by selling a Basquiat that one of them had picked up for $100 back in the Eighties. (Anyone know what block this is?) Aren’t there enough brownstones that have already been stripped of their original detail that someone wanting to create a modern space could avoid destroying yet another piece of history? Yes, these folks were considerate enough to call in a salvage company to save the architectural artifacts, but it’s still a bummer. And how about all that tree-cutting? What a soap opera! Update: Okay, it’s sounding like the Times article might have overstated how salvageable the interiors of this place were, so it’s looking like we came down a little too hard on these folks. Apologies.
Bankrolled by a Basquiat [NY Times]
Photo by Gabriele Stabile for The New York Times
I also saw this house on the 2008 Bed Stuy House Tour. The couple was very nice, and they did a really quality modern renovation. The art and the cabinetry really highlighted the modern furniture and white walls. The back yard was also very spacious, and because of the way the surrounding houses are placed on the grid, they had the biggest back yard on the block, with a nice balcony like deck on the parlor floor.
That said, this is not my taste, and I prefer period details whenever possible. I also would never have a house full of white walls, I just find them too cold and stark, even if paired with period detail or colorful art and accents. If they really got rid of a house full of detail, I’m saddened. I agree people who want to do that should look for one that’s already gone. That said, at least they sold it to a salvage place, and did not just dump it all in a dumpster.
I do have to disagree, Dave, on most BS houses not having detail. As Amzi said, more are detail intact, especially on the bottom 2 floors, than not. People just couldn’t afford to heavily renovate, they just subdivided with sheetrock, and covered up rather than removed. I’ve been in at least 100 BS houses over the years, and 90% still had significant amounts of detail, usually under 10 coats of paint, but still there.
In the long run, as much as I am a defender of architecture and detail, it is more important that Morris and Mary-Anne are good neighbors, good stewards of their place on the block, and love their community, and interact with it. That will be the growth and saving of the community. Architecture can’t do it alone.
I wont be syrpriced if its Corcoran…..
Their Bed Stuy brokers at that time were crooks.
oxirix…you got the balls to name that real estate firm???
I hope who ever buys the Bedford Corners Hancock Street house that was featured on here will preserve it back to it glory days. It has tons of detail all covered in lead paint.
I love brownstones and I love to see them well preserved but this house was in bad shape when this couple brought it a few years ago. I think they did a great job with the renovations. Dave this house will be part of the extended Stuyvesant Heights Historic District along with yours. 95% of the homes in South Bedford Stuyvesant are in tack because many of the old timers did not have money to renovate, they just painted and painted over the wood most of the time. I think most homes on my block have had nothing done to them all the houses are well preserved and many people have owned 40-50 years.
this house is on stuy. ave. between macon and macdonough. i was in contract to buy this house 4 years ago, but i dropped it because the real estate company was trying to “shake me down”…….they asked for lots of money in a brown bag to be given to them at the time of closing. i reported them, but the whole mess turned me off to the house. and yes, it did have lots and lots of beautiful details.
I hate this place. It should be a crime to gut a Brownstone.
I’m pretty sure they could have preserved and probably rebuilt some of the woodwork and details in this Brownstone. What they overlooked is that in Bed Stuy there are a lot of contractors that especialize in woodwork, plaster and preservation. Aren’t these people so called artist? I agree that is up to the owners to renovate the inside of their homes as they please, but you can renovate and restorate tastefully.
Welcome to the neighborhood. By the way your property value just went down the drain.
Saraghina hopefully soon. Butternut on hold.
DIBS,
Bensonhurst. That’s in Brooklyn, BTW.