Brownstone Renos: A Contrast In Styles
The House & Home today section compares the renovation approaches of one couple who went for a bold modern approach to renovating part of their brownstone overlooking Fort Greene Park with that of hardcore preservationists and Clinton Hill old-timers Jim and Sharon Barnes. Here’s what we had to say about the modern reno after seeing…
The House & Home today section compares the renovation approaches of one couple who went for a bold modern approach to renovating part of their brownstone overlooking Fort Greene Park with that of hardcore preservationists and Clinton Hill old-timers Jim and Sharon Barnes. Here’s what we had to say about the modern reno after seeing it last May on the Fort Greene House Tour:
Clearly the boldest departure from brownstone tradition on the Fort Greene House Tour was the parlor floor renovation at 203 Washington Park which featured poured and buffed concrete floors as well as an open-plan loft-style kitchen/dining/living area. We thought the modern approach was largely successful but agree with an earlier commenter that the juxtaposition to the shlubby traditional hallway was a little jarring. Perhaps the coolest part of the design, though, was the giant wall of windows overlooking the garden.
Interestingly, modern and spare does not mean cheap: The Phillips spent $400,000 renovating the bottom two floors.
By contrast, the Barnes have painstakingly restored their Clinton Avenue house over the past twenty years, along with seven other rental properties in the neighborhood. Preservation, to the Barnes, is a kind of calling. Every one of the people who I met over the years who’d bid on this house were going to tear it to smithereens,” says Ms. Barnes. “What is unique about this house is that it is intact.
A Flood of Foreclosures, but Should You Invest? [NY Times]
FGHT: Modern on the Park [Brownstoner]
Photos by John Lei for The New York Times
The worst part of attempting to do a “perfect” historic renovation would have to be finding handymen or contractors to do perfect work! I’ve literally never found one single one who didn’t slack off on at least one portion of a task. Leaving one part undone, or something crooked, etc. I get so exhausted constantly having to make them re-do things that I give up at a certain point. It takes a patient patient person who is able to stay at home to micromanage everything, and not throw in the towel, to get a perfect renovation done.
I love the modern loft interpretation. It’s so nice to see a fresh renovation instead of yet another tired, “authentic” resurrection of the past. How many museums do we need in Brooklyn? Meanwhile, we don’t live like we did 100 years ago, so why should our homes stay stuck?
Of course, we do need some preservation. And in all fairness, we should give plenty of kudos to the eccentrics (and their p-whipped husbands) who obsess over every little detail to give us perfectly restored museum pieces.
God love ’em. Lord knows thumbing through reams of historically accurate wallpaper and paint colors would make the rest of us INSANE!
Sure it’s a big undertaking but oh how satisfying it would be!
“Of course, personally we think it would be fun to reconstruct a shell using architectural salvage, but that’s just us…”
Pardon my ignorance but is that really possible. (I’m from the Long Island suburbs and no absolutely nothing about all of this brownstone architecture stuff.) I recently saw a CH brownstone that was within my price range but was lacking in the original detailing that attracted me to brownstones in the first place. I was kinda giving up on the place. Didn’t know it was possible to create the old world look. I imagine that’s a big undertaking, no?
i absolutely agree with Mr. B. on this one. but then, i don’t know. it’s something about grandfather clocks that makes me want to crawl under my blankets and wish i it would all just go away.
Bravo, Brownstoner. Whole heartedly agree.
We agree with 10:09. We like some modern renos if they’re done well, but we do think that if that’s your plan, you should not go buy a detail-rich house and then destroy it. Find a shell and then go nuts. Of course, personally we think it would be fun to reconstruct a shell using architectural salvage, but that’s just us…
I think it is a shame when someone buys a house loaded with details only to tear it all out, but I think it is refreshing when someone renovates a detail free house and makes it their own—parlor floors look especially amazing opened up!
Brownstoner is a strict preservationist when it comes to renovation and additions. He should talk to someone about this regressive behavior.