Reuniting in a Bed Stuy Brownstone
There were a couple of things that stayed with us after we read Sunday’s piece in The Times about the Indian family who moved into a beautiful brownstone in Bed Stuy last summer. The first was their decision to stain the parquest floors cranberry and green. This looks fine to us in the photos but…
There were a couple of things that stayed with us after we read Sunday’s piece in The Times about the Indian family who moved into a beautiful brownstone in Bed Stuy last summer. The first was their decision to stain the parquest floors cranberry and green. This looks fine to us in the photos but we’re wondering what others think of this idea. We were more struck by Rina Banerjee’s description of the first time she visited the neighborhood:
“I came for a visit five years ago and honestly I was a little scared, Ms. Banerjee said. I walked out of the Utica subway station and there was a gang of boys there fooling around and I was worried, but I decided I had to know the neighborhood and I asked them for directions and they were so kind that I immediately felt comfortable. It’s amazing how a neighborhood’s reputation impacts your thinking about it even before you see it.
Food for thought indeed.
Family Reunited in a Brownstone [NY Times]
Don’t sweat it CHP. We know you well enough to know that any outbursts come from the troll. I’m just sorry you have to tolerate this crap.
CrownHeightsProud, that is fascinating (about the “wood carpet”)–I had never heard that before. Also interesting that some of the decorative hardwoods were orig (I own Bricks & Brownstones–maybe I should read it instead of just looking at the pictures). I would like to add in response to Anon 11:02’s point that many people are ripping up the parquet to expose the original wood–if there IS original wood under the parquet, it is almost certainly pine planks, which was intended to be a subfloor for wall-to-wall carpeting. Right? It wouldn’t make much sense to put homey, rustic pine floors in a house with elaborate mantels and wedding-cake plaster, would it? Not that homeowners always make sense…
The childish outburst at 1:04PM was not mine. ‘Tis a pity we all had to witness it.
Oh, for God’s sake. Can the child please stop poaching my handle? Even when he’s not saying anything especially awful, it certainly is annoying. 12:05, 12:36 – get a life! May the new year bring you a job and your own life. I can be pompous enough on occasion on my own, I don’t need your help. I also never council people to “set aside a period for thought and experimentation”. Gackk!!!
Oh, by the way, the absolute best book on floors is The Complete Book of Floors by Alan Berman. It is available in paperback and is simply the best reference available.
Bob999, while I’m sure some parquet was added in the twenties, for the most part, the parquet in most Victorian homes, including brownstones and other row houses, dates back to the original building of the house, or very soon afterward.
According to both Mr. Lockwood in Brick and Browstones, and Winker & Moss in Victorian Interior Decoration, there were periods throughout the 1870’s through the 1900’s where both carpeting and/or parquet flooring were acceptable floor coverings. Interestingly enough, from the 1870’s onward, a form of carpeting called “wood carpet” was very popular. This was a thinner than usual parquet pattern which was glued to a muslin underlayer which was laid down over the subfloor like wall to wall carpet. These floors couldn’t have lasted too well over the years, and are another reason besides wall to wall wool carpeting, for many people having inexplicably plain floors in otherwise grand houses.
By the way, if anyone is really into the history and period decor of Victorian homes, Gail Casky Winkler and Roger Moss’ book Victorian Interior Decoration – American Interiors 1830 – 1900, Henry Holt & Co, NY 1986, is a valuable, historic study of the period. I highly recommend the book.
Agreed Bob999. I’m partial to workwork myself, and any future buyers of this property probably will be as well. There are many ways to make a living space one’s own. My advice to this family would be to set aside a period of time for thought and experimentation. They might hit upon a design plan they love that doesn’t involve these kinds of serious, longterm alterations, which may well have negative consequences down the road. If they don’t, then of course they can do whatever it takes.
It is true that the fancy parquet floors were added in the 20s in most of these places, I’ve heard. And it certainly is the homeowners right to stain them if they like. I’m just saying… seems smarter to me to get crazy with your wall colors, which you can easily change as fashions (and owners) come and go. If you stain your floors green and red, they’re gonna stay green and red unless you sand them. Just my opinion. Also, I would also never be the first person to paint that woodwork!
I like the floors, and think it is a creative alternative which allows the pattern and grain to still be visible. Just as African art and fabrics compliment the natural wood in brownstones, I think this artistic and ethnic treatment looks just great. The stairs, which can be especially beat up or boring, have some real design punch now. I always like to see what creative people do in their homes.
As to people’s positive experiences in Bed Stuy, or especially from black youth in general – I hope to live in a world someday where no one even needs to mention these positive encounters, because no one would think otherwise. Being a black male teenager is the hardest thing in the world. Congratulations to the vast, vast majority of them who are brought up by caring parents and supportive communities, to be well mannered, law abiding, achieving young men. I’m glad that more and more people come out with positive stories of living in predominantly black communities, as they are the norm, not the exceptions.