Brooklyn Heights was NYC’s first landmark district, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a property more emblematic of the neighborhood’s grand past than this co-op. The three-bedroom duplex, listed with Douglas Elliman for $4.82 million, is in a townhouse built in 1856 by the Pierreponts, who left their mark throughout Brooklyn Heights and were behind the creation of Green-Wood Cemetery. The house was later converted to four co-ops, which were developed by renowned architect Norval White, so the space certainly has its design bonafides.
Upon entering the parlor floor, its lofty 12-foot ceiling rendered even more remarkable by a hand-painted mural, you might feel as though you stepped into a museum. Lovers of Italianate architecture will find plenty more to swoon over, between the elaborate millwork, parquet floors, and massive windows. Note, too, the etched glass over the doors, extensive wainscoting, and details around the fireplace and mirrors.
If all that’s a bit heavy for you, the sunroom, which overlooks a garden, lightens the mood. On the second floor, a library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a reading nook outfitted with dreamy wallpaper is a bookworm’s fantasy.
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The kitchen belongs to more modern times—though the flooring lends a pleasantly quaint touch—and is very chef-friendly, with its ample granite countertops and new appliances, including a dishwasher and Subzero refrigerator.
The second-floor master bedroom has a slightly sunken floor; from there, step up into a sitting room and home office that both lead open onto the garden. The bedroom also boasts four large closets, plus an en suite bath with a double vanity. Walk past the laundry room, den, and additional bathroom for the second bedroom, which faces the street and has its own aura of history, thanks to its stone fireplace.
The listing notes that much of the basement will belong to this apartment’s owners, offering the potential to convert it to more livable space. And the building’s curb appeal is tremendous; the townhouse’s grandeur makes it a stop-and-stare centerpiece of a neighborhood that’s rich in history.