Up and down the tree-lined streets of Brooklyn, rows of 'brownstones' stand as an iconic feature of many neighborhoods in the New York City borough. While not all of these row houses are clad in the eponymous brown stone, each balances a distinctive and congruous character that adds a certain charm to the pedestrian experience of strolling from block to block. Typical of the low-rising facades are bay windows, decorative cornices, and a stoop leading to the front door.

Dozens of row houses throughout Brooklyn were designed by Axel Hedman, a prominent local architect during the late 19th and early 20th-century. In 1899, Hedman completed a span of 10 homes between Decatur St. and Bainbridge St. along Stuyvesant Avenue in the Stuyvesant Heights neighborhood.

Number 386 on this block was recently listed for sale after a renovation by the designer-developer duo of Adam Dahill and Christiaan Bunce. The pair aimed to preserve original details while modernizing the home.

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According to the 1971 Stuyvesant Heights Landmark Designation Report, the row of ten homes were built by Eli H. Bishop, a pioneer in the early automobile industry, as an investment. The commission report describes the homes, including the one currently for sale: "These three and one-half story houses are predominantly classical in style, with alternately rounded and polygonal bays extending the full height of the houses balance the elaborately decorated doorways."

The report continues: "Traces of the earlier Romanesque Revival appear in the use of rough-cut stone at the stoops...while the swags and wreaths displayed at the fascias below the cornices are decorative motifs which express the classical and Renaissance influence of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. An interesting treatment of the segmental-arched doorway at No. 386 involves the use of a horizontal stone transom bar with an open transom above."

The 3,600-square-foot, two-family home encompasses three floors within the main residence, plus an 'in-law' suite or rental space on the ground level. Including the downstairs apartment, a total of six bedrooms, along with three and a half bathrooms, offer space for a growing family. Recent upgrades include a marble-clad kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a 'summer kitchen' off of the backyard garden. Scroll below for a tour of this historic Brooklyn row house, currently listed for $3,195,000.

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A fully contained one-bedroom apartment is located on the ground level, typical of many Brooklyn row houses. The space is complete within many of the same finishes and modern upgrades as the rest of the home. A shared backyard is accessible from the apartment and from a 'summer kitchen' built adjacent to the patio. The separate kitchen area is an added convenience when entertaining.

386 Stuyvesant Avenue is currently listed for $$3,195,000 by Esther Patten of the Ryan & Ryan Team at Compass.

Related Reading

10 Unbeatable Brownstone Renovations in Brooklyn

A Sustainable Brownstone Transformation in Brooklyn

7 Brooklyn Row Houses Renovations

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