Understanding Brownstone
Brownstone construction boomed between the 1840s and 1890s when brown Triassic sandstone quarried primarily from the Portland Brownstone Quarries in Connecticut was abundant and affordable. The soft sandstone was easy to carve into ornate facades with decorative cornices, window surrounds, and entrance details. Brownstones were built as single-family row houses for the growing middle and upper classes, typically three to five stories tall with a high stoop (exterior staircase) leading to the parlor floor entrance. The ground level (below the stoop) housed the kitchen and service areas. While "brownstone" technically refers to any building with a brown sandstone facade, it has become synonymous with a specific urban housing typology — the elegant row house with its tall, narrow proportions, high stoop, and ornamental facade. Today, brownstones are prized real estate in neighborhoods like Brooklyn's Park Slope, Boston's Back Bay, and Harlem.
Brownstone in Interior Design
Brownstone interiors are celebrated for their extraordinary architectural details. Original features include high ceilings (10-12 feet on parlor floors), elaborate plaster moldings, ceiling medallions, marble fireplaces on every floor, pocket doors with intricate woodwork, parquet hardwood floors, and sweeping staircases with carved newel posts and balusters. The parlor floor — the main entertaining level — often features the most dramatic architectural details, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the long, narrow rooms with light. Brownstone renovation is an art of balancing preservation with modern living: the best renovations restore original moldings and mantels while updating kitchens, bathrooms, and mechanical systems. Popular approaches include opening up the parlor floor for modern open-plan living, converting garden levels into family kitchens, and adding roof decks. Design styles range from faithful period restoration to modern-traditional blends that pair original details with contemporary furniture.
