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Masterfully Crafted: Ten Incredible NYC Homes with Gorgeous Woodwork and Fireplaces; Includes Brownstone of Former NYC Mayor

Dining room at 51 East 80th Street via Douglas Elliman Dining room at 51 East 80th Street via Douglas Elliman
Try as some designers might, the impressive woodwork of prewar townhouses and apartment buildings cannot be replicated or improved upon. Nor would buyers want it to be - in addition to beautiful artistry, these homes come with the cachet of owning a piece of old-world New York. The following Manhattan and Brooklyn listings have been updated to include modern conveniences and luxuries, but the original woodwork and fireplaces have stayed intact.
Prewar Park Slope Townhouse

In this article:

51 East 80th Street
51 East 80th Street Carnegie Hill
Hotel des Artistes, 1 West 67th Street
Hotel des Artistes, 1 West 67th Street Central Park West
248 Central Park West
248 Central Park West Central Park West
The Apthorp, 2211 Broadway
The Apthorp, 2211 Broadway Riverside Dr./West End Ave.
21 West 121st Street
21 West 121st Street Harlem
572-1st-Street-1 All images of 572 1st Street via Compass
572-1st-Street-2 Living room
572-1st-Street-3 Dining room
572-1st-Street-4 Bedroom
This massive Renaissance Revival home near Prospect Park has been lovingly restored and remains rich in period details like tiled fireplaces, 11' ceilings, stained glass, enormous mirrors, and ornate woodwork. A gracious living room, a library with built-in bookcases, a grand dining room, and a gourmet kitchen flow seamlessly into each other. See floor plan and full details here.
Landmarked Upper West Side Condominium
2211-Broadway-1 All images of The Apthorp via Douglas Elliman
2211-Broadway-2 Dining room
2211-Broadway-3 Kitchen
2211-Broadway-4 Bedroom
A rare opportunity to own an entire floor at the historic Apthorp! A complete structural and museum-quality renovation brings one majestic residence back to its original grandeur, and the other is characterized by soaring ceilings, prewar charm, and original details. See floor plan and full details here.
Historic Harlem Brownstone
21-West-121st-Street-1 All images of 21 West 121st Street via Keller Williams
21-West-121st-Street-2 Living room
21-West-121st-Street-3 Kitchen and dining area
21-West-121st-Street-4 Bedroom
Impeccable five-story brownstone has three large bay windows on every floor, 12' ceilings, original woodwork, including restored molding, door hinges, original cast iron claw foot tubs and hardwood floors throughout. Every floor offers northern, southern, and eastern exposures. See floor plan and full details here.
Central Park West Mansion
248-Central-Park-West-1 All images of 248 Central Park West via Sotheby's
248-Central-Park-West-2 Living room
248-Central-Park-West-3 Study
248-Central-Park-West-4 Bedroom
The grandeur of late-19th-century Manhattan fills the versatile interior of this Queen Anne mansion, which has been updated with an open, airy ambience and 21st-century technologies and amenities. However, decorative plasterwork, oak wainscoting and parquet de Versailles floors, antique fireplace mantels, silvered hardware, and ornate light fixtures contribute to a sense of Old World luxury that cannot be replicated. See floor plan and full details here.
Timeless Upper East Side Townhouse
248-Central-Park-West-1 All images of 51 East 80th Street via Douglas Elliman
51-East-80th-Street-2 Entrance foyer
51-East-80th-Street-3 Library
51-East-80th-Street-4 Bedroom
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One block from Central Park, this circa-1883 townhouse has been renovated to deliver state-of-the-art indulgence, though not at the expense of its original woodwork. Five luxury levels are each connected by an internal elevator and feature a fresh and breezy open living area with soaring 12' ceilings. See floor plan and full details here.
Grand Strivers Row Townhouse
248-West-138th-Street-1 All images of 248 West 138th Street via Corcoran
248-West-138th-Street-2 Living room
248-West-138th-Street-3 Kitchen
248-West-138th-Street-4 Bedroom
This amazing brownstone home has original architectural details and hardwood floors throughout, and four decorative fireplaces add visual interest to an already rich interior. The parlor floor features a generous double-parlor layout with original detail throughout and soaring 11' ceilings with a dramatic staircase that evokes the splendor of an earlier era. See floor plan and full details here.
Neoclassical Park Slope Home
105-Eighth-Avenue-1 All images of The Tracy Mansion via Corcoran
105-Eighth-Avenue-2 Living room
105-Eighth-Avenue-3 Kitchen
One block from Prospect Park, a striking mansion is now home to spectacular condo residences that offer all of the luxuries of new construction but the warmth and hand-crafted originality of a truly special turn-of-the century masterpiece. The main floor of this duplex features a dramatic living and dining room with stunning wainscoting and moldings, extra high ceilings, and a gas fireplace as the centerpiece. See floor plan and full details here.
Iconic Upper West Side Co-op
1-West-67th-Street-1 All images of Hotel des Artistes via Leslie J. Garfield
1-West-67th-Street-2 Living room
1-West-67th-Street-3 Master suite
1-West-67th-Street-4 Master bath
The renovated home in the iconic Hotel des Artistes is defined by one of the city's great entertaining spaces, a dramatic 44'7" x 16'6" living and dining room complete with a fireplace, oversized south windows, and 17'9" ceilings that opens on to a paneled library with a bookend fireplace. Up an elegant staircase, the third floor boasts a generous master suite with private terrace and a large greenhoused bathroom with steam shower, double sinks and seating. See floor plan and full details here.
Park Slope Treasure
212-Saint-John's-Place-1 All images of 212 Saint John's Place via Corcoran
212-Saint-John's-Place-2 Dining room
212-Saint-John's-Place-3 Kitchen
212-Saint-John's-Place-4 Bedroom
Previously owned by William Gaynor, mayor of New York from 1910 to 1913, this Park Slope brownstone has a unique combination of proximity, remove, size, intimacy and condition that cannot be easily found in modern times. The extra deep and wide parlor floor has soaring ceilings, stunning wood and plaster work, beautifully maintained parquet floors, and a unique two-story extension with an updated eat-in kitchen with sun pouring in from south- and west-facing windows. See floor plan and full details here.
Uptown Victorian Brownstone
203-West-137th-Street-1 All images of 203 West 137th Street via Coldwell Banker
203-West-137th-Street-2 Kitchen
203-West-137th-Street-3 Bedroom
This rare Harlem gem has all of its historic architectural details including authentic mahogany, cherry wood trim and original pocket doors combined with beautiful contemporary finishes. Features include a spacious family room with beautiful hardwood floors, an original decorative fireplace, ceramic tiling, built-in book shelves, updated gourmet kitchen, and a private patio. See floor plan and full details here.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
  1. Select which properties are of interest to you:

Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?

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Content Specialist Michelle Merritt Michelle is a contributing writer and editor for real estate news in New York City