Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill Townhouse Transformed With Pops of Color Asks $12.995 Million

Bright greens and blues are mixed with softer tones across five floors of living space that includes a two-bedroom garden rental.

kitchen and dining area with bright green tile floor, wood mantel

Photo via Compass

by Susan De Vries

01/27/2025 0

For a buyer who wants a fresh infusion of color, this Cobble Hill townhouse got a makeover that brought a new palette to the expansive 1880s residence. Bright greens and blues are mixed with softer tones across five floors of living space that includes a two-bedroom garden rental.

The colorful history of 234 Clinton Street predates the most recent makeover. The 25-foot-wide house sits within the Cobble Hill Historic District, and while historic maps and newspaper accounts indicate earlier structures on the site, this brick and brownstone residence was constructed in 1884. Plans for No. 234 and its neighbor on the corner at No. 236 were filed in May of 1884. Frederick E. Lockwood was behind the designs and H. D. & W. A. Southard was the builder for both houses, but they were built for different owners. No. 234 was constructed for Dr. Algernon T. Bristow at an estimated cost of $9,750. Dr. Bristow, who died tragically in 1913, and wife Emilie lived in the house, but also took in boarders, as was common on what would become known as “doctor’s row.” In 1885, the house was advertised as “new and elegant” and with furnished rooms available for boarders.

Lockwood designed a Neo-Grec/Queen Anne row house with details Brownstoner columnist Suzanne Spellen described as “more refined, more classical” than earlier Italianate brownstones. The cornice, door surround, and detailed lintels are still in place. The windows themselves were replaced this year as part of an LPC-approved project that included new wood windows. The stained glass transoms, visible in the circa 1940 tax photo, were removed and reinstalled in new wood frames.

The house had already been renovated when it last on the market in 2019, and the old listing shows the floor plan hasn’t changed significantly since then. It sold in 2020 for $5.25 million and the current owners, who have a connection to the art world, hired Red Hook-based architect firm Made for a redesign that included the infusion of pattern and color. Many of the original door and window surrounds survived, as did interior shutters and wooden mantels. While some tile fireplace surrounds appear to have been updated, perhaps the most striking change is the swap of the original newel post for marble.

That newel post rests on a checkerboard floor of black and white reclaimed marble while the stair treads have been painted a pale green. Double doors lead to the front parlor with original wood floors with inlaid borders and a wooden mantel around the wood-burning fireplace. The room, in shades of cream and white, is a break for the eyes before a visit to the rear of the house.

Bright green tiles grace the floor of the open-plan dining room and kitchen and run up to form a square island at the center of the cooking space. There is custom walnut cabinetry, Zuber wallpaper, and a wine fridge.

The second floor is set up as a full-floor suite with a bedroom at the rear and dressing room and office at front. There is more checkerboard tile in the en suite bath, this time in blue and green.

Upstairs, the third floor has three bedrooms and a full bath. There is also a central, skylit den or library, shown set up as a playroom with a ping-pong table.

The attic comprises a rec room, art studio with two skylights as well as windows, and another full bath.

Outdoor space includes a terrace off the dining room. It leads to a landscaped garden with a gravel patio edged with planting beds. The garden apartment has a view out to the yard from a petite windowed bay.

Other upgrades in the most recent renovation include a new boiler, according to the listing. The house has central air.

Listed by Nick Gavin, Allie Fraza, Ugo Russino, and Kimberly Lyn Pressman of Compass, the house is priced at $12.995 million. Worth the ask?

[Listing: 234 Clinton Street | Broker: Compass] GMAP