Real Estate

Designer's Stylishly Renovated Cypress Hills Row House, a Social Media Star, Asks $899K

Behind the classic early 20th century row house facade, this Cypress Hills two-family has a bit of contemporary design flair thanks to the owner.

by Susan De Vries

12/03/2021 0

Behind the classic early 20th century row house facade, this Cypress Hills two-family has a bit of contemporary design flair thanks to the owner. The DIY transformation of the lower duplex of 18 Kiely Place was documented by owner and interior designer Megan Pflug on her website and Instagram after purchasing the house in 2013.

Pflug, whose design of a Williamsburg loft was featured Brownstoner’s The Insider, and her husband relocated from Brooklyn to Greene County after purchasing a 1960s lodge in need of renovation.

The house in Brooklyn is now on the market and sits on the the block-long Kiely Place, which was originally known as Crescent Place when it was cut through in 1909. The Kerr & Cook Construction Company filled the street and surrounding blocks with rows of two-family houses. The two-story, bow-front brick houses were in an “up-to-date style” and in 1910 the company was advertising them as available at $5,700 with steam heat and hardwood trim added to the attractions. In 1937, in an effort to eliminate duplicated street names, Crescent Place was changed to Kiely Place.

Pflug’s search at the Department of Buildings actually turned up Kerr & Cook blueprints for a representative house in the development, albeit showing a bit more exuberance of detail than was ultimately used. By the time of purchase, the upper three-bedroom unit was already renovated but the lower unit was in rough shape, with layers of linoleum covering the floor. A few original details, including vestibule tile, a stained glass window and the stair with newel post (now painted black), survived.

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The rejuvenated floor-through lower unit has a bedroom with adjoining office at front with dining and kitchen at the rear and one full bath. Floors got painted white, with a checkerboard pattern in the dining room, hand-dyed fabric was inserted into the wall moldings of the bedroom and the narrow and windowless living room got a bold wallpaper feature wall. Other than some touches of wallpaper, the finishes throughout are largely white.

The listing photos show the also windowless office set up as a second bedroom but use as a home office or study might expand the living space. The room has two closets while there are none in the large bedroom.

In the windowed kitchen, a tin ceiling was discovered under a dropped ceiling but the rest of the space was redesigned with the addition of vintage cabinets along one wall and on the other a terra-cotta sink, open shelving and gray cabinets.

The basement got a renovation as part of a One Room Challenge and turned into a guest suite. Wood beams were exposed, faux fireplace constructed and a full bath added with subway tile on the walls and a vintage sink. The space has its own front entrance under the stoop.

Out back, a horizontal fence encloses the renovated rear yard with a pea gravel patio and planting beds.

The house sold for $495,000 in 2013. The now renovated property is listed at $899,000 with Carson Alexander of Triplemint. Think it will go fast?

[Listing: 18 Kiely Place | Broker: Triplement] GMAP