Tudor on PLG's Scenic Chester Court With Coffered Ceiling, Roof Deck Asks $1.995 Million

With storybook looks and a location on one of Brooklyn’s charming one-block cul-de-sacs, this early 20th century Tudor Revival certainly has curb appeal. On the inside, the single-family home at 18 Chester Court in Prospect Lefferts Gardens has some recently renovated kitchens and baths and still retains some original details such as parquet floors and wainscoting and a coffered ceiling in the dining room.

The tiny street was created by Brooklyn-born architect and builder Peter J. Collins in 1911 when he launched a plan for the development of his accumulated property. Apparently inspired by a trip he took to Chester in England, Collins’ scheme called for two rows of houses designed with tapestry brick, stucco and “half timbery,” according to a Brooklyn Daily Eagle article about the forthcoming street.

The houses also fit neatly into the very popular revival styles of the early 20th century. When Collins first advertised the houses in 1912, he pitched them as “English half timber and stucco, one-family houses” with electric lights, tiled kitchen and baths and a laundry.

All of Collins’ houses on the block survive and the development was designated a historic district in 2014. No. 18 sits toward the Flatbush Avenue end of the street.

Save this listing on Brownstoner Real Estate to get price, availability and open house updates as they happen >>

The house has main living spaces on the first floor and two stories of bedrooms above. The main level has parquet floors and original moldings throughout the foyer, parlor and middle parlor. There’s a fairly open plan feel to the rooms, with large openings in an angled wall dividing the spaces.

The middle parlor has an original brick fireplace, now painted white, and wood mantel. The dining room beyond it has the aforementioned original wainscoting topped with a plate shelf as well as a coffered ceiling and built-in corner cabinet with a leaded glass door.

The kitchen has maple cabinets, stone counters and a blue tile backsplash. There’s a windowed pantry beyond; a listing photo shows a glimpse of built-in storage.

One level up are two bedrooms, one with a window seat and a whimsical, child-themed mural. The other bedroom has the bonus of an adjacent sunroom with a garden view. The master suite is on the top floor, which originally, according to the 1912 ad, would have held a maid’s room and a billiard room. It’s got hardwood floors, a wall ornamented with Fornasetti Faces wallpaper, and an en suite bath. There’s also access to a rear roof deck.

The three full bathrooms in the house are an interesting mix. One is modern with a walk-in shower, one riffs on mid-century style, and a third nods to the history of the house with white subway tile and a vintage-inspired sink.

There’s more space in the finished basement, which has laundry, a full bath, and a living area with a long wall finished in Butterflies & Dragonflies wallpaper by Cole & Son. The listing photos show it set up as a lounge, home office and sleeping area. It’s not labeled as a bedroom on the floor plan and it’s not clear if it is legal sleeping space.

The rear yard is not shown in the photos but is described as having bluestone paving and an apricot tree in the listing.

A house on Chester Court would have set a buyer back $7,750 when the development first went on the market in 1912. The last time it sold, in 2013, it went for $1.005 million. Now it’s asking $1.995 million and is listed with John Mazurek and Renata Thomas of Douglas Elliman. What do you think?

[Listing: 18 Chester Court | Broker: Douglas Elliman] GMAP

Related Stories

• Bay Ridge Bow-Fronted House With Stained Glass, Updated Kitchen Asks $1.625 Million
• Bushwick’s Fetching, Landmarked Former Ulmer Brewery Office Is Available for $3.99 Million
• Marine Park House With Wood-Burning Fireplace, Garage in Jazz Age Tudor Revival Row Asks $669K

Sign up for amNY’s COVID-19 newsletter to stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City. Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.