14 Row Houses and Brownstones “Before & After†Their Much-Needed Makeovers
Developed in many American cities as affordable housing for a growing population, the classic row house is compact and modest, ranging from two to four stories high and sharing walls with its neighbors on either side. They vary from city to city: think New York’s brownstones with the sandstone exteriors that give them their name, or the stately red brick of a Georgian town house in Philadelphia.
As significant as row houses are in architectural history, their form can also present some challenges. A narrow footprint makes it difficult to bring in natural light, and cramped layouts no longer fit modern lifestyles—not to mention the buildings that have fallen into complete disrepair. The transformations below show the creative ways designers have overcome these hurdles.
A 19th-Century Row House Becomes a Boho Newlyweds’ Nest
Before: Chris and Claude Beiler, a pair of self-taught designers and the founders of the real estate agency Chris & Claude Co, remodeled this 19th-century row home for a newly married couple. The home was stripped save its hardwood floors, which were beneath the carpet. The designers knocked down walls to create better flow as well.
After: To define the new interior, the designers installed reclaimed timber ceiling beams and trim, its salvaged patina echoing that of the refinished floors.
Before: While row houses are known for their narrow proportions, at just 14 feet wide, Priscilla Caldwell’s Brooklyn townhouse is even more slim than most. For a recent remodel with architect Nate McBride, they were able to relocate the staircase to maximize the home’s full width.
After: They tucked the staircase behind a central core that runs through all of the floors and hosts storage and mechanicals. Painting the core in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue creates a consistent and connected experience as people move through the house. Here, the kitchen and dining room sits in front of the core at the parlor level. "Like a boat, everything you need is in the block," McBride says.
Before: Chris and Catherine were so excited about the potential of this abandoned 1918 row home, they relocated from California, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to tackle a remodel.
Before: The couple preserved the front facade and the fireplace, then gutted the rest of the interior. Doing so made it possible to keep the exterior cohesion with the neighborhood, while installing a more modern approach to the interior. "We wanted to reimagine the space in a way unlike anything Philadelphia has seen before," says Catherine.
After: Sandwiched between two other red-brick properties, the revamped row home now gorgeously stands out with its crisp white facade.
After: Large picture windows at the rear of the home and crisp white paint brighten the interior of the main living spaces.
Before: Architect Lauren Thomsen saw a lot of potential in her Logan Square row house, principally that by putting in a load-bearing beam, she could open up views and the back wall to the backyard.
After: Thomsen calls the remodel "honest," in that now the historic aspects of the building can be appreciated alongside the contemporary modifications of the addition and remodel. "I think it's a successful marriage of the two," says Thomsen.
After: Creating a connection between the kitchen and backyard makes the room "feel so much more spacious, despite it not being huge," says Thomsen.
Before: It was a careful stitching together of old and new for the remodel of this 1898 townhouse. GRT Architects retained elements like the Romanesque and neoclassical ornamentation on the exterior, while others were carefully altered. For instance, in the living room, the fireplace, casework, and floors were kept intact.
After: Where to go modern, then? The firm paid close attention to the doorways, here widened and given a brass accent. "Rather than try to match the existing historical moldings, we opted for minimal trim with brass inlays and a broad brass threshold marking the new opening," says the firm.
After: Modern green cabinetry contrasts brightly with the home’s historic shell. Custom triangular brass pulls designed by the architects echo the brass accents on the nearby threshold between the living and dining rooms. The island top is Marmoleum, while the counter along the wall is stainless steel, which syncs with the Bertazzoni range.
Before: It’s not often that potential buyers are startled by a brood of dogs when they come to tour a house, but that’s exactly what happened with Chris and Claudia Beiler when they visited this abandoned 1860 row house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After purchasing the home for $59,000, the couple initiated a top-to-bottom remodel that embraced pattern and color.
After: The designers kept the original layout, but fitted the kitchen with new windows and finishes, including a porcelain tile backsplash from Lowe’s, cabinets painted Behr Fig Tree green, and a concrete counter by a local artisan.
Before: This Brooklyn brownstone had seen better days—having been abandoned, its finishes were peeling from the walls and floors, and there was a gaping hole in the hallway ceiling. Brooklyn-based designers Sheena Murphy and Tor Sauder of Sheep + Stone worked with architectural designers at Frances Mildred on an overhaul.
After: The team salvaged a lot of the original details, from the doors and window shutters, to the trim and crown molding, and reinstalled where possible. These historic elements were mixed with modern treatments for a fresh feel. In the living room, the crown molding and walls were painted Sherwin Williams Origami White, and the marble fireplace was restored.
Before: When the most recent owners came in possession of this home in the Maison Clark neighborhood of Montreal, it suffered from mold, water damage, and a cramped layout. The firm, la SHED stepped in for a refresh, preserving the front facade and drastically altering the rear to bring in more natural light.
After: The architects clad the exterior in alternating strips of Easter cedar to offset the new window layout. Yellow accents add a playful atmosphere.
After: A double-height volume at the stairs helps to flush the interior with sun, while a mezzanine and the large windows overlook the garden. Wood kitchen cabinets meld with the wood flooring, while the gray counter complements the yellow door frames.
Before: Ryan Brooke Thomas, principal of Brooklyn firm Kalos Eidos, guided the remodel of this two-level townhouse so that it could accommodate a fluid range of activities for its self-professed "extroverted-introvert" owner.
After: Now, the upstairs is set up for socializing, including a deck off the kitchen for eating and grilling. Downstairs, it’s designed for nesting, including this private, protected tile patio off the main bedroom suite.
After: In the kitchen, a generous island protects the cook's workspace while providing a place for friends to gather. The countertops and backsplash are Pietra Cardosa stone, and the cabinetry is whitened maple and an ebony-stained charcoal oak to sync with the rest of the case goods throughout the home.
Before: Having grown up in a Brooklyn brownstone, Shane Neufeld was well aware of how dark they could feel. So, when the architect and founder of the firm L/AND /A got his hands on one of his own, his first order of business was to bring in more light.
After: The big design move was to rework the staircase, creating a switchback layout rather than a stacked configuration, and top them with a 14-by-6-foot skylight, which floods the interior with sun.
After: Neufeld also installed a lighter material palette, such as the American white oak for the flooring and kitchen cabinets. Exposed brick was also painted white, so as to reflect the light.
Before: Built in 2010, this Brooklyn brownstone needed some personality. The owners reached out to architect Frederick Tang for assistance.
After: Tang tempered the "developer special" finishes with more individual picks, like custom Venetian plaster for the fireplace and custom woodwork in the office and a playroom.
After: The space below the stairs in this revamped Brooklyn brownstone was turned into a cheerful play area for the clients' two boys. "We built an egg shaped 'nook' underneath the staircase, and filled it with soft ‘pebble’ pillows," adds Tang.
Before: For the most recent remodel of an 1860s brownstone in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood, Urban Pioneering Architecture did much to overcome the remnants of redos in years past. The firm preserved the exterior facade, and where possible, replicated or reinstalled molding and casework that should have been there. The siding on a previous rear extension was removed to reveal the old brick.
After: Against the backdrop of the older details, new features like the dining room doors look extra sharp. The firm also eked out more function, creating a top-floor guest suite, garden apartment, and here, access to the yard.
After: A custom dining table made by the owner is surrounded with vintage Eames chairs and topped with a vintage Louis Poulsen PH Snowball pendant by Poul Henningsen. The metal sideboard is from Muji, and the paneling is original.
Before: Kate Hostetter’s first visit to this 1880s brick row home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was unremarkable. "The home was dark and small and smelled like cat pee—not inspiring at all," Hostetter says. Working with her company Brentwood Builders, Hostetter revamped the 1,100-square-foot home.
After: Hostetter’s team changed the layout, moving the staircase to iron out the plan, and relocating bathrooms so they’re more convenient to the bedrooms. Then they removed sections of the ceilings to expose the wood framing, and gave the stairs a metal railing, all of which contribute to an airier atmosphere.
After: In the kitchen, the white countertops are made from concrete and the wooden cabinets have been painted a subtle shade of sage. The floors are white oak hardwood, and the backsplash is handmade tile. A full-lite glass back door brings in more light.
Before: In a 2017 remodel of their 1901 Brooklyn brownstone, James Veal and Christine Stucker, co-principals of the architecture and design studio Stewart-Schafer, saved many of the structure’s "envelope" elements, like the flooring and decorative woodwork.
After: The couple then inserted an assortment of modern furnishings and light fixtures for contrast against the historic shell.
After: The designers were able to retain the existing fireplace, making it a beautiful centerpiece of the living room. They painted the existing brick white, providing a neutral backdrop to the eclectic art collection and custom chandelier.
Related Reading: The Rise and Resurgence of the Great American Row House
Published
Get the Renovations Newsletter
From warehouse conversions to rehabbed midcentury gems, to expert advice and budget breakdowns, the renovation newsletter serves up the inspiration you need to tackle your next project.