This $4M Flatbush townhouse stays true to its Victorian roots

From the outside, the free-standing home at 85 Westminster Road in Flatbush is a confection of colonnades and turrets, with a wide porch at one side. And unlike many Brooklyn townhouses, this one, built in 1908, has interiors that highlight the decorative aesthetic of the era. Asking $3,950,000, this landmarked three-story home, within the Prospect Park South Historic District, and the enchanting grounds that surround it, offer the sensibility of a country estate with the ease of modern townhouse living in the city.

Mechanical upgrades ensure 21st-century functionality and comfort. Upgrades include electrical and plumbing systems, central and split system air conditioning in the bedrooms, comprehensive moisture/flood prevention, a reverse osmosis drinking water system, upgrades in the kitchen and baths, and a fully upgraded basement.

The plush elegance of the home’s interior decor represents a significant creative change from the last time 6sqft featured the home, which was on the market for $2.4 million in 2018.

The addition of silkscreened wall coverings, decadent chandeliers, and a sophisticated color palette complements the home’s well-preserved architecture. There are three distinct living rooms on the ground floor. All have original woodwork and fireplaces.

A spacious, colorful eat-in kitchen is a thoroughly charming gathering spot, done in a modern English country style. Anchored by a Garland stove, design details include William Morris wallpaper and cabinets painted in Farrow and Ball Calke Green.

Beneath a massive, yet delicate, crystal chandelier, the dining room walls wear a De Gournay-style hand-painted chinoiserie mural. Original woodwork is painted to continue the color from the adjacent kitchen.

Through a glass door, a bluestone patio offers a true oasis. For additional outdoor enjoyment, a 700-square-foot porch becomes a private, trellised “outdoor room.”

Seven large bedrooms enjoy the same creative treatment, with sophisticated wall coverings highlighting fireplaces and other original features.

One large third-floor bedroom is used as a studio suite. Renovated baths have vintage fixtures and clean, colorful design additions.

Surrounding the home, a colorful English cottage garden landscape continues the “country estate in the city” effect. The gardens have been professionally designed as a series of small “rooms.”

Here you’ll find over 65 types of roses surrounded by lilacs, wisterias, hydrangeas, elderflower, evergreens, all-season perennials, and flowering bulbs. More than merely beautiful, the property’s trees bear a cornucopia of fruit, including apples, pears, figs, and raspberries. The surrounding gardens are easily maintained with a comprehensive irrigation system.

[Listing details: 85 Westminster Road at CityRealty]

[At The Corcoran Group by Catherine Witherwax]

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