Real Estate

Spanish Eclectic Row House With Sunrooms, Pink Baths, Garage in Midwood Asks $1.499 Million

Full of surprises, this Spanish Eclectic-style two-family is part of a whimsical row ornamented with arches, stepped gables and bell towers.

by Cate Corcoran

08/09/2021 3 minute 0

This Spanish Eclectic-style house is full of surprises, from sunrooms to pink bathroom fixtures to a large garage. Located at 1521 East 29th Street in Midwood close to Marine Park, it’s part of a whimsical row ornamented with arches, stepped gables and bell towers.

It was constructed around 1931, the year a neighbor advertised an apartment for rent with “six rooms, sun parlor, garage” in an “up-to-date new two-family.” Like its neighbors, it’s a two-family consisting of two large apartments, one per floor.

This one is semi-detached, with a driveway running alongside and leading to a two-car garage in the above-grade English basement. It looks much the same as in its historic tax photo, despite the replacement of the stoop, portico, windows and the uppermost clay tile roof. It has windows on four exposures.

Although no floor plan is included, each apartment has two or three bedrooms as well as a sun room, living room, dining room and breakfast nook. The latter’s original appointments are intact in the upper unit, and include bead board and a built-in dish cupboard.

The apartments have parquet, arched doorways, coved ceilings, French doors and original moldings. The first-floor apartment has stained glass and brown and cream mosaic floor tile in the entry.

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The original features don’t seem to have survived in the kitchens. One is all white, with Formica counters, and the other has brown mid-century mosaic wall tile and white cabinets.

The bathrooms have striking matching pink tubs and pedestal sinks and beige square wall tile. Fixtures in flamboyant colors such as lavender, turquoise and teal were all the rage in the 1930s, especially in Spanish Revival houses. (See Jane Powell’s “Bungalow Bathrooms” for some eye-popping examples.)

Recent updates include a new roof, boiler and hot water heater. Listed by Stephen J. Serrontonio of Ben Bay Realty Co., it’s asking $1.499 million. What do you think of it?

[Listing: 1521 East 29th Street | Broker: Ben Bay Realty Co] GMAP