Three People in a One-Bedroom Apartment? They Found a Clever Solution.
Hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, working fireplaces — for many New Yorkers, the elements of a classic rowhouse are as toothsome as a dessert buffet at a wedding.
Yet rowhouses have their downsides. If you’re a couple working from home and planning a family, the frequently narrow widths of these buildings somewhat diminish their appeal. Even a fireplace with a marble mantel becomes an impediment if what you really need is more storage.
Molly Garber and Braden Pierce were one such couple. They bought a duplex in a 1930 brick townhouse in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with the intention of one day “being three,” as Ms. Garber put it.
The 1,000-square-foot co-op was a charmer, with a single bedroom and bathroom upstairs and an all-purpose room with a half bathroom downstairs. The open-plan lower floor was partially below grade, but rather than giving off a dungeon vibe, it had windows on two exposures. It also connected to a small, private garden.
