Colonial revival of Ditmas Park with parking asking $2.2 million

This spacious home in the historic district has two floors of sleeping space and details such as wooden floors, beamed ceilings and stained glass.

Photo via Sotheby’s International Realty

by Susan De Vries

With a deep wraparound porch, a trio of dormer windows and a clapboard exterior, this early 20th century single-family home exudes a welcoming street presence. Inside, the spacious home at 561 East 17th Street features wood floors, mantels, beamed ceilings, stained glass and a doorway.

It is one of several homes in the neighborhood designed by Arlington D. Isham, who built the designation report describes as one of the “most productive and one of the best architects to work in the district.” In this case, Isham designed the house for regular client Harry Grattan. Plans for several houses were submitted by the duo in 1905 and 1906 – and this colonial-style home dates from 1906. The tax photo from circa 1940 shows the front and side facades, with an unobstructed view of the dentil cornice, bay windows, dormers with pediment and the stained glass upper panes of some windows. LPC issued a permit for some exterior work in 2019, including new roof shingles, gutters, gutters and downspouts.

The generous main floor has parlors on either side of the main hall, a dining room, half bath, kitchen and utility room. The top two floors include seven bedrooms, an office space and storage space, along with the home’s two full bathrooms.

Both drawing rooms have wooden floors and picture rails, while the larger of the two has a white mantelpiece with an ornament and original tiles and inserts.

The larger living room opens into the dining room with heavier woodwork, including a beamed ceiling, paneling and a large mantelpiece with green tile surround. Only missing are some impressive Lincrusta panels among the pilaster-framed panels that surround the room.

A door from the dining room leads to a kitchen cupboard that was probably the original butler’s pantry, but the floor plan does not indicate that any cupboards were left behind. The kitchen itself could use an update, but has two rooms, a parquet floor and access to the backyard. There is a bench with wooden cabinets from the 1950s, with a newer white countertop.

On the second floor, the two bedrooms on the street side are connected with a passage where there are two marble sinks. One of the bedrooms has a built-in storage room and the other has access to a balcony with seating.

Both full baths have undergone some updates over the decades. One has a glass shower and striped wallpaper, while the other has a tiled bathtub surround, a Deco-era sink and marbled wallpaper.

There is an unfinished basement with storage options.

In addition to the front porch for lounging, the outdoor space includes front and rear gardens. At the rear of the house there is a small veranda with stairs to the garden. The driveway is shared, as is the garage, according to the listing.

Steve Sallion of Sotheby’s International Realty has the listing and the standalone is priced at $2.2 million. What do you think?

[Listing: 561 East 17th Street | Broker: Sotheby’s International Realty] GMAP