20 Prospect Park West

STATELY AND LIVABLE. ELEGANT AND RELAXED. This sublime 1919 neo-Federal home is a splendid example of the work of renowned architect Alfred Freeman. Its strikingly tall red-brick facade overlooks Prospect Park from one of Park Slope’s most desirable blocks. The house’s width and design allow it to capture light that filters down a magnificent curved staircase and throughout its rooms, front and back. The house is further distinguished by over 5,500 sf of livable space, large well-proportioned rooms, soaring ceiling heights, architectural details and refined finishes. Yet it is a practical house, with a logical layout, multiple private outdoor spaces, capacious storage, central air and modern mechanicals. It has been thoughtfully renovated by local architect Laurie Lieberman in a way that both highlights its opulence and achieves comfortable livability. The entry room is the epitome of graciousness: fireplace, soaring ceilings, tall windows with fanlights, and ample space to gather. The elegantly curved stair, with ironwork that echoes the majestic iron-gated front doors, leads the eye upward. The formal dining room can comfortably seat 12 or more, and another fireplace and west-facing windows make the room warm and bright. Adjacent, the large eat-in kitchen has been appointed with Calacatta marble counters, floor-to-ceiling white lacquered cabinetry, a concealed Sub Zero fridge, Miele convection oven, six-burner Viking range, a full Bosch dishwasher and an extra Fisher & Paykel single drawer. The kitchen is illuminated by pendants, recessed lighting and two window exposures. A kitchen terrace is the perfect site for grilling and dinner-for-two. An extra-long pantry lines a hallway, leading to a back stair that connects four floors. On the second floor, the sunny high-ceilinged living room spans nearly 23 feet overlooking Prospect Park and features a fireplace flanked by bookshelves. Its wall of floor-to-ceiling divided-light windows provides an enviable spot for viewing the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks across the street. At the rear, the primary bedroom, luxuriously large, has casement windows, two closets and a fireplace. Part of this suite is a marble-tiled bath with radiant heat, a soaking tub, and separate glass-enclosed shower. Beyond is a sunny office/dressing room with three more closets. Up a flight, there’s another extra-large front-facing bedroom, where again, oversized windows with operable transoms bring the park inside. There’s a fireplace, closet and a connected bath, while an expansive walk-in cedar closet is down the hall. The rear bedroom features its own full bath, two closets, and opens to a spacious landscaped roof terrace. The top floor is dominated by a stunning multi-paned skylight which casts light all the way down the center stair. The landing, a cheerful sitting space, leads to the fourth terrace: 400 sq ft, perfect for private sunny afternoons, late-night soirees and evening roof-top movies! Two more bedrooms -- with arched copper dormers and great views -- and a full bath with windowed shower complete this floor. The basement is as show-worthy as the rest of the house. The family room (once the billiards room) has a monumental wood-burning fireplace and large decorative leaded-glass windows, worthy of an English manor. A custom-designed mini-office along the hall offers file drawers and a work surface for office equipment. A windowed fitness room opens onto a lower patio. The marble-tiled full bath with steam shower serves this floor, and facilitates alternative use of the fitness room as a bedroom. Additional closets and a large laundry room offer yet more storage. The house has been meticulously maintained – even the boiler room is clean and up-to-date with brand new Burnham boiler, AO Smith hot water heater and radiant-heat piping. A deeded car condominium within a few blocks is also available. 20 Prospect Park West is a rare find: architecture that is sophisticated and timeless, from its grand facade to its graceful rooms, in a townhouse suffused with light.