brownstone

A brownstone can refer both to a warm, reddish-brown sandstone and to city rowhouses that are faced with it. You see these houses most in historic neighborhoods of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, where they stand shoulder-to-shoulder in dense streetscapes and keep a distinctive old-world feel. Built especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, they often share walls as connected townhouses, with raised stoops, tall windows, decorative cornices, and an elegant, enduring charm.

The term "brownstone" is used in two connected ways: it names a type of brown sandstone commonly used in masonry facades, and by extension the attached rowhouses that were built in that style. These urban homes became fashionable in northeastern U.S. cities in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, where they helped define entire neighborhoods.

In many cases, only the street-facing front was faced in brownstone, while the upper stories or interior walls were built with brick. Typical features include a raised stoop, stacked narrow windows, decorated cornices, arched or bracketed doorways, and a "parlor floor" level above the sidewalk. They were originally built as substantial family homes, though today many are prized for their character, location, and architectural detail.

Because they are old and highly visible in city skylines, these houses are often renovated rather than replaced; owners may restore trim, mantels, and masonry while fitting in modern kitchens, heating, and wiring. In writing, historical fiction, or urban real estate conversation, calling something a brownstone usually brings to mind a handsome city townhouse with a lot of history.