15 Designers Bring Color & Bold Design To A 19th Century Wood-Frame Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse

The Gurri Design & Remodel video gives you a quick walk-through of the second Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse. In short, the video takes you on a journey through an eclectic array of interior design balancing the historic with present day living.

The Gurri Design & Remodel video gives a quick walk-through of the second Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse. In short, the video takes you on a journey through an eclectic array of interior design balancing the historic with present-day living. Our good friends at Ressources House of Paints supplied the paint throughout the house. Certainly, the designer’s utilized unique paint finishes especially in the Master Bedroom and Boudoir.

Presented by Cottages & Gardens Magazine (NYC&G) and benefiting the Brooklyn Heights Association. 15 design firms transformed this 1820s wood-frame residence in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood. Made possible with the generous contribution of the sponsors listed below.

Folklore & History of 13 Pineapple, Brooklyn Heights

However, folklore stories surrounding this house’s original dates of construction abound. Narratives exist from the infamous Truman Capote to a ship captain, and a ghostly presence. Further, 1780/1790 construction dates exist and tales of it moved from another location. Moreover, deeds, census records, and newspaper ads point to the house at this location since the early 1820’s. So, for brevity let us say, the house is 200 years old. This silvery-gray, shingle wood colonial, free-standing house has a sweeping 40’ wide front, center entryway, and stairway. And, is the subject of the 2019 Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse.

With windows on all four-sides, the free-standing house originally only had three-bays. Subsequently, an addition by the Coleman family, circa 1855 added 2-bays. This provided a new Parlor “to accommodate the Victorian niceties for their daughters’ debut into society,” and extra bedrooms.

In its present shape, the original attic was most likely enlarged in the late 1870’s into a full top floor. In addition, Federal-era wood-frame houses were for the most part built with a single or double-peaked roof and attic. This type of conversion/renovation was very popular in the late 19^th century.

Brooklyn Heights Association & 21st Century

To clarify its history, records show the Coleman family purchased the early 19^th Century house in 1853 for $3,200. Living there for over 80 years with their (at least) 7-children. The house exchanged hands in 1937 to John & Kathryn Hurst Zerega for $12,000 and in 1951 to Philip and Ester Broughton. In the 1980’s William & Katherine Bolton purchased the home and made structural and HVAC renovations as well as expanding the kitchen area. The current owners bought the house from the Bolton’s in 1990.

The house at 13 Pineapple Street (originally 33 Pineapple) between Willow and Columbia Heights has a grand history and a wonderful story. Thanks to the Brooklyn Heights Association and its 100 years of effective advocacy we get to know this history. Above all, we get a peek into an earlier time with this historic 19th-century house and iconic New York City neighborhood.

Further, Susan De Vries gives us a wonderful summary of the folklore and historic data in the Brownstoner Magazine, for this Brooklyn Heights historic gem. Click here to read.

Designer Showhouse Brings Color, Bold Design To Historic Brooklyn Heights House

More than 15-designer take over this historic early 19th-century wood-frame house in Brooklyn Heights. The modern design transforms 13 Pineapple Street for the Biannual Brooklyn Heights Neighborhood Association’s fundraiser.