Buying Beautiful Brownstones

If you are looking to buy an interesting piece of architectural history in the Eastern United States then take a look at the fabulous collection of Brownstones on the market currently. Brownstones are named for an interesting type of building material used for cladding row homes or town homes in the pre-1910s era of American architecture. Brownstone is actually a type is stone formed from sand during the Triassic geological period 200 to 250 million years ago; due to its attractive red and brown colorations it was a popular material for buildings up until the early 20th century.

Brownstones are usually connected structures, either town homes or row houses; however, Chicago Brownstones are freestanding homes built with the same sandstone cladding. In our modern time, many Chicago brownstones have been renovated and converted into beautiful multi-apartment dwellings.

Brownstone row and town houses have some beautiful design elements that set them apart from many modern homes. In some areas the Brownstones' stone street face are highlighted by bow or bay windows while many others have copper and black painted wrought-iron accents.

The floor plans of the original Brownstones set them apart from modern construction as well; the architecture of the time divided public and private spaces and designated them to different floors of the home. Public areas for entertaining were commonly on the main floor of the home while private sleeping and bathing quarters were on the upper floors of the home. In renovated or subdivided Brownstones these floor plans may well have been changed to more modern layouts for more efficient usage by the modern home owner.

Brownstones can be clad in a variety of different types of sandstone; the most common types of Brownstone are Apostle Island, Hummelstown, and Portland. The different areas that these Brownstone sandstones are quarried each have their own distinctive color and look to them and are found on homes in different areas in the Eastern US.

The gorgeous Brownstones like those found in New York City are iconic pieces of architecture that never seem to go out of style. Brownstone apartments have long been popular not only for homeowners but also for settings in books and movies due to their charming, historical atmosphere. Brownstones' turn of the century details, quality building, and fabulous city locations make them a dream home for many prospective buyers who're looking to live in an historical urban environment.