Architectural Salvage in NYC: Details that Elevate Brownstones

 

the esd journal

Architectural Salvage Details that Elevate Brownstones: The Fireplace

Walking the streets of New York City and the surrounding boroughs is an experience in layers—history, style, and grit all colliding in a single block. With over fifteen distinct architectural styles represented across its neighborhoods, the city’s buildings do more than line the streets—they define them. For visitors, this variety is a source of endless fascination. But for those of us who have lived and worked here, the architecture becomes something far more personal: a part of our story.

 

Architect: Mowery Marsh Architects
Photographer: Haris Kenjar

 
 

At ESD, when we step into a Brownstone or gaze from a penthouse window toward the Flatiron, we don’t just see brick and mortar—we see lineage. We see craftsmanship, tradition, community. We see the hand-forged hinges, the intricate plaster, the aging marble—and we ask, what can we preserve? Because beyond the renovation lies a responsibility: to carry these elements forward with intention and care.

That preservation often starts at the heart of the home—the fireplace.

There are details that elevate Brownstones and it is our architectural salvage duty to keep them alive and well in the new life given to the homes we create.

 
 

A Place in History: The
Fireplace

Once essential for cooking, heating, and light, the fireplace was the lifeblood of the household. Today, it’s more likely to be a quiet architectural accent, often overlooked or stripped of its original detailing. But at ESD, it’s never just decorative. In nearly every project we take on—especially in historic Brownstones—the fireplace becomes a throughline: a detail that roots the space in its past while shaping its future.

Some homes arrive to us in near-ruin; others just need coaxing. But in all cases, we’re deliberate about what we retain. The fireplaces we restore aren’t just design features; they’re symbols of the home’s original rhythm. They inform our layouts, our materials, and the way we compose a room. We’ve found that when you allow them to take up space again—to really be seen—they shift the entire narrative of the interior.

Furnishings & Styling Interior designer: @elainesantosdesign
Architects: @mowerymarsharchitects
Contractor: @douglas_dhinj
📷 @haris.kenjar

 
 

Working alongside talented collaborators like Mowery Marsh Architects, Jason Money Architect and BarlisWedlick Architects we’ve had the privilege of breathing new life into some of NYC’s most storied residences. Together, we look for what’s worth keeping—and how to let it shine again.

Many of the rooms we’ve redesigned in Brownstones and other NYC buildings have fireplaces. These elements, once a staple in all homes, are now more decorative, but still vital to the layout and overall design of the room.

To source the materials and architectural elements that make this kind of work possible, we often turn to trusted resources like Olde Good Things, Old Iron, Architectural Salvage Brooklyn, and 1stDibs. Whether it’s a cast iron surround, an intricately carved mantle, or antique fireback, these places help us honor the original fabric of the home—and reintegrate it with thought and precision.

Often Overlooked

As mentioned before, nearly every ESD project has included a fireplace element. This feature is oddly often overlooked. Lost amongst the furniture and art, the humble fireplace – now converted or closed completely – is left as a decorative piece of the building’s history. 


But when you look closely, the fireplace begins to stand out, reclaiming its place in the room.

And that’s ultimately our goal; to salvage the details lost to generations of renovations and “upgrades”. When the ESD team starts tearing out walls, windows, staircases, and as we assess the best way to achieve optimal energy efficiency, we consider what we can put back in. What might have been there originally?

Often, it’s the fireplace that brings us back to the original beauty and brilliance of the architecture. It shows us where this building began, and helps us to etch out its future.

Because at ESD, we don’t believe in erasing history to create something beautiful. We believe in building on it.

 

Top Image Credits:

Architect: BarlisWedlick Architects LLC
Photographer: Haris Kenjar

 

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Elaine Santos