A brownstone is a multistory residential building—usually a row house in the Eastern United States—faced with red-brown sandstone carved in elaborate designs.
In general, brownstones have a ground floor, a parlor floor (reached by a stairway from the sidewalk), and additional stories that house bedrooms.
Most brownstones were built in the 19th century, and those that retain their elegant details, such as fireplaces with carved mantles, hardwood floors, pocket doors, and ornate moldings, command the highest prices.
The majority of brownstones in New York City are found in the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The brownstones in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village are often home to film stars and corporate executives.