London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

A Meticulously Restored 19th-Century Row House in Manhattan

A Meticulously Restored 19th-Century Row House in Manhattan

Part of a cobblestone cul-de-sac in Washington Heights, the three-story residence

One of 20 identical row houses designed in 1882 by architect Gilbert Robinson Jr., this three-bed, two-bath Victorian is nestled in Sylvan Terrace, a cobblestone cul-de-sac in upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood. Previously featured in Dwell, the three-story building was treated to a top-to-bottom renovation by owner Tom Givone, an ad copywriter who discovered a new career as a contractor during the years-long project.



Designed in 1882 by architect Gilbert Robinson Jr., this Sylvan Terrace row house in Washington Heights is meant to mirror the Morris-Jumel mansion nearby.

When Tom found it, the 1,500-square-foot row house had been abandoned mid-renovation. "It had some electric and sheetrock," says Tom. "It was like a Home Depot shell that looked like an active job site-paint had hardened over and mud was on the walls." Undaunted, he moved in, adding a sink and an old stove to make it habitable.



All 20 row houses on Sylvan Terrace have matching yellow, brown, and green facades, as dictated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Every day after work, Tom would start a new home project, ripping out sheetrock or uncovering 15-foot ceiling beams. He became so proficient that he left his advertising career to focus on architectural design, pausing work on his own home to take on other projects. It wasn’t until a few years later, in 2015, that he refocused on this building, where he’d lived for nearly 16 years. By then, says Tom, "I had a good crew, I was finding interesting materials, and I was learning different building applications."



In a high-low blend, the kitchen’s Ikea cabinets are clad in anodized aluminum-faced plywood sheets to match the sides of the island. The range has a wood frame and is wrapped in cement board as well as a thin layer of polished concrete.

Still executing much of the work himself, Tom toiled for hours to improve on the design and restore the interiors, including recreating true plaster medallions for the ceilings in parlor spaces and using anodized aluminum-faced plywood sheets for the kitchen doors, cabinets, and staircase and baseboard trim. For materials, Tom combed flea markets and salvaged supplies from neighbors, sourcing everything from hardware to hinges to pieces from original flooring from dumpsters. Some surprises he excavated from the home itself, like a pair of eight-foot-tall wood doors that had been covered by sheetrock.



Topped with polished Carrara marble, the 12-foot kitchen island is made from a single stone slab with a waterfall edge and an integrated apron sink.

Now, the home’s historic charm shines again. Restored pumpkin pine flooring extends through the parlor level, where you’ll find the recreated ceiling medallions and a refinished staircase. A reception and dining room can serve as bedrooms, living areas, or home offices. The lower level features an open living space with a wood-burning fireplace and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and Carrara marble countertops.



On the parlor floor, a room can be flexibly used as a bedroom, home office, or living area features a wood-burning fireplace and built-in shelves.

The crown jewel is the top floor, which houses the entire owner’s suite under 15-foot beamed ceilings. Restored 19th-century French chandeliers and a remote-controlled venting skylight are overhead, while original brick fireplaces add to the period charm. The adjacent bath with polished concrete floors and quartz tile walls features an old water fountain from a park in Philadelphia, leading to the laundry room/closet.



During the renovation, owner Tom Givone uncovered plenty of surprises, including original pocket doors that had been hidden in sheetrock.



The entrance vestibule on the parlor level features restored pumpkin pine flooring.



Exposed brick walls complement refinished floors in the open living, dining, and kitchen space on the ground floor. Tom applied marine epoxy, sawdust, and paint blend between the floorboards like grout before sanding them to a smooth finish.



Three of the fireplaces in the home were rebuilt, including the pair in the main bedroom on the top floor, where a skylight punctures the high ceiling.



In the main bathroom, Tom sourced an old water fountain basin from a park in Philadelphia.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×