Why we widened the staircase gap: bringing natural light down the center of a historic brownstone changes everything. Also, the lower level can become a place you actually want to be. Keep this gap open from the top of the house to the bottom, and leave the lower level open with balusters instead of a wall and door. Don’t close it off like it’s unusable. Make it special. That’s 800 SF of opportunity. Treat it like the rest of the house: heat and AC, a bathroom, lighting, finished floors. There’s real money invested in this often forgotten piece of a house. #BrownstoneRenovation #HomeDesign #ArchitectureDetails #InteriorDesign #HistoricHomeRestoration