Historic and finely honed, this Middagh Street home in Brooklyn Heights continues to astound almost 200 years after its construction.

This four-story townhouse at 57 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights dates to the earliest days of “America’s first suburb” — when Robert Fulton’s steam-powered commuter ferry transformed travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan. It was completed in 1834, purportedly for a Dutch merchant, and has captivatingly stood ever since. Now beautifully renovated for the modern New Yorker (and landmarked in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District), it presents a very enticing opportunity to call a neighborhood showpiece home.

R.A. Somerby helmed the redesign and decoration of the nearly 22-foot-wide townhouse,  currently configured as a triplex over a duplex totaling seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and two half-bathrooms. With a wide range of internal arrangement possibilities, one could even combine the two units into a stunning single-family residence.

Head up the restored wood stoop through the lacquered Dutch front door and into the gracious foyer and signature front parlor that anchor the triplex. The living and dining rooms flow effortlessly into each other. However, separating them utilizing the charming pocket doors is also encouraged. Both spaces have fireplaces, hardwood floors, and gorgeously ornate, original tin ceilings. Rooms throughout are wonderfully proportioned and voluminous. Every design choice feels like the exact right one, from the soft palette of the paints to the porcelain bathroom tiles to the kitchen drawer handles.

An open archway leads from the dining room to a fully reimagined kitchen sporting handsome wood cabinetry, honed marble countertops, a custom shiplap oven hood, and high-end Miele and Thermador appliances. Three considerable windows overlook the back deck and brick-paved garden, where mature trees help provide shade and a greater sense of escape from the city.

The primary bedroom suite is up one floor via the central hardwood staircase. It boasts dual ensuite baths, an egg-shaped soaking tub, and a dressing room. Natural light beckons from the front bedroom/family room, which features another wood-burning fireplace and adjoins a study touting a window-seat reading nook. Three more bedrooms and two full bathrooms sit on the top floor, alongside more tin ceilings and oversized windows, a home office, and a full-width terrace with DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge views.

Enter the duplex portion through the front garden and under the stoop. Here, an open-plan front room melds into a stylish kitchen with ease. Additionally, this garden level hosts two terrace-facing bedrooms (one with outdoor access) and two full baths. Downstairs, the basement offers a vast great room — presently used as an exercise area — a half bath, and a flexible front room to reshape into wine storage, a yoga studio, or whatever personal needs dictate. Similarly, the whole duplex offers a range of possibilities, whether used for generating rental income or building a dream home office.

This historic home is incredibly conveniently located. Brooklyn Heights Promenade, cherished local restaurants, DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and even a deep-water marina are all within a short stroll. Subway service via the A and C lines at High Street and the 2 and 3 lines at Clark Street also keeps Manhattan incredibly close, as does ferry service — just as Robert Fulton intended.