Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum turned an early-relationship renovation of a roughly 130-year-old Brooklyn brownstone into the Brownstone Boys, a design, restoration, project-management and media business. A secondary 2026 account puts the Bedford-Stuyvesant purchase at about $1.5 million, with approximately $475,000 down and another $300,000 spent on the initial renovation. Those figures are reported estimates, not independently audited totals. The couple say they had been dating either six months or eight months when they bought the house, depending on which interview is used.
How did the Brownstone Boys get started?
Bordelon and Slocum met on a dating app in 2017 and quickly discovered a shared interest in Brooklyn brownstones. They bought their historic home in 2018, when the relationship was still new, and began documenting the renovation through a blog and Instagram account. House Beautiful described six months of dating before the purchase, while the couple told Brooklyn Magazine in 2024 that the interval was eight months. Both accounts should be preserved rather than reduced to one exact figure.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The project became a public learning resource because the couple could not find enough practical information about restoring New York historic homes. As Slocum put it, “Let’s start a blog that hopefully this will be a helpful resource for anybody else going through our process.”
How much did their brownstone and renovation cost?
The available dollar figures come from a secondary 2026 report about the Bedford-Stuyvesant property. They describe an approximately $1.5 million purchase, a roughly $475,000 down payment and about $300,000 in initial renovation spending. The renovation lasted eight months, and the couple lived in the house during the work.
Popular on Amazon
- Kit for designing your own home layout
- Encourages fine motor dexterity, planning skills, creativity, logic
- Kids love to invent and design, just like a real architect
- An exciting way for adults to plan home design too!
- 700 pre-cut, reusable peel & stick furniture and architectural symbols
| Item | Reported amount | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | About $1.5 million | Secondary 2026 reporting; not independently verified |
| Down payment | About $475,000 | Secondary 2026 reporting; likely reflects their savings committed at purchase |
| Initial renovation | About $300,000 | Secondary 2026 reporting; excludes any later changes unless stated otherwise |
| Renovation duration | Eight months | They remained living in the property during the work |
The numbers illustrate the financing challenge of a Brooklyn brownstone: the cash requirement was not limited to the down payment. A buyer also needed a substantial renovation reserve, carrying costs and the ability to live through a long construction schedule.
What happened after the renovation?
In 2019, readers began asking the couple for restoration help. Their first client generated additional work, and within about a year of buying the house, renovation documentation and client demand had become their full-time occupation. A secondary 2026 account says the company formally operated as a business in 2020; that filing detail is attributed to the report rather than independently confirmed here.
Recommended Free Tools
The founders describe their partnership as complementary. Bordelon said, “The foundation of our relationship was doing a renovation together of a historic home,” and also said, “We complement one another really well, and we work together really well.” Their origin story is therefore both a relationship experiment and a business case: the same project tested how they made decisions, handled stress and divided responsibilities.
What services does Brownstone Boys provide?
The company’s documented workflow can begin before a client buys a property. It may include renovation-cost estimates, feasibility advice, architect coordination, historic-renovation contractors, interior elevations and drawings, materials and furnishings sourcing, construction management and move-in support.
- Pre-purchase guidance: assess a property and estimate the scope and likely renovation costs.
- Design and preservation: coordinate architects, drawings, finishes and contractors while working around historic fabric.
- Project management: organize construction and the sequence from demolition through completion.
- Furnishing and finish selection: source materials, lighting, fixtures, furniture and other details.
- Consultations: provide one-off advice when a full project is not feasible.
Current fees are not published in the available accounts, so prospective clients should request a written scope, fee structure, contractor responsibilities and allowances rather than infer a price from the founders’ own renovation.
Also popular on Amazon
How did content become part of the business?
The blog and social posts answered practical questions, built trust and created a pipeline of people seeking help. Business of Home reported an Instagram audience of 79,000 in 2023 and noted activity on YouTube and TikTok. Those figures are dated snapshots, not current audience counts.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →By June 2024, Business of Home described a seven-person team. Brooklyn Magazine reported 26 restoration projects and the release of the couple’s book by July 2024. Neither figure should be treated as a present-day headcount or project total without a newer statement.
What is the Brownstone Boys renovation book?
For the Love of Renovating is the clearest physical product tied to the couple’s story. It extends the same practical, preservation-minded approach that began with their own house and online documentation. Readers looking for a single, book-length guide can use it as a starting point, while a real project still requires local architects, licensed trades and a property-specific budget.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can a couple renovate a brownstone while dating?
Yes, but the Brownstone Boys’ experience shows that the personal and financial risks arrive together. Before signing a contract, couples should agree on ownership, borrowing, cash contributions, decision authority, contingency funds and what happens if the relationship or project changes.
Historic work adds another layer: preserving original details can conflict with modern systems, accessibility goals and a fixed budget. The Brownstone Boys’ model combines specialist contractors with design and management rather than treating a brownstone as a conventional cosmetic remodel.
Also popular on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the couple buy the brownstone before they were married?
The accounts describe them as dating when they purchased the house in 2018. The reported dating period differs—six months in one account and eight months in another—but both place the purchase very early in the relationship.
Do the Brownstone Boys publish renovation prices?
The available coverage does not provide a current fee schedule. Their service can range from one-off consultations to full design and construction management, so pricing depends on scope, property condition and the professionals involved.
How long did their own brownstone renovation take?
The secondary 2026 account says the initial renovation lasted eight months, during which they lived in the house. That timeline should not be treated as a guaranteed schedule for another historic property.
How many projects has the company completed?
Brooklyn Magazine reported 26 restoration projects by July 2024. That is a dated count, not a current total.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
