Bronx-minster Abbey:
Couple fl ips 2-bed apartment
into Victorian masterpiece
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Talk about old school.
A University Heights couple
has dedicated the past
eight years to converting their
two-bedroom co-op into a Victorian
era extraordinaire that
could fi t nicely as a set piece
for Downton Abbey.
Now it’s a new age for
owners Emery and Chris Ortiz
since the duo put their
old world apartment on the
market with an asking price
of $325,000 (265,978 British
pounds) earlier this year.
Furnished literally from
top to bottom, the fi fth fl oor
unit on Davidson Avenue
displays: 19th century-style
hand-crafted wallpapering,
tiling, chairs, couches, dressers,
rugs, and of course it
showcases a Louve approved
replica of a Jean-Honore Fragonard
mural in addition to its
upright piano and copper patina
fl oor to ceiling mirrors,
just to name a few of apartment
5A’s modest features.
“It started with just plain
white walls when we moved
in,” 38-year-old Emery, a stay
at home mom said, noting that
Chris and her began their immersive
collection little by little
over the years.
It was after buying a single
chair that the married couple
had their ‘eureka’ moment to
drape the place in Victorian
grandeur.
sales in Connecticut for most
of the furniture but the butler’s
mostly from E-bay,” she said.
building, many of the Ortiz’
lavish collection had to be carried
with the help of kindhearted
friends and neighbors because
they were massive compared
to today’s furnishings.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 28 CTOBER 11-17, 2019 BTR
A dining cove and the kitchen of 5A. Halstead
The drop down parlor in 5A. Halstead
old-fashioned, hooded
“We would we go to estate
pantry actually came
Even though 2506 Davidson
Avenue is an elevator
up the fi ve fl ights of stairs
The “monstrous king-sized
rought iron bed frame,” which
felt like the weight of London
Bridge, proved to be an especially
challenging 5-story adventure,
Emery said.
“We paid our friends back
in beer for that one,” she
joked.
More than just a series of
Victorian replicas, the fi ne attention
to detail throughout
unit’s woodwork and imported
tiles are equally as unique to
its large and upholstered furnishing,
too.
Its wooden coffered ceilings
and crown molding are
all handmade...by Chris, a
40-year-old chef that previously
lived in Park Slope, Brroklyn.
“I never had ceilings like
that growing up and I asked
him if we could do that and he
said sure,” Emery said, mentioning
that her husband’s
craftsmanship was honed
while attending high school
woodshop classes.
The Ortiz’ have two very
good reasons for leaving their-
Queen Victoria’s dream palace,
a 3-year-old son and a
1-year-old baby girl.
“We just need more space,”
Emery said, suggesting that
the next move for the Ortiz
family will be north of the
city.
Although their new home
will likely not repeat the same
Victorian theme, Emery says
that her plan is to somehow
make the next home even more
ornate than the Bronx unit.
“I’m not holding back on
the wallpaper,” she said. “It’ll
make sense when it’s all done,”
Emery reassured.
Fortunately, this Bronxminster
Abbey replica includes
just about all of its current
furnishings for whoever
swipes it off the market from
Halstead’s Realty team.
The master bedroom of 5A. Halstead The bathroom featuring Lourve approved replica artwork. Halstead