The Brownstone

Last week, a violent criminal infiltrated this brownstone while I wasn't here. How? You opened the door for him.

— Holmes to Watson, "Details"

The Brownstone
Type	Residence
Location	Brooklyn, New York City
First appearance	"Pilot"
Last appearance	"Their Last Bow"

The Brownstone is a residence located in New York City at 42 Stanford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11209. It is home to Holmes, Watson, and Clyde. It was owned by Sherlock's father, Morland, until it was willed to Sherlock, who then willed it to Watson. The house has at least four floors, a basement, and a terrace on the roof. The roof has a view of the Queensboro Bridge and Manhattan and is also where Sherlock keeps his bees. Its first appearance is in the first season premiere, "Pilot."

Layout

Basement

Watson establishes an office in the basement and, initially, nails the inside door shut so that it is only accessible by the outside door. Holmes helps himself to Watson's office and establishes a small lab there. He stores items in the basement such as his "box of swords." There is also a motorcycle stored under the stairs.

First floor

The kitchen and Holmes' bedroom are on the first floor which has been referred to as the garden floor (plants can be seen outside the kitchen window). Watson is seen walking downstairs from the second floor to this floor.

Jamie Moriarty stayed in Holmes' bedroom. Holmes and Tatiana are seen leaving his bedroom. The evidence wall and files of the case of Charlotte Konig and Zerakem are in Holmes' bedroom. Suffering from a concussion, Holmes throws a chair through his bedroom door, hallucinating that his mother, May, is burning inside. To help battle post-concussion syndrome, Holmes uses a Victorian sensory deprivation chamber in his bedroom.

Holmes has a hiding place in the bricks of the hearth of his bedroom fireplace. He's hidden a file on Kitty. He also hid a ring that belonged to his mother there.

Watson had the first floor remodeled after Holmes faked his death. Holmes' bedroom became the playroom of her son, Arthur.

Second (ground) floor

The library and several work rooms are on the second floor which contains the main entrance. One of the work rooms usually contains metal racks with Holmes' locks. The phrenology bust "Angus" and the lighted brain are also in the library as is a framed stamp of the Imperial Jade Seal of China.

Holmes has hidden cameras inside of books in the library but confirms they've been removed except for ones that monitor the front door. He's hidden drugs in the book "A Library of Poetry and Song" by William Bryant.

Various weapons are hidden in the library. A knife is hidden by the front door.

Watson had the ground floor remodeled after Holmes faked his death.

Third and fourth (top) floors

Workrooms and the media room are on the third floor.

Watson's bedroom and the bathroom are on the fourth (top) floor. Watson observes honey dripping from the beehives on the rooftop when exiting the bathroom and heading to her bedroom. It is possible that a workroom exists on the fourth floor.

Back door

Holmes is seen retrieving newspapers left at the back door. Holmes and Watson enter through the back door when Holmes suspects a bomb has been planted in the Brownstone. It's revealed the door is on the first (garden) floor when an empty rum bottle is thrown through the door's window. Cassie sneaks into the Brownstone through the back door.

Rooftop

Holmes hides the letters from Moriarty in one of the beekeeping boxes on the roof. He's also used the rooftop for a variety of other purposes including testing explosives (using tennis balls), watching movies and recreating crime scenes.

Location

Although the Brownstone is in Brooklyn on the show, the exterior of the building is shot in Harlem, New York City, with interiors shot at Silvercup Studios in Queens. The roof is a real rooftop in New York City and is located on a parking garage at the corner of 10th Street and 44th Avenue.

The Brownstone is also seen on West 121st Street (near the intersection with Malcolm X Boulevard), just around the corner from Owens Funeral Home in Harlem.

Trivia

• Detective Bell's first visit is in "The Long Fuse" while Captain Gregson's first visit is in "M.".
• Neighbors include Connie and her daughter Emmanuelle (who live two doors away) and Trent Garby (who lives next door at #9).