As we’ve been having fun creating our dream houses around the world, one theme I wanted to try was to create a Victorian firehouse. I’ve seen examples of several Victorian firehouses that were converted to living spaces, and being a retired firefighter, and a lover of all things Victorian, it has a certain appeal.

I started doing some research, gathering photos for ideas for the exterior. I came across a video series on Netflix, Stay Here: DC Firehouse, that turned a firehouse into a vacation rental so I thought I’d include a vacation rental in mine.

Then I stumbled on what has to be the most elegant firehouse ever built, Engine Co. 31 in Manhattan. It is now being used as a TV production studio and even though I contacted them for help, I never heard back. So I have no idea how it is laid out or what the original configuration was.

But the building is huge, so I really do wonder how the fire department used up all that space. The roof is so steeply pitched that you can easily fit three floors in the attic space.

I ended up having room for a fire museum, a woodshop, a photography studio and a huge three car garage on the first floor.

The second floor has a massive living room, a kitchen, a dining room as well as a library, and my office and Lori’s sewing studio.

The third floor has the master bedroom suite, a guest bedroom, a home theater, and it connects to the outdoor sun deck on the back.

Another flight up there is a full gym, and on the final floor there’s a huge storage room.

Video Tours

Firehouse Museum

Garage, Woodshop, & Photography Studio

Vacation Rental