My friend told me I was doing it right by having my first New York stay in a "brown stone" and I completely agree after my visit. Everything is...quirky: nothing is renovated, kitchen floor is lopsided/slanted, everything is old and peeling yet usable, bathroom space is cramped when sitting, coins embedded in the floor, 4 people / 1 bathroom, bunker style roof entrance up a ladder, etc.; however, everything is extremely clean, tidy, minimalist, and well decorated. I loved it all and it was extremely refreshing to experience the change in focus/priorities when living in a small, shared space like this, which is my favorite thing about traveling: experiencing and learning from a different culture/environment.
The floormates were all considerate and friendly, the temperature was easily regulated (and amazingly well-insulated), there was a decent amount of space in the fridge for some groceries, the bed was very comfy, the room is actually very spacious, and the vibe is good. My only real concern was a couple splinters in the floor, which I decided to avoid by keeping to the rugs and/or using shoes/sandals.
This experience definitely isn't for everyone, but if you're up for it, then I highly recommend it. It was a very refreshing change of pace and culture. I definitely preferred Greenpoint/Brooklyn to Manhattan, so this location was near perfect for me.