All articles by Michelle Cohen

Michelle is a New York-based writer and content strategist who has worked extensively with lifestyle brands like Seventeen, Country Living, Harper’s Bazaar and iVillage. In addition to being a copywriter for a digital media agency she writes about culture, New York City neighborhoods, real estate, style, design and technology among other topics. She has lived in a number of major US cities on both coasts and in between and loves all things relating to urbanism and culture.

Live like royalty on the Upper East Side for $5.8M

Photo credit: Shannon Dupre | DD-reps

April 26, 2024

Live like royalty on the Upper East Side for $5.8M

By Michelle Cohen

This 4,092-square-foot duplex co-op at 1136 Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side offers the iconic grandeur of a bygone gilded age; it's no surprise that it was most recently the home of an Italian princess and Russian prince. Filled with pre-war details, dazzling views, and mansion-like square footage, the apartment, asking $5,800,000, was chosen by the building's architect, George F. Pelham, as his personal residence. The apartment offers four bedrooms, high ceilings, and views of the Central Park reservoir.
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Distinctive Homes

Inside this $12.75M Park Slope brownstone, architect-designed perfection includes a separate studio and two-car garage

Photo credit: Travis Mark

April 25, 2024

Inside this $12.75M Park Slope brownstone, architect-designed perfection includes a separate studio and two-car garage

By Michelle Cohen

On the corner of a picturesque Park Slope avenue, the 1860s Italianate row house at 96 Sixth Avenue anchors a block of historic brownstones. Inside, the home unfolds in modern magnificence, the result of a gut renovation by the architectural firm Baxt Ingui, IA Construction, and Tamara Eaton Design. In its current form, the five-bedroom home, asking $12,750,000, combines 19th-century glamour and contemporary design. A custom-built rear extension includes a separate studio and the rare bonus of a two-car garage, connected to the main home via a modern catwalk–all without sacrificing outdoor garden and deck space.
take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

Asking $800K, this notable modern Princeton home once belonged to Joyce Carol Oates

Photos courtesy of Hangtime27

April 24, 2024

Asking $800K, this notable modern Princeton home once belonged to Joyce Carol Oates

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the Elm Ridge Park neighborhood in Princeton, N.J., this well-preserved mid-century modern home at 9 Honey Brook Lane was built in 1962 by local architect Philip Sheridan Collins, who designed the New Jersey State Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair. Currently on the market for $800,000, the house was featured in Architectural Digest as the home of American author Joyce Carol Oates, who referred to the wooded property as an “enchanted place."
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Asking $5.3M, the elusive Williamsburg townhouse is here, renovated and party-ready

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

April 23, 2024

Asking $5.3M, the elusive Williamsburg townhouse is here, renovated and party-ready

By Michelle Cohen

Remember that impossibly perfect brownstone on "Girls?" Living in the buzzy neighborhood often means "home" is a pricy pad in a brand-new high-rise or a funky loft space; better to look elsewhere for the classic Brooklyn townhouse. But every so often an opportunity comes along that allows you to combine north Brooklyn coolness with the townhouse-with-backyard lifestyle. This 3,341-square-foot brick home at 70 Conselyea Street, asking $5,349,000, is one such opportunity. On a pretty block in Williamsburg's old-school residential section, the single-family home, built in 1899, has been freshly renovated for everyday living and easy entertaining in any season.
Williamsburg townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

$5.9M Civil War-era Clinton Hill mansion is a three-family home and an architectural gem

Photo credit: Oleg Davidoff, Allyson Lubow Photography

April 22, 2024

$5.9M Civil War-era Clinton Hill mansion is a three-family home and an architectural gem

By Michelle Cohen

Clinton Hill is known for its ornate historic mansions set on blocks lined with brownstone and brick. This three-family home at 315 Washington Avenue, asking $5,900,000, is a fine example of just such a find. Built in the 1860s, this Francois I-style home is set back from the avenue, recognizable by the mansard roof added near the turn of the century by the Parfitt Brothers architectural firm. The free-standing manse measures a generous 30 feet wide and 68 feet deep on a gated lot surrounded by front, side, and back gardens, terraces, and a private driveway.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

$1.8M restored Marcel Breuer house on the Hudson has kept its mid-century modern spirit intact

Photo credit: Dot Record Media

April 18, 2024

$1.8M restored Marcel Breuer house on the Hudson has kept its mid-century modern spirit intact

By Michelle Cohen

Restored with the architect's signature style in mind, the Marcel Breuer-designed Marshad House in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., was brought into modern times by owners who wanted to preserve the Bauhaus-trained architect's signature style. The pair gave the 1950 home 21st-century livability while enjoying the uniqueness of the modernist residence. Asking $1,800,000, the 2,292-square-foot, three-bedroom home at 204 Cleveland Drive is sited on three-quarters of an acre next to public woodlands, surrounded by landscaped modern gardens, walking trails, and the nearby village.
more of this icon modern home

These 10 NYC Seders offer a fresh take on Passover tradition

Photo courtesy of Bubby’s

April 17, 2024

These 10 NYC Seders offer a fresh take on Passover tradition

By Michelle Cohen

When celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover with family and friends, the Seder anchors the festivities. Whether it's a first-night dinner or a second-night repast, a traditional table, or a DIY affair that fits your community, you can find a public, inclusive Pesach party among New York City's restaurants, Jewish organizations, and community gathering places. Below are 10 ways to Seder–without the catering or cleanup.
why is this night different from all other nights?

This compact $2M Red Hook home embodies the neighborhood’s unique, inventive spirit

Photo credit: Shannon Dupre/DDreps

April 16, 2024

This compact $2M Red Hook home embodies the neighborhood’s unique, inventive spirit

By Michelle Cohen

The waterfront community of Red Hook is known for the fresh, unconventional vibe represented by the industrial-era buildings and wood-frame homes that line its streets. Built in the 1920s, this single-family home at 145 Van Dyke Street, asking $1,995,000, is simple and compact, yet offers the flexibility of city townhouse living. Set back from the street, modern architectural flourishes define the home's nearly 1,500 square feet. Perks include a private garage/studio, outdoor space, and four bedrooms.
see it here

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$8.2M Soho penthouse loft feels like an airy beach house surrounded by terraces

Photo credit: Tim Waltman of Evan Joseph’s Photography

April 15, 2024

$8.2M Soho penthouse loft feels like an airy beach house surrounded by terraces

By Michelle Cohen

The five-story loft building at 85 Mercer Street sits at the heart of Soho's Cast-Iron Historic District; the iconic co-op residence embodies the essence of a half-century of downtown loft living. Occupying the top floor, this stunning duplex penthouse, asking $8,180,000, adds the sort of luxury and outdoor living you'd find in a modern Hamptons beach house, lifted high above downtown New York City.
Outdoor living, penthouse views

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This $1.4M Astoria home is all about flexible, fabulous, and fun townhouse living

Photo credit: Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

April 10, 2024

This $1.4M Astoria home is all about flexible, fabulous, and fun townhouse living

By Michelle Cohen

Astoria has become a favorite for home buyers seeking urban townhouse living and a (relatively) affordable chance to expand beyond cramped quarters while staying in a vibrant New York City neighborhood. This multi-family townhouse at 23-23 33rd Road, asking $1,399,000, checks all the boxes. Built in 1945, this three-floor brick home offers incredible flexibility: Currently configured as a floor-through one-bedroom atop an owner's duplex, it could easily work as a single four-bedroom home, or a single residence with a separate garden-floor guest/in-law/teen suite. Completing the picture are a back garden, patios, a private parking spot, and a heated garage.
take the townhouse tour

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Popular Articles

This $6M Tribeca loft has bedrooms surrounded by terrace and sky

Photo credit: Yale Wagner for Sotheby’s International Realty – Downtown Manhattan Brokerage

April 9, 2024

This $6M Tribeca loft has bedrooms surrounded by terrace and sky

By Michelle Cohen

If you're looking for a classic Tribeca loft, this duplex penthouse condominium atop 355 Greenwich Street offers 3,400 square feet of perfection. On the top two floors of an 1891 building, this iconic residence has the luxurious bonus of a top floor surrounded by 1,100 square feet of terrace overlooking downtown New York City. Asking $5,995,000, the three-bedroom home has thoroughly modern interiors, massive skylights, and state-of-the-art technology, framed by the prewar authenticity of brick walls and original wood beams.
tribeca loft living, this way

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Book fair will feature rare photos of the chaotic and complex early construction of the NYC subway

Broadway & 116th Street. All photos courtesy of Capitol Hill Books

April 4, 2024

Book fair will feature rare photos of the chaotic and complex early construction of the NYC subway

By Michelle Cohen

The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair (NYIABF) will be back at the Park Avenue Armory for its 64th year this month. A highlight of the fair is Capitol Hill Books' photographic archive of 37 albumen photographs that show the very first branch of the NYC subway system being built. Taken in 1901 and 1902, the photos reveal the complex first stages of the city's transit system, which has been running without interruption since it opened to the public in 1904. The rare photos show now-defunct sections like the Elm Street Route and the laborers who built the system, largely by hand.
More NYC Subway construction photos

A diplomat’s lofty home in a historic FiDi co-op asks $2.9M

Photo credit: Anastassios Mentis for Brown Harris Stevens

April 2, 2024

A diplomat’s lofty home in a historic FiDi co-op asks $2.9M

By Michelle Cohen

John Berry, the former Ambassador to Australia under President Obama, has just listed his renovated FiDi co-op at 145 Nassau Street for $2,895,000. Located in the landmarked cast-iron, terra cotta, and red brick Potter Building, constructed in 1886 near City Hall (then known as Newspaper Row), this one-bedroom-plus-mezzanine apartment combines downtown loft living with the opulence of the city's grandest residences.
Tour the quintessential downtown manhattan home

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Take the elevator from the gym and English garden to the roof terrace in this $13.5M UES townhouse

Photos courtesy of Francisco Rosario at DDReps and Douglas Elliman

April 1, 2024

Take the elevator from the gym and English garden to the roof terrace in this $13.5M UES townhouse

By Michelle Cohen

Once forest and farmland, the Jones Wood section of Lenox Hill is known for its "secret" gardens and historic townhouses. This five-story, 6,000-square-foot corner townhouse at 157 East 65th Street embodies the neighborhood's beauty, with a London-style private garden at the back and top-floor terraces in front and rear. Asking $13,450,000, the townhouse has been thoroughly renovated, with an elevator that travels to all floors, from the basement gym to the top-level loft.
take the townhouse tour

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$3.4M Park Slope triplex condo has a roof terrace with heavenly views

All photos courtesy of Francisco Rosario, DDreps

March 29, 2024

$3.4M Park Slope triplex condo has a roof terrace with heavenly views

By Michelle Cohen

This impeccably designed, 2,017-square-foot triplex at 390 9th Street is a house-sized apartment in a charming 1920s Arts and Crafts townhouse. It received a thorough renovation by the previous owner, who created unique living spaces–including a fabulous private roof deck–and modern amenities that complement its historic provenance. Located in prime Park Slope just a few blocks from Prospect Park, the condo, asking $3,400,000, has been featured in interior magazines like Elle Decor.
Tour the triplex

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Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York announces 2024 designers

The 2023 NYC Show House at River Mansion, a Beaux Arts townhouse on Riverside Drive. Room design by GV Interiors. Photo © Nickolas Sargent Photography.

March 28, 2024

Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York announces 2024 designers

By Michelle Cohen

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York has just announced the 24 top designers and architects who will be helping to transform a historic Upper East Side townhouse at 125 East 65th Street. The annual Show House, a fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, is one of the city's favorite design events, just ahead of spring's bounty of design and art offerings. The 2024 Show House will open to the public on Thursday, May 2nd. Read on for this year's participants and more information.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

This $5.75M Clinton Hill two-family home is five floors of brownstone perfection

Photo credit: Russ Ross and Douglas Elliman

March 28, 2024

This $5.75M Clinton Hill two-family home is five floors of brownstone perfection

By Michelle Cohen

Brooklyn townhouses can seem like fairytale castles from the outside, but they often disappoint when it comes to interiors and livability. This massive 4,300-square-foot brownstone residence at 211 Greene Avenue in Clinton Hill is as much of a dream home on the inside as appears from the curb. Asking $5,750,000, the 19th-century townhouse has been thoroughly renovated with maximum architecture and design expertise. Five stories of living space include a two-bedroom garden apartment, a four-level upper unit, and a lovely landscaped backyard.
you'll want to see this

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This $795K Hudson Valley farmhouse has clean, classic curb appeal–and a guest house in the back

Photo credit: Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty/Annabel Taylor

March 25, 2024

This $795K Hudson Valley farmhouse has clean, classic curb appeal–and a guest house in the back

By Michelle Cohen

While architecture trends change with the times, there's something about the simple lines and stunning surroundings of a classic upstate farmhouse that endures. This circa 1840 eyebrow colonial at 720 Center Hill Road in Copake, New York, embodies that aesthetic. Carefully considered design details make this historic property–asking $795,000–both modern and timeless. As an irresistible bonus, there's a fully outfitted–and utterly charming–guest house just out back.
take the tour

This $19M sky palace high above Park Avenue has a manor house-worthy terrace garden

Photo credit: David Paler for The Corcoran Group

March 21, 2024

This $19M sky palace high above Park Avenue has a manor house-worthy terrace garden

By Michelle Cohen

This penthouse duplex at 895 Park Avenue is every bit of what you'd expect in an Upper East Side co-op asking $19,000,000, from private passenger and service elevators to an endless landscaped wrap terrace to a dramatic, sweeping stair. Pre-war grandeur is a given, and the home's interiors are as palatial as its proportions. With six bedrooms on one sprawling floor and a living and entertaining level surrounded by breathtaking city views, this classic sky mansion embodies the opulence of a long-gone Gilded Age.
Get lost in the gilded age, this way

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For $2.95M, this parlor floor Chelsea co-op has brownstone charm and a private terrace

Photo credit: Michael Weinstein studio/ The Corcoran Group

March 20, 2024

For $2.95M, this parlor floor Chelsea co-op has brownstone charm and a private terrace

By Michelle Cohen

In the heart of Chelsea's historic district on a tree-lined brownstone street, this just-right-sized two-bedroom co-op at 347 West 22nd Street offers the best of townhouse charm. With 12-foot ceilings and the elegant proportions often found on the parlor floor of a brownstone, this carefully renovated home, asking $2,950,000, offers a wood-burning fireplace and a private terrace overlooking the tranquil back garden, along with room for a bedroom, office, or guest room, and plenty of open entertaining and living space.
chelsea townhouse co-op tour, this way

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19th-century townhouse in Hudson, NY has three units, retail space, and a three-bay garage for $2M

Photo credit: Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty/Annabel Taylor

March 20, 2024

19th-century townhouse in Hudson, NY has three units, retail space, and a three-bay garage for $2M

By Michelle Cohen

Located in a prime spot in cultured, quirky, and trendy Hudson, New York, this brick Federal Style townhouse at 239 Warren Street, built circa 1820, has curb appeal galore in the form of historic charm. A lot is going on beyond the property's fetching bay windows and smart black trim; inside are three separate units on a double lot, including retail space and a garage. Behind the home is a wide backyard with idyllic planted gardens. Asking $1,995,000, the downtown townhouse is a chance to create the upstate life of your dreams, all in one place.
tour this unique upstate property

Behind this $9.9M Chelsea townhouse, a secret path leads to a backyard carriage house

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

March 15, 2024

Behind this $9.9M Chelsea townhouse, a secret path leads to a backyard carriage house

By Michelle Cohen

If you love the idea of an 1848 brick townhouse restored to its original glory, with a back garden, a roof terrace, and a pretty carriage house down a hidden "horse walk," the middle of Manhattan might not be the first place you'd look. This three-unit townhouse at 331 West 20th Street, asking $9,900,000, is like having a private country estate right in the heart of Chelsea. The 25-foot-wide, five-story Greek Revival home is large enough to contain three large private units. A two-story rear carriage house is an unexpected surprise.
townhouse and carriage house tour, this way

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Step from the glass-clad conservatory onto a magical tea porch in this $7.25M Brooklyn Heights townhouse

Photo credit: Kellen Houde/REPN for The Corcoran Group

March 14, 2024

Step from the glass-clad conservatory onto a magical tea porch in this $7.25M Brooklyn Heights townhouse

By Michelle Cohen

With its stately brick facade and charming front garden, this 19th-century townhouse at 163 State Street, asking $7,250,000, fits in perfectly among its neighbors on a historic Brooklyn Heights block. Inside, the five-bedroom home unfolds to reveal dramatic details like a light-filled parlor beneath a glass ceiling, original wide plank floors, and exposed brick and wooden beams. A stem-to-stern renovation has framed classic architectural details with a modern framework of functionality and style.
Tour this stunning townhouse

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Focus on 57th Street: Manhattan real estate insiders Leslie Hirsch and Howard Morrel chart the rise of Billionaires’ Row

Photo by Martti Salmi on Unsplash

March 13, 2024

Focus on 57th Street: Manhattan real estate insiders Leslie Hirsch and Howard Morrel chart the rise of Billionaires’ Row

By Michelle Cohen

New York City’s most successful real estate agents make it their business to know the city’s highlights, hot spots, secrets, and specialties; many are NYC natives or longtime residents whose love for the city’s streets and avenues adds indisputable value to their career of choice. We’ve asked a few top agents to tell us about their favorite neighborhoods and share their views on what the city's future may hold. Read on for insights from Leslie Hirsch, an insider with an enviable view from Billionaires' Row.
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This $3.5M Westchester estate is a private refuge surrounded by village life

Photos courtesy of Compass-Westchester

March 13, 2024

This $3.5M Westchester estate is a private refuge surrounded by village life

By Michelle Cohen

This gated six-acre estate in Chappaqua, N.Y., asking $3,500,000, is elevated in more ways than one. Atop a gentle hill at 280 Douglas Road, a winding drive leads to the main house and surrounding grounds. A tennis complex, pool, gym, and sauna bring a wealth of amenities into your everyday home life; beautifully curated formal gardens, rolling lawns, and wooded groves offer a level of outdoor living you might not expect in such a civilized location.
tour the home and garden

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