May, 2014 | 6sqft

A Catalog of Manhattan’s Subway Tile Mosaics: Last summer Adam Chang lived every New Yorker’s nightmare – he spent 20 hours on the MTA, stopping at every stop and photographing the mosaic signs. Citylab has more on the beautiful result of his sheer insanity. Man Seen Flying Kite from the Bowery: Let’s go fly a […]

Uncategorized

May 27, 2014

Danish Designers BIG and KILO Create Tableware Outlined with City Skylines

Two Danish design powerhouses have teamed up to bring a unique city view into your dining room. Copenhagen's BIG architecture studio and industrial design group KILO recently launched a beautiful new tableware set trimmed with 12 different skylines, including ones of New York, Berlin and Paris!
Check out the full collection here

May 27, 2014

Your Art and Design Events Agenda, For the Week of May 27, 2014

By Lori Zimmer

Boo! The long Memorial Day weekend and its endless picnics are over. But you can still celebrate the short work week with all things arty! Indulge in your love of film — from the silent era to tomorrow's documentary stars — or channel your inner entrepreneur at a panel on how to price your own designs. Also be sure to rest up for the weekend as artist studios open up across Brooklyn with Bushwick Open Studios and NARS Foundation. Just be sure to leave some time on your schedule to check out Bushwick's first art fair, the NEWD Art Fair!
All the best events here

May 27, 2014

Condo at 149 Skillman Avenue Lets Its Light Shine!

What kind of apartment needs custom blinds from the Shade Store? The kind with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the unit with light! And we’re not talking any standard floor-to-ceiling windows. Architect Michael Muroff decided to throw us a beautiful curve ball by designing a wall-sized window in the living room accented with a giant, skylight – or more appropriately, an angled ceiling of windows. The result is a living space you could practically sunbathe in. An abundance of light isn’t the only thing 149 Skillman Avenue #4B has to offer. The 1,070-square-foot, 2BR/2BA unit has a few other surprises, including a steam shower and a private roof deck with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline. That means a spectacular show for the apartment’s residents when the 4th of July fireworks return to the East River for summer 2014.
See what else this beautiful condo has to offer here

Distinctive Homes

May 27, 2014

See New Renderings of Fortis’s Waterfront Residential and Hotel Development at 151 Maiden Lane

New renderings of Fortis Property Group’s mixed-use development at 151 Maiden Lane have been revealed! As reported by New York YIMBY, permits were filed last week for the new tower which will sit upon a 281,000-square-foot waterfront development site that the company purchased back in August of last year. Fortis’s new residential project will boast a 161,000-square-foot, 52-story luxury condominium with […]

May 27, 2014

Diane von Furstenberg’s Penthouse Sparkles Above Her Meatpacking HQ

By Dana Schulz

The headquarters of the "Queen of the Wrap Dress" (ladies, you know what I'm talking about if you've ever stood in line for one of these sample sales!) is well known for the big, geometric glass structure that sits perched atop the traditional Meatpacking District building. Not so well known, though, is that inside this rooftop crystal is Ms. von Furstenberg's penthouse apartment. And just as you'd expect, the space is full of all of the sleek, yet glamorous style that the designer expresses in her clothing. Conceptualized by Work Architecture, the Diane von Furstenberg headquarters was adapted from this landmarked meat market building to house the firm's flagship store, administrative offices, and production space. The re-imagined rooftop is not only an apartment, but a garden oasis. The staircase, dubbed the "stairdelier" by the architects since it is lined with Swarovski crystals, ties the live/work space together and is its crowning jewel. Descending diagonally through the building's six stories, it reflects light throughout the entire interior.
More about the sparkling staircase and all of the interior eye candy this way

May 26, 2014

Take a Tour of the Only House in the United States Designed by Ai Weiwei

China's most provocative artist can add architect to his already extensive resume. Known around the world for his contemporary artwork and political activism, Ai Weiwei has also had a hand in designing this sprawling compound in upstate New York. Located in bucolic Ancram — just a two-hour drive from New York City — the Tsai Residence was originally commissioned by a pair of Upper East Side art collectors. The 2,800-square-foot structure was completed in 2006 and put back on the market a few years later in 2013 for a whopping $4.25 million. But the hefty price tag comes with a unique distinction — it's the only house in the United States that Ai has ever designed.
Take a tour of the pricey, one-of-a-kind property here

Architecture And Design

May 25, 2014

Hell on Wheels: Misadventures as a NYC Bicyclist

By Andrew Cotto

I’ve been walking this town for over 20 years. It's one of my favorite things to do since it inspires my ideas as an author and informs my pride as a denizen. I also hate crowded subways and will do nearly anything to avoid the madness of rush hour (and this was before getting stuck on a packed subway car under the East River during the 2003 blackout). My connection to New York is most profound when walking the streets, meandering from neighborhood to neighborhood, taking in the show, taking in a bite to eat, all the while making ideas in my little factory of an imagination. I was more active in my walks of New York as a younger man, but even as a family man, I find time to take epic treks on days off or those rare weekend days that are available for leisure.
Cycling Manhattan? Brilliant idea or a lapse of sanity? Andrew's Story here

Distinctive Homes

A fashion designer's cozy converted 1920s barn in upstate NY asks $2.9M

Landmarked Boerum Hill townhouse owned by 90s designer Daryl K asks $6M

Gaze at the sun, moon, and stars above from this $5.45M Tribeca penthouse

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

For $8.85M, a condo with Central Park and Manhattan skyline views from every room

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

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

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

This $12.5M Chelsea carriage house has a garage, three outdoor spaces, and a two-bedroom flat

Bed-Stuy brownstone living in a compact condo for $725K

VIEW ALL

May 23, 2014

Make Muzz’s Beautiful Spin Cast Bowls Your Dinnertime Centerpiece

You don't always need fancy machines and high-tech systems to create a jaw-dropping product. Just look at these beautiful, cobalt-streaked bowls from Muzz Design. By using the simple act of spinning, co-founders Erin Turkoglu and Melodi Bozkurt were able to turn otherwise boring dishes into exquisite works of art brimming with history.
Details on the unique timepiece here

May 23, 2014

The Most Gorgeous New York City Hotel Interiors

By Jason Carpenter

Design is on display in New York's luxury hotels, where the interior look and feel is as important as where it's located. From the lobbies that welcome guests on their first steps into the building to the bars and dining areas later at night, some of a hotel's best design work lays outside the guests' rooms. Here are just a few of our favorite hotel interiors.
See more amazing hotel lobbies here

May 23, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: 15 Central Park West Sells for $48M; i29 Architects Design Invisible Kitchen

Butterfleye is the Nanny Cam of the Future: Butterfleye can watch your home and be your own personal photographer at the same time. Gizmodo has the write-up along with a video – starring the most adorable dog ever!!! Definitely take a look. But first… let me take a selfie. The Expandable Dress for New York […]

Uncategorized

May 23, 2014

Seaport City: Neighborhood Built on Landfill May Be Coming to the East River

Though bearing little resemblance to its quaint East River neighbor, “Seaport City” could become a reality based on a new study released yesterday by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. But don’t bank on a new set of sought after residential and commercial river views just yet. Seaport City is only one of a number of options presented to the city as part of former mayor Michael Bloomberg's 257-point, post-Hurricane Sandy resiliency plan – and it’s the most challenging on the list.
Find out more about the plan to protect the lower east side

May 23, 2014

Penthouse Loft at 185 Plymouth Street in DUMBO Sells for $3 Million

Just in time for Alloy's penned Spring 2014 move-in date, the north penthouse (#PHN) at 185 Plymouth Street closed yesterday afternoon for $3.08 million, according to city records. All units in the former Brillo factory are officially now sold out. Units in the coveted DUMBO property hit the market March of last year, and after managing to sell eight units in less than a week without even listing the property, Alloy decided to raise the prices of the two remaining units, #PHN and #PHS, to $3.4 million and $3.95 million respectively. But that clearly didn’t slow buyers down from wanting to lay claim to some of DUMBO’s hottest new property.
Take a closer look at these lofts that are all the rage in Dumbo

Real Estate Trends

May 23, 2014

Two Penthouses in Chelsea’s Walker Tower Sell for “Just” $30.75M

One lucky (European) buyer scooped up not one but two penthouses in Chelsea’s Walker Tower yesterday for $30.75 million, in what could easily be considered the real estate steal of the year. Toni Haber of Douglas Elliman, who represented the buyer, told the Wall Street Journal that her client “got a really good deal”, as the two units […]

Real Estate Trends

May 23, 2014

American Thread Building Triplex Has Luxury Living and an Original Keith Haring Mural

Standing inside the palatial (trust us, this is not an understatement) 45' x 45' entertaining space in this magnificent triplex at 260 West Broadway, with its soaring arched windows, 26+ foot ceilings and beautifully detailed cast iron columns, you can’t help but feel a cool ocean breeze (Miami anyone?) gently soothe your soul. One could hardly blame you if you decided to stay right there and soak in the sun all weekend long. But that’s like choosing a 4-day getaway when you’ve won an around-the-world adventure because every room in this 8,000 square foot Tribeca residence offers an extraordinary experience for those lucky enough to call it home. It’s hard to know where to begin on the itinerary.
Come on an adventure with us

Distinctive Homes

May 22, 2014

Gorgeous Soho Loft Survived Plans for Lower Manhattan Expressway

It’s hard to imagine that in the mid-20th century the quaint little street known as Broome was the proposed site for the ten-lane Lower Manhattan Expressway, replacing all of the buildings on its north side — including this beautiful charmer at #456. Thankfully those plans never came to fruition and this stunning home with towering 14-foot ceilings, wide plank floors, and intentionally distressed exposed brick walls survived to welcome a new generation of New Yorkers into its midst.
See what survived those expressway plans

Distinctive Homes

May 22, 2014

Memorial Day Events for the New Yorker Who Wants to Stay Local

By Katrina Otuonye

Memorial Day is just a few days away, and if you're like us, you can't wait to take a break from the daily grind. While many have made plans that will sweep them off to far flung places like Paris, for those looking to stay local, there are plenty of incredible events going on across all of NYC's boroughs — rain or shine. Keep reading for our top events to check out this Memorial Day weekend. It’s going to be a busy few days!
All the events this way

Events & Things To Do

The Heights: One of Brooklyn’s Most Talked About Condominiums is Sold Out

The Heights is sold out! According to city records, the penthouse, and last available unit of the Brooklyn Heights condominium, has officially sold for $4.95 million. This extraordinary apartment at 30 Henry Street, listed by Corcoran Group's Deborah Rieders, touts one of the most expensive prices in Brooklyn, at approximately $1,730 per square foot. Getting a glimpse into this apartment is like trying to spot a rare bird, but from what we’ve gleaned, it’s pretty splendid. The luxury building replaced the home of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and has been the subject of a lot of speculation from the day the filings were discovered. At one point it was rumored that BKSK Architects was planning for the building to have a waterfall! From what we can see, it appears the waterfall ultimately became a fountain in the courtyard but hey, what’s a legend if not the subject of grandeur?
Take a peek inside this elusive penthouse here

May 22, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Stylish Bathroom Accessories for Baby Boomers; A Look at Apple’s First Attempt at the Smartphone

Swarm of Bees Removed From Williamsburg Street: Williamsburg was abuzz yesterday, but not anymore. A beekeeper removed a swarm of 24,000 bees from Montrose Avenue yesterday. DNAinfo has the story. 6 Shots of the Demolition of Cherry Street Pathmark: They came in like a wrecking ball! They’re clearing out the Cherry Street Pathmark to make […]

Uncategorized

May 22, 2014

15 Broad Street: FiDi’s Downtown by Starck is Anything But

The year is 1928: Scotch tape is first marketed by 3M, the first air-conditioned building opens in San Antonio, the clip-on tie is designed, the NY Yankees sweep the Cards in the 25th World series – and the Equitable Trust Building at 15 Broad Street was completed. For nearly 80 years the L-shaped grey brick stone building would house some of the most influential financial companies in the world, until developer A.I. & Boymelgreen rescued it from certain demolition in 2003 and tasked French architect Phillipe Starck to turn it into a luxury condominium worthy of the financial capital of the world.
Check out #2412 at 15 Broad Street

Distinctive Homes

May 22, 2014

Developer Harry Macklowe Pays $585 Million for the Bank of New York Tower

According to the Wall Street Journal, a group of investors, led by developer Harry Macklowe, has just paid $585 Million for One Wall Street, the headquarters of Bank of New York Mellon Corp. A spokesman for Macklowe declined to disclose what the developer plans to do with the 50-story tower, but word is that other bidders for […]

New Developments

May 22, 2014

Light-Filled Lincoln Center Apartment Gets Lucky New Buyer

By Dana Schulz

At 3 Lincoln Center (a.k.a. 160 West 66th Street), residents have the bragging rights of living in the only residential building in the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts complex. And wouldn't you brag too if right outside your window was the Metropolitan Opera House and Juilliard? Apartment 46A is home to the most recent boaster. Sold for $3.9 million, the 1,562-square-foot unit has splendid north - and west - facing panoramic views that can be taken in through the huge, wraparound windows. The 9.5-foot ceilings add to the bright openness of this 2BD/2.5BA apartment.
Check out all the magnificent views and interiors this way

May 21, 2014

Derek Lam Scoops Up a Light-Filled Apartment in Gramercy Park North for $4.8 Million

Hot off the sale of their Soho loft, fashion designer Derek Lam and his partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann just closed on a $4.8 million 3BR/3.5BA pad at 50 Gramercy Park North, according to city records filed this afternoon. The home, which was listed by Kirk and Paige at Douglas Elliman, boasts a 40-foot expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows that give the home a decidedly modern California aesthetic that is very much in the vein of a Neutra icon. Though the current decor is quite subdued, if Lam's F/W'15 line is any indication of his preferred palette, we expect that this new space will be accented with plenty of rich blues, greens, and a bit of orange.
Have a look inside the stunning apartment

May 21, 2014

Chadhaus’s Sustainable, Handcrafted Furniture Will Last for Generations