Iconic Dean & Deluca Loft Purchased by Vidal Sassoon’s Widow
June 26, 2014

Iconic Dean & Deluca Loft Purchased by Vidal Sassoon’s Widow

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Ready for a sale where the space is just as famous as the people involved? We’ve got one for you. This iconic loft at 133 Wooster Street has been featured in the New York Times and was the very spot where the Dean & DeLuca cookbook was created. Well, how did this apartment get to be so special? Because it’s owned by Dean & Deluca co-founder Jack Ceglic.
But it gets even more interesting after the jump
Classic $6.5M 79th Street Condo is the Epitome of Upper East Side Living
June 26, 2014

Classic $6.5M 79th Street Condo is the Epitome of Upper East Side Living

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When we think of the Upper East Side, this home at 50 E.79th Street is exactly what we imagine: a grand residence with classic lines and Central Park views. You will feel special from the moment you walk into the marble floored-entrance gallery of this 4BR/4BA corner unit in a Brown & Gunther designed building.  The formal floor plan gives each exquisite room its just due while still allowing for comfortable entertaining. Though tucked away in their own private little world, each section of the expansive living space is easily accessible from the main gallery.
See more of this home's classic lines
New Yorker Spotlight: Musician David Aaron Carpenter and the $45 Million ‘Macdonald’ Viola
June 26, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Musician David Aaron Carpenter and the $45 Million ‘Macdonald’ Viola

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If you took a taxi this spring, violist David Aaron Carpenter may have joined you for the ride. Well, joined via the news segment in your taxi's television that is. When David played the 'Macdonald' viola made by Antonio Stradivari in 1719, which is currently up for sealed bid at Sotheby's with bidding starting at $45 million, news organizations took note. The ‘Macdonald’ is priced at $45 million for a reason. Sotheby’s explains on their website that “This exquisitely preserved and extremely rare viola is one of only ten complete violas Stradivari made during his lifetime and the only example from his golden period.” Contrast the number of violas Stradivari made with the approximately 600 violins he made, and it’s easy to see why a golden period in instrument bidding is about to occur. For David, playing the 'Macdonald' was an incredible opportunity to highlight this viola as well as the instrument in general. As the saying goes, the viola has long played second fiddle to the violin, but not if David can help it. He is on a mission to change how the public views violas.
Read our interview with David here
Real Estate Wire: Lantern-Style High-Rise One Step Closer to Reality; Jonathan Safran Foer Wants $13M for His Brooklyn Home
June 25, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Lantern-Style High-Rise One Step Closer to Reality; Jonathan Safran Foer Wants $13M for His Brooklyn Home

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Today’s residential real estate news highlights in one digestible bite: Black House just closed on the $62M Hudson Yards site needed for Archilier Architecture’s lantern-like mixed-use tower. [TRD] A rare luxury residential building in Boerum Hill is on the sales block and could garner well over $50M. [NYP] Who says writers don’t make money? Author Jonathan […]

Modular Post-Disaster Housing Prototype by Garrison Architects Features Flexibility and Quick Assembly
June 25, 2014

Modular Post-Disaster Housing Prototype by Garrison Architects Features Flexibility and Quick Assembly

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We all remember where we were when we first saw the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. We all remember the residents who were forced from their homes and separated from their families and their support system. In a better world, we would never have to see such heartbreaking images again. That’s where Garrison Architects come in. Hired by American Manufactured Structures and Services (AMSS), Garrison Architects has provided a post-disaster urban housing prototype for residents displaced during a crisis.
Take a look at Garrison Architect's post-disaster housing prototype here
Weekly Market Snapshot: The Week of June 25, 2014
June 25, 2014

Weekly Market Snapshot: The Week of June 25, 2014

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During the week May 26th, NYC saw 254 condominium and cooperative sales, averaging $2.3M and $1.5M a sale respectively. The three most expensive closings were on the UES and in Nolita. Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris made history with his $70M penthouse buy – the most ever paid for a co-op. In celeb real estate news, new-age author and physician Deepak Chopra ditched his mediocre Park Imperial pad and even managed to make more than a million dollars in the process; Simon Cowell on the other hand put down $10.85M for his family's new ultra-luxe UES home. Industrial Revolution: While designers (and developers) are favoring ridiculously tall glass towers, architect Morris Adjmi is returning to the fundamentals by designing subtly distinct, timeless buildings that blend seamlessly into their historic neighborhoods. We profile Adjmi in this week's issue.   For market trends, top residential sales, celeb real estate news and a look at those (architects) who dare to be different, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
Get the full report here
Before DUMBO Had a Dumb Name: Eamon Loingsigh’s New Novel References the Neighborhood’s Seamy Past
June 25, 2014

Before DUMBO Had a Dumb Name: Eamon Loingsigh’s New Novel References the Neighborhood’s Seamy Past

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There’s been a lot of novels set in New York City (guilty myself, two times). When done right, such work can serve as a portal to the past, when New York was a distinctly different place, one often defined by its era and often in direct contrast to the current conditions. In Eamon Loingsigh’s powerful new novel, Light of the Diddicoy, reference is made in the very first line to the area “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” Of course, any New Yorker worth his/her salted caramel custard from Shake Shack knows DUMBO, the Brooklyn nabe known for its pricey lofts and tony boutiques, its art galleries and swank eateries and a grassy park that sprawls along the water’s edge below the span of East River bridges. Lovely. The characters in Loingsigh’s novel aren’t so privileged, for they lived in DUMBO 100 years ago, long before any clunky acronyms, when the waterfront was a war zone, and the novel’s narrator, Liam Garrity, a displaced and desperate Irish immigrant, all of 14 years, fell in with a brutal gang as a matter of survival.
More about 'Light of the Diddicoy' here

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Landmarks Greenlights BKSK Architects’ Glass Topper for the Pastis Building – Locals Not Happy
June 25, 2014

Landmarks Greenlights BKSK Architects’ Glass Topper for the Pastis Building – Locals Not Happy

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What's a little more glass and metal in a town overrun by supertalls, right? After getting shot down by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for their design of a two-story, mixed-use glass crown to top the Pastis Building in the Meatpacking District, BKSK Architects went back to the drawing board only to emerge with a new idea that's won the LPC's blessing. Set to top the low-rise brick building at 9–19 9th Avenue, the redesign is a somewhat more subdued iteration that uses the same materials and form, but with much less glass.
See the before and after here
This East Village Duplex Has a Secret That Will Be Like Music to Your Ears
June 25, 2014

This East Village Duplex Has a Secret That Will Be Like Music to Your Ears

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We’re going to take a quick detour from our mega-expensive, extravagant homes, and spotlight a pad that we think demonstrates the heart of New York City. New York is artsy and quirky and marches to the beat of its own drum. People walk the streets in all types of personal style, restaurants like S’mac and Peanut Butter & Co that are dedicated to one food attract patrons from all over. This city is one of a kind. So, we’re going to show you a one-of-a-kind apartment in a little neighborhood we like to call the East Village.
See what this duplex has in store here
$1.8M Greenpoint Apartment Boasts Incredible 16-Foot High Exposed Ceilings
June 25, 2014

$1.8M Greenpoint Apartment Boasts Incredible 16-Foot High Exposed Ceilings

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When you hear about a Greenpoint apartment for sale, "loft" might not be what first pops into your head.  But apartment 8 at 190 West Street, currently listed for $1.825 million through CORE, will make you a believer in Brooklyn loft living. The 1,364-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment has all of the loft-like charms you'd hope for--steel support columns, nine-inch oak plank flooring, and exposed wood ceiling beams, duct work, and pipes.  It also feels twice its size thanks to 16-foot ceilings, 40 feet of street-facing frontage, eight-foot-high windows, a large skylight, and an open layout that can easily accommodate a two-bedroom conversion.
Don't miss the rest of this Brooklyn beauty
$3.3M Lenox Hill Condo: Almost Versailles… But Then There’s That Kitchen
June 25, 2014

$3.3M Lenox Hill Condo: Almost Versailles… But Then There’s That Kitchen

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Remember the Sesame Street segment called “One of These Things is Not Like the Others”? (If you don’t, click here for a reminder). Well, it’s exactly what came to mind as soon as we saw photos of this gorgeous Upper East Side apartment located in Bridge Tower Place at 401 East 60th Street. The lush details in every room conjure up the French baroque style of Versailles with its lavish decoration and romantic elegance. Every room that is, except the beautiful but sorely out of place kitchen.
See why the kitchen doesn't seem to belong
Live Life in the Open in This Ultra Bright WXY Studio-Designed Loft (Agoraphobes Need Not Apply)
June 24, 2014

Live Life in the Open in This Ultra Bright WXY Studio-Designed Loft (Agoraphobes Need Not Apply)

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Describing this Flatiron loft and 'spacious' and 'bright' somehow seems like an understatement, but there's no denying that even just looking at this 4,000-square-feet home will make you fee sun-soaked. Up for one lucky renter to scoop up, this beautiful WXY Studio-restored space at 40 West 22nd Street is perfect for an artist or art collector hang their pieces and comes with plenty of space to host fabulous art parties and lots of friends. Though you should make sure the two Emmy Awards in the media room are put away...
Tour the light filled home
Real Estate Wire: Bed Stuy Getting 50 New Condos; Brooklyn’s Tallest Building Killing It in Sales
June 24, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Bed Stuy Getting 50 New Condos; Brooklyn’s Tallest Building Killing It in Sales

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We roundup today’s residential real estate news highlights for one digestible bite: Bed Stuy is getting a brand new 10-story mixed-use building complete with 50 apartments [Brownstoner] NYC gets a rent hike! Of 1%… The lowest ever recorded [New York Post] South Slope’s newest condo development just placed its units on the market. The cheapest […]

Simon Cowell Drops $11 Million on Lenox Hill Pad for His New Family
June 24, 2014

Simon Cowell Drops $11 Million on Lenox Hill Pad for His New Family

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After months of house hunting, Simon Cowell has found a home for his new family. According to the NY Post, the TV mogul just put down $10.85 million on a nest at 151 East 78th Street for his girlfriend Lauren Silverman and their love child. The family will now call the Peter Pennoyer-designed condominium home; and while the Post isn’t entirely sure which unit the TV mogul purchased for his best friend’s ex-wife (no judgment here), they’re guessing it was the three-bedroom penthouse.
Want to know more about the penthouse? Find out here
Multiple Walker Tower Owners Also Buying Units in Sister Property Stella Towers
June 24, 2014

Multiple Walker Tower Owners Also Buying Units in Sister Property Stella Towers

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Take two Art Deco commercial buildings designed by Robert Walker in the roaring twenties and mix in a little 21st century residential conversion magic by JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Starwood Capital Group, and what do you get? Apparently two highly successful projects that now have even more in common - owners who have purchased units in both buildings.
Why did owners double up on their investments?
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
Academic Historian Philip Bobbit Sells his Scholarly Beekman Penthouse for $1.3 Million
June 24, 2014

Academic Historian Philip Bobbit Sells his Scholarly Beekman Penthouse for $1.3 Million

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With four degrees from three ivy league universities, Philip Bobbit might be expected to live in a house lined with bookshelves and filled with piles of marked-up papers.  The author, academic, historian, and public servant, however, kept a pristine space with virtually no clutter to be seen.  But there is a scholarly feel to the 2BR/2BA apartment with its traditional design, formal artwork, and dignified furniture. Despite its studious charm, Bobbit has sold PH1606 at 575 Park Avenue, known as the Beekman, for $1.325 million.  If the dramatic décor of the penthouse wasn't enough to entice the buyer, it also features north, east, and south exposures, as well as two custom, operable glass NanaWalls that open onto a gorgeous 45-foot-long outdoor terrace, creating an indoor/outdoor oasis.
Continue your penthouse education ahead
Temporary Treasures: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Demolished New York Buildings
June 23, 2014

Temporary Treasures: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Demolished New York Buildings

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Frank Lloyd Wright is one of architecture's most important figures, and you can see his work in five countries and 37 of 50 states. But when it comes to New York City, there is only one major Wright construction to be found: The Guggenheim. There is also a pre-fab house in Staten Island and one in Blauvelt just north of the city, but what other work did he do in the five boroughs? It turns out that Wright designed two other major projects in NYC, but both have been demolished. Here's a look at these lost works by the great architect.
See the historic Frank Lloyd Wright works here
West Village Rental in Renowned Bing & Bing Condominium Offers a Lot of Bang for the Buck
June 23, 2014

West Village Rental in Renowned Bing & Bing Condominium Offers a Lot of Bang for the Buck

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Celebrity sightings are not uncommon in the West Village and along the quiet, leafy street named Christopher filled with charming homes owned by the likes of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman and comedienne Amy Sedaris. But residents here take it all in stride, and that low-key vibe permeates the walls of this beautifully appointed 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo at 45 Christopher Street. This corner unit’s original beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and light-filled rooms offer a perfect setting to the city views greeting you to the north and west.
See more pics of this Christopher Street charmer
BOUNCE Collection by Véronique Baer Will Make Your Foam Matress Jealous
June 23, 2014

BOUNCE Collection by Véronique Baer Will Make Your Foam Matress Jealous

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Comfy foam is not just for mattresses and your grandma's slippers anymore.  The BOUNCE Collection by Véronique Baer is made up of sculptural foam seating that can be adapted as chairs, stools, ottomans, and even chaise lounges.  The quilted pieces transform to the body that sits on them, and when that person gets up they bounce back to their original form. Véronique Baer had three goals when creating the BOUNCE collection: to create an adaptable seat that would offer maximum comfort; keep production simple and the product affordable; and bring joy to the user.
More about the joyful collection this way

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