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.
This $8.5M Turtle Bay Townhouse Is a Timeless Classic With Pops of Modern
December 7, 2015

This $8.5M Turtle Bay Townhouse Is a Timeless Classic With Pops of Modern

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Without hype or hyperbole—though certainly compliment-worthy—this 1890s townhouse on a classic and lovely East Side block has all the modern upgrades you'd need, thanks to complete renovation in 2006. And for traditional brownstone buffs, 327 East 51st Street’s refined facade, gated courtyard, interior details and traditional stoop all add up to a quintessential New York City townhouse. Mechanicals, plumbing, lighting and electrical systems have all been updated and now include a new Crestron home audio system, a four-zone HVAC system, four automatic gas fireplaces, a state-of-the-art security system and lots of well-planned storage space.
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Greenwich Village Townhouse Flip Seeks $23.5M After Fancy Reno and Price Chop
December 4, 2015

Greenwich Village Townhouse Flip Seeks $23.5M After Fancy Reno and Price Chop

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The current owner of this seven-story landmarked townhouse–a real estate firm called Good Property–purchased it for $9.3 million in November of 2012, and proceeded to give it a top-to-toe renovation, clearly with luxury buyers in mind. The 1848 Greek Revival home on a pretty Village street catty-corner from Washington Square Park had been several market-rate apartments, and is now a single-family showstopper with an elevator, a super-premium kitchen, modern gas fireplaces, tri-level rear glass walls and doors, a landscaped backyard with an outdoor kitchen, an upper patio and a "penthouse lounge" on the roof. It was escorted back to the market in November of 2014 at $25 million; after a broker switch it's still thinking big at $23.5 million.
check out all seven floors
15 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC
December 3, 2015

15 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC

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December's first days bring dozens of holiday gift markets whose aim is to find new homes for a wealth of shiny goodies and crafty gifts. We're all familiar with the big NYC markets, but some of the best scores–and the most fun–can be found at smaller, cooler pop-ups and local markets throughout the city. Some are only around for a weekend, others for the whole month or longer. In addition to locally-made jewelry and crafts, vintage finds, artfully curated fashions, home items and other things we didn't know we needed, these hip retail outposts offer up DJs, drinks, food, tarot readings, nail art, music, and family fun to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where to get the goods, this way
City’s Once-Priciest One-Bedroom Rental Gets a $225K Price Chop, Now Only $75K a Month
December 3, 2015

City’s Once-Priciest One-Bedroom Rental Gets a $225K Price Chop, Now Only $75K a Month

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When 6sqft became aware last February of the most expensive one-bedroom rental listing in the city, a $300,000 a month 1,200-square-foot (nope, we didn't forget a zero) penthouse atop the Surrey Hotel at 20 East 76th Street on the Upper East Side, we asked cheekily, "Why buy a $3.6 million dollar home when you can pay the same amount of money to live in a modest one-bedroom for a year?" Now that the unit–still on the market though with a fresh new broker–has gotten a hefty haircut of $225,000, it looks in comparison like a straight-up bargain at less than a million a year. So what are we getting for the still-significant monthly outlay?
Let's see what the fuss is about
This Sun-Filled Upper East Side Townhouse Triplex Is $35K a Month–Classy Furniture Included
December 2, 2015

This Sun-Filled Upper East Side Townhouse Triplex Is $35K a Month–Classy Furniture Included

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This three-story 1890 townhouse at 53 East 75th Street fits in perfectly with its neighbors on a classically elegant Upper East Side street just two blocks from Central Park. On the rental market for $35,000 a month, this tony triplex gives you over 4,000 square feet of living space, including an elevator and plenty of windows and sunlight, particularly from the kitchen's wall of solarium windows–great for soaking up rays on winter days.
Explore all three floors
Tribeca ‘Inverted Warehouse Townhouse’ of Concrete, Glass and Corten Steel Asks $20M
December 1, 2015

Tribeca ‘Inverted Warehouse Townhouse’ of Concrete, Glass and Corten Steel Asks $20M

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Behind the unassuming facade of an 1890s Tribeca warehouse at 75 Warren Street (once home to the Rumsey Pump & Machine Co.), this five-story, 10,000-square-foot modern-industrial home is the kind of townhouse you don't see every day, at any price. Introduced as "the most architecturally significant townhome to come to market downtown in over 20 years," this unique residence saw a complete redesign by innovative architecture firm Dean/Wolf, known for their ability to use architectural constraints as powerful generators of form, that took five years and a budget of $4.5 million. The house departs from the more commonly seen eight-figure townhomes and penthouses in two main ways. First is the inverted layout and second, the designers used innovative forms like Corten (weathering) steel panels, hung and layered with frameless art glass that floats through three floors, illuminating unexpected places; a glass-wrapped courtyard/terrace at the home's core that becomes a prism; a 23-foot skylit ceiling; and double-story bookshelves that hang into the den from the fourth floor.
See all this and more
This Cozy, Elegant UES Duplex Is the Perfect Manhattan Winter Retreat
November 30, 2015

This Cozy, Elegant UES Duplex Is the Perfect Manhattan Winter Retreat

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With its toasty fireplaces–including one in the master bedroom–elegant pre-war details, dark chocolate floors and walls of casement windows for watching the snowflakes fall on gorgeous historic homes, this duplex at 170 East 78th Street looks like a prime spot to make the most of a Manhattan winter. The designed-to-the-nines 1927 co-op is asking $2.995 million, with a considerable monthly fee of almost $5,000; interestingly, the ask is less than the $3.5 million price that accompanied its turn on the market in 2010. On a gorgeous Upper East Side Block, this pre-war home is as classic as it gets; though it's listed as a two-bedroom, a look at the floor plan shows possibilities for one or two more with ease. Rooms are gracious and bright, and we can totally see boughs of holly, New Year's Eve merriment and snow days before a roaring fire in just about any of them.
Step inside where it's warm
Architect-Owner of This Polished-yet-Casual Village Loft Asks $3M
November 26, 2015

Architect-Owner of This Polished-yet-Casual Village Loft Asks $3M

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Century-old bones and clean white walls frame the well-proportioned interior spaces of this warm, sophisticated two-bedroom loft in Greenwich Village, the result of a recent gut renovation by the architect-owner. John Berg of BergDesign Architecture, with his wife Jennifer Desmond, purchased the sunny downtown co-op at 250 Mercer Street for $1.5 million in May of 2013, two years and an impressive renovation ago. The bright high-floor unit is now on the market for $2.9 million. We’ve featured some of the architect’s projects, and this apartment's renovation is detailed on the BergDesign site, with the imperative of keeping "three priorities: durability, casual living and contrasting rich materials" for a family with small children in mind.
Have a look at how a gut renovation transformed the space
$4.25M Greenpoint Waterfront Penthouse Adds Up to 3,168 Square Feet of Historic Loft Perfection
November 24, 2015

$4.25M Greenpoint Waterfront Penthouse Adds Up to 3,168 Square Feet of Historic Loft Perfection

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If you want real loft living without many of the sacrifices (except the $4.25 million ask, of course) that often come with it, this stunning full-floor Greenpoint "historic penthouse" atop 190 West Street is your unicorn. Modern, stylish and well-crafted finishes, comforts like central air and radiant floor heat, windows and views that never quit, and a prime location add up to a dream loft. Wait, did we mention the 3,600 square feet of private outdoor space?
Check out pre-war historic loft perfection, this way
Former House & Garden Editor Lists Upper East Side Co-op for $4.75M
November 23, 2015

Former House & Garden Editor Lists Upper East Side Co-op for $4.75M

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If you're fan of the elegant, old-fashioned Upper East Side, pre-war co-ops and stylishly-decorated interiors, you can't go wrong with this five-room, two-bedroom-plus home at 563 Park Avenue. The seller is the former editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure magazine (and before that, Condé Nast's House & Garden, where she replaced Anna Wintour as EIC), Nancy Novogrod and her husband, John, an estate attorney; so we'd expect that show-house-worthy interiors are a given.
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This Upper East Side Townhouse Makes Up in Charm What It Lacks in Its 13-Foot Width
November 20, 2015

This Upper East Side Townhouse Makes Up in Charm What It Lacks in Its 13-Foot Width

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When you've got a house that's just a hair over 13 feet wide, you'd better know a good interior design pro. Fortunately the owners of this slender 1899 townhouse at 259 East 78th Street took that caveat to heart when they purchased it for $2 million in 2009. It's now on the market for $5.5 million, and every inch of its 2,600 square feet has been put into use with enough warmth, character and smart design decisions to keep any "narrow-minded" thoughts at bay. And there's nothing skimpy about the location on a gorgeous townhouse-lined street just a few blocks from Central Park on the Upper East Side.
Have a closer look inside this charmer
Live Like a Snowbird With Sunrise Views in This Williamsburg Rental for $3,450/Month
November 19, 2015

Live Like a Snowbird With Sunrise Views in This Williamsburg Rental for $3,450/Month

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They call people who head to Florida for the winter “snowbirds,” flying off to southern climes to avoid the chilly season. This one-bedroom condo at 275 South First Street, on the rental market for $3,450 a month, resembles that seasonal roost in a subtropical spot, albeit with the substantial bonus of amazing Manhattan views and a prime Williamsburg location. Three sunny exposures and two terraces provide your imagination with a big boost in conjuring the beachfront experience and giving winter the brush-off.
See the whole place
Bought for Just $7,600 in the ’70s, Prospect Heights Co-op Returns 43 Years Later for $2.15M
November 18, 2015

Bought for Just $7,600 in the ’70s, Prospect Heights Co-op Returns 43 Years Later for $2.15M

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In the statuesque Art Deco-style Turner Towers co-op along what’s arguably the most picturesque stretch of the grand Olmsted and Vaux-designed boulevard in Prospect Heights, this sprawling four-bedroom residence at 135 Eastern Parkway has been a family home for 43 years. The current owner moved to–and fell in love with–the neighborhood in the early ‘70s, when it was on the cusp of far darker times. How she came to acquire the spacious 14th-floor apartment, with unobstructed views over the treetops, the park and to the Verrazano Bridge and beyond, for $7,600 (nope, that’s not a typo) is a classic New York story.
Read More on the brains, luck and community spirit of Brooklyn in the 70s
Actress, Writer, Singer and Real Estate Scion Isabel Rose Lists $14 million Tribeca ‘Paradise’
November 17, 2015

Actress, Writer, Singer and Real Estate Scion Isabel Rose Lists $14 million Tribeca ‘Paradise’

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You can add Tribeca pioneer and Mariah Carey neighbor to the long list of things that describe the ebullient seller of this 5,027-square-foot downtown mansion-in-the-sky at 90 Franklin Street. In an interview, Rose, a member of one of the city's most prominent real estate families (developing company Rose Associates manages more than 30,000 apartments and owns the Chelsea Landmark building among others) tells of how she moved to the pricey downtown neighborhood in 2000, when it was "filled with factories and a few brave artists," purchasing the apartment for (sitting down?) $3.4 million. The novelist, actress and singer who just released an album of classics and performs at venues like Joe's Pub, is the creative force behind the apartment's many art and music-related accents. The condominium residence, in one of Tribeca's many grand Deco-era buildings, needs no song and dance to give it legs. Its vast size (listed at five bedrooms, and there's room for at least two more), prime location on one of the neighborhood's most iconic streets, and luxurious no-detail-overlooked interiors do a fine job on their own of justifying the $14 million ask. In addition to Carey, notable building residents have include Ben Stiller and Bob Vila.
Check out the impressive space here
$2.5M Brooklyn Waterfront Condo Has a Gorgeous Garden and a Wall Made of Shipping Containers
November 16, 2015

$2.5M Brooklyn Waterfront Condo Has a Gorgeous Garden and a Wall Made of Shipping Containers

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The loft-like apartments at 360 Furman Street–known as One Brooklyn Bridge Park–have made headlines in the past; the building was among the first wave of luxury conversions of its kind in the borough; it’s surrounded by one of the city’s favorite waterfront parks; it contains what was for a time the most expensive apartment listing in Brooklyn, and the list goes on. The building’s most alluring features are the stunning Manhattan and East River views from some of the apartments (others have less-stunning views of the BQE), luxury finishes, and convenience to the best of Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan. Interiors tend to be sleek and contemporary; it's not the first place you’d expect to find a wall crafted from shipping containers. This spacious and versatile three-bedroom apartment, on the market for $2.5 million, feels more like a laid-back loft with high-end details than a sleek new condo, with creative custom additions and steel-framed walls of glass overlooking a verdant garden-filled 600-square-foot terrace.
Check out this lofty space
This Sprawling Park Slope Classic Seven in ‘Brooklyn’s Flatiron Building’ Asks $2.59M
November 13, 2015

This Sprawling Park Slope Classic Seven in ‘Brooklyn’s Flatiron Building’ Asks $2.59M

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Believe it or not, there are still some cases where your money goes farther in Brooklyn. Take this four-bedroom classic seven at 47 Plaza Street West in north Park Slope, a sprawling elegant pre-war co-op in the 1928 Rosario Candela-designed building sometimes referred to as “Brooklyn’s Flatiron” due to it's pizza-slice form–which gives the home's interior a unique, er, angle. The 2,350-square-foot apartment has been recently renovated, making it comparable to the size of a modest suburban house. It’s one of those co-ops where just looking at the floor plan makes you long for a time when tiny apartments weren't a thing (Yes, there’s a separate servants’ entrance as is often the case in these co-ops). And while the ask of $2.59 million might seem like a lot, a comparable Manhattan residence might easily be twice that much, if not more.
Tour this glamorous parkside pad
Pretty Pink Co-op Asking $435K Has Pre-War Potential
November 12, 2015

Pretty Pink Co-op Asking $435K Has Pre-War Potential

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Though we so often hear that an eye for interiors–or a good decorator–can make even the smallest apartment feel like a gracious home, we love to see real-life examples that aren't in magazines shot by highly-paid photographers. This slender Upper East Side one-bedroom co-op at 330 East 94th Street with a relatively manageable $435,000 price tag is an inspiring example. In addition to the fact that with ownership comes the right (co-op board willing of course) to transform the space with any number of clever solutions, it would take far less to create a charming pied-a-terre, for example, without that level of effort or expense.
Look around
For $3.45M This Unique UES Townhouse Condo Offers the Best of Both Worlds – and a Private Park
November 11, 2015

For $3.45M This Unique UES Townhouse Condo Offers the Best of Both Worlds – and a Private Park

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New York City in the 1980s saw an enormous building boom similar to the one we've recently been witnessing. And similarly, when it came to large residential developments, the emphasis was on the trendy and the luxurious to attract moneyed buyers. While the new-construction townhouse, integrated with apartment units as with The Greenwich Lane or left solo like Williamsburg's Wythe Lane, is today a growing trend in luxury residential development, at the time this handful of townhomes at 245 East 93rd Street wasn't, shall we say, as much of a thing. City folk wanted city apartments-and still felt doormen equalled safety. But as in a much earlier time, a house in the city represents a certain kind of luxury, a self-contained home without the limitations that come with apartments. And though we may hear mention of the Trump Towers (1983) and the One57s more often, it’s refreshing to see a variation in what’s available to the discerning buyer. Built in 1985, this 2,100 square-foot, three-story (plus lofts and terraces), three-bedroom townhouse, on the market for $3.45 million, is one of twelve that, along with a 33-story tower, comprise the 290-unit Astor Terrace condominium development. This unique home has a 20th-century-modern smartness–along with a spare, modernist look in dark red-grey brick and black-framed casement windows; a recent and thorough renovation has given it the benefit of contemporary luxury and convenience.
Explore this unusual Upper East Side home
Pretty West Village Duplex Wants a Pretty Penny for Design, Location and a Private Roof Deck
November 10, 2015

Pretty West Village Duplex Wants a Pretty Penny for Design, Location and a Private Roof Deck

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This one-bedroom, 872-square-foot duplex condominium at 387 Bleecker Street couldn’t possibly be cuter, or in a better location. Tucked above trendy luxury handbag shop Mulberry in a 1817 townhouse, on a postcard-ready historic West Village street, it radiates designer charm everywhere from its sleek, white kitchen to its private roof terrace. So if this picture-perfect apartment is perfect enough for you, and you’re in possession of $3.15 million, this could be your new home.
Take a look around
Noroof Architects Transformed This $1.6M Historic Bed-Stuy Home With Modern Appeal
November 9, 2015

Noroof Architects Transformed This $1.6M Historic Bed-Stuy Home With Modern Appeal

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No matter how lavish, developer and flipper renovations rarely hold a candle to the custom designs executed by architects for their clients' homes–even more so when the architects are the clients and the homes are their own. This unassuming townhouse at 702 Monroe Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, on the market for $1.635 million, is a prime example. In this case, the innovative pair behind architecture firm noroof (they received national recognition for their "Slot House" and specialize in designing small spaces) worked their creative and practical magic on a comparatively compact historic Brooklyn townhouse with a unique front porch and a lot of potential charm. Based on love and respect for the porch as a gathering, sheltering and enhancing element, they've named the resulting project "porchouse," an elegantly-designed home with a clean, modern interior that's perfect for family living–with plenty of curb appeal.
See how the magic happened
Listings Launch for Nomad’s 212 Fifth Avenue Condo Conversion
November 6, 2015

Listings Launch for Nomad’s 212 Fifth Avenue Condo Conversion

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Though sales began a few weeks ago, listings are up for 212 Fifth Avenue, the highly-anticipated in-progress Nomad condo conversion by NYC-based firm Helpern consisting of 48 two-, three- and four-bedroom residences in a landmarked 1912 neo-Gothic building at the northwest corner of Madison Square Park. Listings with Town Residential–16 currently–range from 5C, a $3.9 million fifth-floor two-bedroom home, to $16.1 million for one of the building's 4,000-square-foot+ four-bedroom residences on the 15th floor. Floors 3-13 of the 24-story building offer three units per floor while floors 14-19 offer two; two immense triplex penthouses with Empire State Building and city skyline views are still to come. All homes boast multi-zoned heat and air, vented kitchens and bathrooms and smart home technology. Interior finishes were created by renowned designers Pembrooke & Ives and include eight-foot doors, book-matched marble, solid oak floors and custom cabinetry.
Floor plans and renderings this way
Spend Eight Months in This Picture-Perfect Prospect Heights Townhouse for $12K/Month
November 4, 2015

Spend Eight Months in This Picture-Perfect Prospect Heights Townhouse for $12K/Month

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There's not much about this townhouse triplex at 159 Prospect Place, available for short-term rental, that doesn't embody the brownstone Brooklyn ideal. On a beautiful block near the corner of Carlton Avenue and Prospect Place in heart of the neighborhood, this bright, sun-filled and renovated home also has the pretty historic details that give these big old houses such charm, and the private outdoor space we dream of–including one of those extra-long backyards unique to Prospect and Crown Heights.
Tour this lovely townhouse
This Little East Village Co-op Is Big on Style and Custom Details
November 3, 2015

This Little East Village Co-op Is Big on Style and Custom Details

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This charming Bowery bolthole at 32 East 2nd Street may not be huge, but it has everything you need for a great downtown life (unless you need a queen-sized bed in your actual bedroom). The one-bedroom co-op has benefitted from a tasteful, chic and well-considered custom renovation, resulting in finishes that are both creative and convenient, and the building is in a perfect location to enjoy both the friendly East Village vibe and the hip, downtown Manhattan location near just about everything you'd want to see, do, or buy.
Take a peek inside
For $699K, a Private Backyard and Tons of Charm in the Heart of Hell’s Kitchen
November 2, 2015

For $699K, a Private Backyard and Tons of Charm in the Heart of Hell’s Kitchen

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Have you ever gazed out of your office window with envy at a sweet private back garden or cool roof deck right in the middle of Manhattan? This one-bedroom co-op at 315 West 55th Street is one of those. On a beloved residential block in Hell's Kitchen on the city's West Side, this updated apartment has enough room for comfort and the added bonus of a landscaped, full-sized back garden oasis. It's perfect in spring and summer, but magical year-round as it's visible through a pair of sliding glass doors whenever you enter the living room.
Get a closer look
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