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.

7,000-square-foot ‘wellness loft’ in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

All photos courtesy of Alejandro Leon | DD-Reps

May 21, 2026

7,000-square-foot ‘wellness loft’ in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

By Michelle Cohen

Listed as the "largest two-bed in Manhattan," this 7,000-square-foot loft condo at 345 West 13th Street in the historic Astor House is big enough to get lost in. Asking $25,750,000, the home offers the strictly 21st-century perk of a dedicated wellness wing with a private spa suite fitted out with a steam room, dry sauna, Jacuzzi, reflexology path, plus a 1,000-square-foot pro-grade gym and a soundproofed recording studio.
take the tour

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Kurt Weill’s former New York country estate with a creative pedigree asks $2.3M

Photo credit: Wills Studio

May 20, 2026

Kurt Weill’s former New York country estate with a creative pedigree asks $2.3M

By Michelle Cohen

Known as Brook House, this five-acre estate at 16 South Mountain Road is an important part of local creative history. Located within the South Mountain Road artist community, the charming country property anchored by an 1880 main house is the former home of legendary composer Kurt Weill, known for penning the popular song “Mack the Knife,” as part of The Threepenny Opera. Previously, the property was owned by Rollo Peters, a major force in American theater stage production. Asking $2,295,000, the property remains a refuge of 19th-century architecture and 20th-century creativity.
get a closer look at a creator's getaway

Distinctive Homes

After a thorough renovation, this peerless Park Slope mansion asks $13.5M

Photo credit: Tim Walton, Evan Joseph Studio

May 19, 2026

After a thorough renovation, this peerless Park Slope mansion asks $13.5M

By Michelle Cohen

6sqft featured this five-story beauty at 60 Montgomery Place in 2019, when it was asking just under $6 million. Designed in the late 1800s by notable architect C. P. H. Gilbert, the 5,000-square-foot Prospect Park-adjacent home is a dramatic example of the neighborhood's finest architecture. With a new top-to-toe renovation behind its historic limestone facade with a dramatic three-story turret, the single-family home is back on the market for $13.5 million. In addition to five floors of living space, the 22-foot-wide townhouse has two fully landscaped outdoor spaces, including a roof terrace with Manhattan views.
understated Brooklyn opulence, this way

Distinctive Homes

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

Photo credit: via Pixabay

May 18, 2026

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

By Michelle Cohen

With a proud history of immigration through Ellis Island, New York City is home to more than three million foreign-born residents, 38 percent of the population, and over 500,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Migration Studies. With a long-held reputation as a safe haven, the city prides itself on being a “sanctuary city,” with policies firmly in place that aim to protect anyone targeted by immigration authorities, regardless of their status, except those with serious criminal convictions. New York City offers some of the nation’s most robust protection, but state legislation has lagged behind. What do sanctuary laws actually accomplish—and what's being done to improve their reach?
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Policy

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

All photos courtesy of Donna Dotan Photography

May 18, 2026

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

By Michelle Cohen

Known for their privacy and old-world Manhattan cachet, maisonettes often sound better in theory than in reality. But this massive 5,000-square-foot home at 2 East 70th Street on the Upper East Side, asking $22,500,000, delivers a reality that includes a private four-bedroom Fifth Avenue address, two floors of townhouse-style living, Central Park views, and all the perks that come with one of the city's most coveted Rosario Candela co-ops.
Upper east Side luxury, this way

Distinctive Homes

NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

Photo courtesy of NYCxDesign

May 14, 2026

NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

By Michelle Cohen

Each spring, the spotlight returns to New York City as a major hub for global design. The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Festival runs from May 14 to May 20, drawing over 163,000 industry pros, brands, designers, creators, and lovers of interior design from all corners of the world and from the city's own vibrant design scene. Anchored by iconic trade fairs and exhibitions like ICFF and WANTED, a full calendar of tours, talks, and product debuts will be happening throughout the five boroughs. The festival offers a sneak peek at tomorrow’s design trends and provides a chance to discover new talent in the worlds of furniture, lighting, textiles, and objects. Read on for a guide to this year's top design fair picks.
a short list of design must-sees, this way

An architect’s vision transformed this $2.15M Park Slope loft with leveled-up modernist design

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

May 13, 2026

An architect’s vision transformed this $2.15M Park Slope loft with leveled-up modernist design

By Michelle Cohen

Located within the former Ansonia Clock Factory at 443 12th Street in Park Slope, this two-bedroom co-op was redesigned in 2014 by architect Philippe Baumann. The result, asking $2,150,000, is a duplex across three volumes that offers clean lines, large, livable spaces, and a stunning loft aesthetic that's in keeping with the history of the 20th-century factory warehouse.
take the loft tour

A colorful converted convent in Hamilton Heights asks $2M

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

May 8, 2026

A colorful converted convent in Hamilton Heights asks $2M

By Michelle Cohen

This condo at 463 West 142nd Street begins with the unique details—like double-height ceilings and arched windows—that come with its former life as a church convent. This pre-war frame holds a loft-like interior with thoroughly modern infrastructure. Asking $2,075,000, the colorful space has the advantage of condo convenience, in the heart of historic Hamilton Heights.
take the tour

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This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it’s asking $10.25M

Photo credit: Haley Ellen Day

May 6, 2026

This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it’s asking $10.25M

By Michelle Cohen

This graceful four-story brownstone at 787 Carroll Street is among the rare Brooklyn finds of its kind, with all of the unspoiled architectural details history buffs crave and a stem-to-stern renovation that spared no expense. With an owner's triplex above and a renovated garden flat below, there's an opportunity for rental income, too. Does the covetable combination add up to the home's $10.25 million ask, nearly $5 million more than it sold for last year?
get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

For $10.5M, a sunny yellow Mediterranean villa on the Upper East Side

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 1, 2026

For $10.5M, a sunny yellow Mediterranean villa on the Upper East Side

By Michelle Cohen

This 4,500-square-foot townhouse at 126 East 74th Street on the Upper East Side, asking $10.5 million, has a unique architectural history in addition to a designer's touch. Built in 1880, the home was constructed in the stately Victorian-era Italianate style of its neighbors. It was transformed in 1924 by William Shire, who created a facade resembling a Mediterranean villa while preserving the grand Victorian details within. The home's unique facade remains remarkably unchanged since then, but its interiors have gotten a complete overhaul to meet modern standards in both design and livability.
History with a twist, this way

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Popular Articles

For $7.15M, this Sag Harbor 1930s cottage is a timeless waterfront refuge

All photos courtesy of Costas Picadas

April 29, 2026

For $7.15M, this Sag Harbor 1930s cottage is a timeless waterfront refuge

By Michelle Cohen

At the secluded shoreline of Morris Cove, "East of Eden," the Sag Harbor Village home at 10 Bluff Point Lane, is a perfect lazy summer retreat, complete with a private dock and bulkheaded frontage. Asking $7,150,000, the property is next door to the former estate of writer John Steinbeck and actress Elaine Steinbeck, defining the waterfront enclave's laid-back creative cachet.
waterfront living, this way

Distinctive Homes

Sting’s former Central Park West pad is back on the market for $45M

Photo credit: Tim Waltman of Evan Joseph Studios

April 28, 2026

Sting’s former Central Park West pad is back on the market for $45M

By Michelle Cohen

The palatial duplex at 15 Central Park West that once belonged to Sting is once again for sale. Spanning 5,417 square feet, the trophy home in the Robert A.M. Stern-designed "limestone Jesus" has dizzying park views in addition to its celebrity history. As 6sqft previously reported, the rocker bought the mansion-sized condo in 2008 for $27 million and sold it for a tidy profit in 2017 for $50 million. Nearly a decade later, the penthouse is asking $45 million.
get a closer look

This landmarked $3M Flatbush townhouse is architecturally significant and expansively livable, garage included

All photos courtesy of Hayley Ellen Day

April 27, 2026

This landmarked $3M Flatbush townhouse is architecturally significant and expansively livable, garage included

By Michelle Cohen

This corner townhouse at 2102 Albemarle Terrace is a rare example of preserved historic character, set among Brooklyn's most celebrated collection of 20th-century Colonial Revival architecture. Behind its architecturally significant facade, contemporary design and convenience make this Flatbush home as move-in ready as it is notable. Asking $2,999,999, the property offers another rare luxury: a driveway and a private garage.
historic townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

David Bowie’s former Central Park South home asks $4.95M

Photo Credit: Eitan Gamliely

April 23, 2026

David Bowie’s former Central Park South home asks $4.95M

By Michelle Cohen

This $4.95 million, three-bedroom condo at 160 Central Park South was the one-time home of rock icon David Bowie and model Iman, and views of the park and Manhattan from its windows are just as iconic. Built in 1929, the Essex House is the rare Art Deco residence that offers condominium convenience and privacy suitable for 21st-century rock royalty.
Take the tour

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One of the oldest wood-frame houses in Brooklyn Heights asks $4.9M

Photos courtesy of Virginia Carey for Brown Harris Stevens

April 21, 2026

One of the oldest wood-frame houses in Brooklyn Heights asks $4.9M

By Michelle Cohen

Among the oldest surviving wooden homes in Brooklyn Heights, this Federal-style home at 25 Cranberry Street was built around 1790 as a farmhouse. Beginning in 1995, preservation-minded residents carefully stripped away the layers to reveal many of the home's original details that lay hidden for generations, from painted plaster to wood-plank flooring. Now asking $4.9 million, the four-story, 3,200-square-foot home is ready for 21st-century owners to appreciate the history behind its walls.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

This $675K Flatbush co-op has a clean Scandinavian vibe and a flexible layout

Photos courtesy of Martyn Gallina-Jones for The Corcoran Group

April 21, 2026

This $675K Flatbush co-op has a clean Scandinavian vibe and a flexible layout

By Michelle Cohen

Tranquility and light are the main elements you'll notice in this pretty co-op at 1110 Caton Avenue in the Prospect Park South section of Flatbush. The pre-war apartment has the generously-sized rooms of its era, with the timeless design update of a recent renovation. Asking $675,000, it's currently configured as a one-bedroom home, but can easily become a two-bedroom with a dedicated home office. Prospect Park and the Parade Grounds are just steps away, providing a 585-acre front yard.
get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

For $5.65M, a ballet legend’s former UWS studio is now a three-bedroom home

Photos courtesy of DDReps for Sotheby’s International Realty

April 20, 2026

For $5.65M, a ballet legend’s former UWS studio is now a three-bedroom home

By Michelle Cohen

This meticulously renovated three-bedroom, three-bath home at 257 West 86th Street was the live/work studio of renowned dance teacher Raoul Gelabert. The subsequent architect/owners completely transformed the 2,800-square-foot co-op space into a three-bedroom duplex home that combines sophisticated design with meticulous craftsmanship. Asking $5.65 million, the loft-like residence retains its pre-war elegance, elevated by dramatic interiors and modern finishes.
take the two-floor tour

Distinctive Homes

Green-Wood Cemetery opens new welcome center that surrounds Victorian greenhouse

All photos © Rafael Gamo unless otherwise noted

April 17, 2026

Green-Wood Cemetery opens new welcome center that surrounds Victorian greenhouse

By Michelle Cohen

Though some 583,000 people are buried there, the 478-acre Green-Wood Cemetery has always been more than a burial ground. The Brooklyn cemetery served as a verdant 19th-century escape, and it has since been a unique destination for events, nature study, and more. This weekend, the cemetery will officially open the Green-House at Green-Wood, a new $43 million welcome center that wraps around the renovated 1895 Victorian greenhouse. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO), the new L-shaped building, clad in glazed terra cotta and topped by a green roof, will help visitors navigate the cemetery's sprawling grounds. The new center will also serve as a venue for events, starting with a free grand opening weekend program and a MoonFest celebration in May.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

This $4M Brooklyn Heights duplex adds condo convenience to old-world elegance

Photos courtesy of Oleg Davidoff for The Corcoran Group

April 16, 2026

This $4M Brooklyn Heights duplex adds condo convenience to old-world elegance

By Michelle Cohen

Inside, this two-floor apartment in the Standish at 171 Columbia Heights looks for all the world like the gracious pre-war co-ops and townhouses that surround it in historic Brooklyn Heights. But this 1,786-square-foot home has the convenience of full-service condo living in a converted Beaux-Arts hotel. Asking $3,995,000, the duplex has enough space to add a third bedroom to its already generous two-bedroom layout.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

An elevator makes this $4.2M Greenpoint townhouse a timeless forever home

All photos courtesy of Gloria Kilbourne

April 14, 2026

An elevator makes this $4.2M Greenpoint townhouse a timeless forever home

By Michelle Cohen

On a leafy Greenpoint block, the pretty brick townhouse at 143 Milton Street fits right in with its historic neighbors. Inside, the completely renovated three-bedroom home, asking $4,195,00, offers four levels of comfortable living from day one, with an elevator providing easy access to all floors. Classic contemporary design won't go out of style, and plenty of private outdoor space takes advantage of the neighborhood's greenery.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

For $3.35M, this 40-acre upstate retreat embodies the spirit of modernist architecture

Photos courtesy of Gabriel Zimmer of Catskills Image

April 13, 2026

For $3.35M, this 40-acre upstate retreat embodies the spirit of modernist architecture

By Michelle Cohen

High on a Columbia County hilltop overlooking the Taconic and Helderberg mountain ranges, this secluded 40-acre property at 411 Texas Hill Road is a modernist's dream. The seller, Mark McDonald, known as "Mr. Modernism," has been instrumental in creating a market for 20th-century modern design in America for over four decades. Asking $3,350,000, the estate features a 1966 mid-century main house designed by architect George Post.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Mariah Carey lists Tribeca penthouse for $27M

Photos courtesy of Evan Joseph and Tim Waltman / Evan Joseph Studios

April 10, 2026

Mariah Carey lists Tribeca penthouse for $27M

By Michelle Cohen

Mariah Carey is selling her triplex atop 90 Franklin Street, which was featured in Architectural Digest and "MTV Cribs" and exemplifies the rarified experience of penthouse living. Asking $27 million, the three-floor, 12,700-square-foot home has 1,100 square feet of outdoor space, wrapped by dazzling Hudson River and Manhattan skyline views in every direction. With interiors designed by Mario Buatta, the Art Deco residence is no less opulent today.
penthouse tour, this way

Keith Haring’s iconic art cars headed to NYC gallery

All photos courtesy of CART (@CartDept)

April 9, 2026

Keith Haring’s iconic art cars headed to NYC gallery

By Michelle Cohen

Two of celebrated street artist Keith Haring's iconic art cars will be rolling into New York City for the first time. Opening on Friday, the exhibition "Keith Haring: In the Street" will display the artist's 1963 Buick Special and a Land Rover Series III from the 1983 Montreux Jazz Festival, for 10 days only. On view from April 10 to 19 at the CART Department gallery, Free Parking, the exhibit celebrates the new book, "Keith Haring in 3D" from Larry Warsh and Glenn Adamson. The exhibition also marks the first show for Free Parking, a 3,000-square-foot gallery inside a West Village carriage house.
find out more

Events & Things To Do

1860s Sag Harbor cottage has a designer’s take on a lived-in vibe for $5.35M

Photo credit: Sands Media House

April 7, 2026

1860s Sag Harbor cottage has a designer’s take on a lived-in vibe for $5.35M

By Michelle Cohen

This cozy 1860s Greek Revival cottage at 85 Suffolk Street in the village of Sag Harbor wraps chic interiors and modern amenities in historic Hamptons curb appeal. Asking $5,350,000, the renovated home has a guest house and a heated pool, ready for all-season living without having to change a thing.
Take a seat by the fire and stay awhile

Distinctive Homes

This $5.2M penthouse brings a western vibe to the West Village

Photos courtesy of DDReps for The Corcoran Group

April 3, 2026

This $5.2M penthouse brings a western vibe to the West Village

By Michelle Cohen

This duplex condo atop Pickwick House at 35 Bethune Street may be in the heart of downtown Manhattan's coveted West Village, but details like exposed brick and hefty beams give it the feeling of a home in the high desert. Private terraces surrounded by tall grass magnify the desert paradise effect even more. Asking $5.2 million, it's a rare oasis in the city.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

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