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.

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.
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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

‘Hunger Games’ director Gary Ross lists his Cobble Hill townhouse for $10.6M

All photos by Hayley Ellen Day

April 2, 2026

‘Hunger Games’ director Gary Ross lists his Cobble Hill townhouse for $10.6M

By Michelle Cohen

Gary Ross, director of Hollywood hits like "The Hunger Games" and "Big," and his wife, designer Claudia Solti, have just put their Brooklyn townhouse at 197 Clinton Street on the market. Asking $10,600,000, the stately brick home offers 6,474 square feet of living space on six floors, from the private screening room to a top-floor "penthouse" with a patio. Behind its 1850s facade, the home has all the architecture and design features buyers look for in modern townhouse living, without having to change a thing.
turnkey brooklyn townhouse living, this way

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Popular Articles

For $5.9M, this architect-designed former Crown Heights carriage house has a guest studio and garage

All photos courtesy of Hayley Ellen Day for Corcoran

April 1, 2026

For $5.9M, this architect-designed former Crown Heights carriage house has a guest studio and garage

By Michelle Cohen

On one of the neighborhood's coveted 131-foot-deep lots, what was once a 19th-century carriage house and stable at 497 Saint Johns Place has been re-created by its architect owners as a modern sanctuary. Asking $5,895,000, the Crown Heights property hosts 4,000 square feet of live/work space that includes a separate guest house and spa and a two-car garage with a lift, all just minutes from Prospect Park.
tranquility in Brooklyn, this way

Distinctive Homes

For $1.3M, easy living with a view in a Brooklyn high-rise condo

Photo credit: Grace Jeon at DD reps

March 30, 2026

For $1.3M, easy living with a view in a Brooklyn high-rise condo

By Michelle Cohen

High above the reborn residential neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn, this two-bedroom corner apartment in The Nevins at 319 Schermerhorn Street has the sunlight and dazzling city views that you'd expect from high-rise life. Asking $1,275,000, the home's sleek, contemporary interiors and condo convenience mean stress-free living from day one.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Drew Barrymore’s amazing 12-acre Westchester estate asks $5M

All photos courtesy of Modern Angles

March 27, 2026

Drew Barrymore’s amazing 12-acre Westchester estate asks $5M

By Michelle Cohen

This 12-acre estate at 19 Winfield Avenue in Harrison is currently owned by Drew Barrymore, but her influence goes beyond just celebrity cachet. The actress, producer, director, and talk show host curated every detail of the three homes on the property as part of her Beautiful by Drew design brand. Asking $4,995,000, the estate's living spaces have an unusual level of considered charm. The property contains five lots, any of which can be sold off for additional income. In addition to the historic main house, the estate includes a guest house and a pool house, surrounded by a combination of wooded land, lawns, and landscaped gardens.
explore this lovely upstate refuge

For $3.1M, this rambling Flatbush Victorian is a welcome refuge

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow Photography

March 26, 2026

For $3.1M, this rambling Flatbush Victorian is a welcome refuge

By Michelle Cohen

From the wide front porch to the wood-beamed sunroom and beautifully preserved historic details, this tree-shaded Prospect Park South home at 155 Stratford Road invites laid-back city living. Asking $3,100,000, the home's historic details are unfussy but lovely, its proportions are gracious, and modern updates are exactly where they need to be. A private two-car driveway adds even more everyday value.
have a seat on the porch swing

Distinctive Homes

Dine in a gold-domed cupola in this $13.5M Chelsea penthouse

Photos by Chrysovalantis Skoufris of Uptick Multimedia unless otherwise noted.

March 25, 2026

Dine in a gold-domed cupola in this $13.5M Chelsea penthouse

By Michelle Cohen

In the landmarked O'Neill Building at 655 6th Avenue, this duplex penthouse condo is a 21st-century luxury home that pays homage to the Gilded Age. The building dates to 1887, when it was built as a Ladies' Mile department store. Asking $13,495,000, the penthouse is a 4,819-square-foot residence that was, until 2008, home to "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay. Anchoring the home's 2,500 square feet of outdoor space is a paved terrace with a view of the gold Neo-Grec-style cupola.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

This $5M three-family Crown Heights townhouse is a modern triplex with two rental apartments

All photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

March 23, 2026

This $5M three-family Crown Heights townhouse is a modern triplex with two rental apartments

By Michelle Cohen

The glass-fronted five-story residence at 914 Pacific Street resembles a chic apartment building; for $4,950,000, you'd have a townhouse-sized owners' triplex (delivered vacant) topped by two spacious apartments. The building has a private garage, outdoor space for each unit, and a property tax abatement in place until 2035. All three residences in the 25-foot-wide townhouse are modern and well-designed to bring in substantial rental income in the popular Crown Heights neighborhood.
get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Live in perpetual sunlight in this $5M contemporary Crown Heights townhouse

Photos by Gabriel Sebastian

March 19, 2026

Live in perpetual sunlight in this $5M contemporary Crown Heights townhouse

By Michelle Cohen

This new-construction two-family townhouse at 819 Dean Street at the convergence of Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, and Crown Heights has 4,615 square feet of indoor living space, too many outdoor areas to count, and sunlight in every direction. Instantly recognizable on a classic Brooklyn block, the new steel-structured modern home has a handmade brick facade protected by a fiber cement rain screen. Asking $4,950,000, the two units consist of a 3,600-square-foot owner's triplex, a 1,200-square-foot garden flat, and a finished cellar.
step into the light

Distinctive Homes

For $1.85M, this Chelsea co-op is a work of art

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

March 17, 2026

For $1.85M, this Chelsea co-op is a work of art

By Michelle Cohen

This unique Chelsea one-bedroom at 255 West 23rd Street lives like a studio while offering the added distinction of a separate sleeping area, all on the top floor of an Art Deco gem. Inside, the home's curvaceous interiors are the work of designer Ghiora Aharoni, who envisioned it as a "residence as a work of art." Asking $1,850,000, the petite pied-à-terre blends design, art, and architecture, taking advantage of light and natural materials to create a peerless refuge.
Artful living, this way

Distinctive Homes

NYC’s first Art House Cinema Week will offer 5,000 free movie tickets and more perks

Film Forum in Greenwich Village. Photo by Tkbrett on Wikimedia

March 13, 2026

NYC’s first Art House Cinema Week will offer 5,000 free movie tickets and more perks

By Michelle Cohen

The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and Art House New York (AHNY) announced the city's first Art House Cinema Week New York. The week-long celebration of independent cinema runs from March 20-26 at nearly 30 independent local theaters throughout the city. MOME is providing 5,000 free tickets to ensure that all New Yorkers can participate, rediscover their local independent cinemas, and experience the art of filmmaking.
find out more

Events & Things To Do

This $6.4M Chelsea condo is like having a library, cafe, and office in a three-bedroom loft

Photos by Joseph Velasquez from Five7 Media

March 13, 2026

This $6.4M Chelsea condo is like having a library, cafe, and office in a three-bedroom loft

By Michelle Cohen

This Chelsea loft condominium in the Spears Building at 525 West 22nd Street is as classic as it gets. Built in 1880, the former furniture warehouse sits next to the High Line, and the homes within have kept the warmth and architectural detail of the industrial era. Framed by exposed brick walls, massive wood beams, and cast iron-capped columns, this 3,033-square-foot residence, asking $6,400,000, has plenty of open living space, with the unusual convenience of three bedrooms and several flexible rooms for work and play. Full walls of shelving await a vast book or art collection, and many closets keep clutter out of sight.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

See inside record-setting West Village addition Eighty Clarkson

All renderings courtesy of DBOX

March 12, 2026

See inside record-setting West Village addition Eighty Clarkson

By Michelle Cohen

The much-anticipated new residential development, Eighty Clarkson, has released renderings of interiors and amenity spaces following a record-breaking year of sales. The not-yet-completed West Village condo has been kept under wraps, though quietly managing to sell over a billion dollars in volume during that time. WSJ recently featured the sought-after downtown development, reporting that a $129 million residence is currently in contract; if the sale proceeds, as 6sqft previously reported, it will set a new downtown Manhattan record.
get a closer look at the interiors and amenities

New Developments

$5M Yorkville home offers a flexible frame for townhouse living

Photos courtesy of Tim Waltman of Evan Jospeh Studio

March 11, 2026

$5M Yorkville home offers a flexible frame for townhouse living

By Michelle Cohen

This Federal-style townhouse at 412 East 89th Street in Yorkville is a good place to think about spring, with a 20-foot forecourt and a large rear patio, planted and ready for the days ahead. At 20 feet wide, the four-story home, asking $5,000,000, has retained many graceful historic details that frame perfectly integrated modern comforts. As a legal three-family dwelling, the property, just two blocks from Carl Schurz Park and Gracie Mansion, can be divided for high rental income, very easily converted to a single-family home, or anything in between.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Make this lofty $1.5M Chelsea co-op your own

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

March 6, 2026

Make this lofty $1.5M Chelsea co-op your own

By Michelle Cohen

This pre-war co-op in the Jensen Lewis Building at 161 West 15th Street has the gracious rooms and classic architecture of an elegant Chelsea apartment, with the high ceilings of a loft. Asking $1,499,000, the home's options are many, starting with its current two-bedroom configuration.
bring your architect and your imagination

Distinctive Homes

For $595K, this Turtle Bay pre-war co-op elegantly maximizes every square inch of space

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

March 5, 2026

For $595K, this Turtle Bay pre-war co-op elegantly maximizes every square inch of space

By Michelle Cohen

This corner one-bedroom at 320 East 42nd Street represents classic Manhattan living in Tudor-style Woodstock Tower, a former hotel built in 1929. Asking $595,000, the compact apartment has retained its pre-war elegance in the form of high ceilings, original hardwood floors, and dramatic casement windows, while optimizing living space and storage with cleverly-designed built-ins throughout.
get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Big, beautiful Boerum Hill townhouse has a barefoot lawn and a finished basement for $7.8M

Photo by Kenneth Chen/Evan Joseph Studios

March 4, 2026

Big, beautiful Boerum Hill townhouse has a barefoot lawn and a finished basement for $7.8M

By Michelle Cohen

While a designer-renovated townhouse in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn may fulfill many a real estate dream, we often expect to give up a green lawn and flexible, livable basement. Asking $7.8 million, this four-story home at 168 Bergen Street in the Boerum Hill Historic District has those rare additions and more behind its 19th-century brick facade.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

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