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.

Escape to a tropical paradise in the solarium of this $3.3M Park Slope townhouse

Photo by Paul Widdowson

November 20, 2023

Escape to a tropical paradise in the solarium of this $3.3M Park Slope townhouse

By Michelle Cohen

Behind an ordinary brownstone facade, the four-floor home at 364 Douglass Street is a bit different from what you'd expect to find in a historic Park Slope townhouse. Asking $3.3 million, the home's interiors range from rustic industrial spaces with exposed brick and wood beams to a solarium that feels like a private Mediterranean terrace. The townhouse offers four bedrooms, and–in addition to the all-season solarium–surprising details that include brick arches, reclaimed wood joists, custom millwork, central A/C, a basement gym, a landscaped garden, a bedroom terrace, and a fabulously-finished roof deck.
Step into the solarium

Distinctive Homes

Warm up by the fireplace in this cozy $1.4M Brooklyn Heights co-op

Photo credit: DDREPS for The Corcoran Group

November 17, 2023

Warm up by the fireplace in this cozy $1.4M Brooklyn Heights co-op

By Michelle Cohen

Asking $1,399,000, this two-bedroom home at 54 Willow Street in historic Brooklyn Heights definitely has location going for it. And though it may not be huge, the classic co-op has central air and a wood-burning fireplace for all-season comfort. Two baths and an in-unit washer and dryer make it all you really need for a compact and carefree home base.
see more, this way

Distinctive Homes

Behind a classic Soho facade, there’s nothing raw about this $4.25M loft triplex

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

November 16, 2023

Behind a classic Soho facade, there’s nothing raw about this $4.25M loft triplex

By Michelle Cohen

Behind a classic cast iron loft facade at 123 Prince Street in the heart of Soho, this triplex loft expands to three levels, with all-new interiors that include three bedrooms and plenty of living space. Asking $4,250,000, the downtown co-op has been outfitted with high-end custom finishes, including a rear wall of glass that overlooks a private vertical garden.
Soho loft living, this way

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An 1870s Clinton Hill carriage house, rebuilt to Passive House standards, asks $7.5M

Photo credit: Frank Frances

November 15, 2023

An 1870s Clinton Hill carriage house, rebuilt to Passive House standards, asks $7.5M

By Michelle Cohen

This one-of-a-kind townhouse at 329 Vanderbilt Avenue on the border between Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, Brooklyn, is a showcase of innovative architecture and peerless modern design, undertaken by architecture firm Schiller Projects. The directive: re-imagining an 1870s carriage house with a focus on sustainability, design, and efficient engineering, in accordance with Passive House standards. The result is Brooklyn’s first mass timber single-family residence, currently asking $7,500,000.
tour this stunning and sustainable home

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New-York Historical Society expansion will feature new Democracy Wing

The New-York Historical Society new wing and renovation by Robert A.M. Stern Architects as viewed from 76th Street. Image courtesy of Alden Studios for Robert A.M. Stern Architects.

November 14, 2023

New-York Historical Society expansion will feature new Democracy Wing

By Michelle Cohen

New York's oldest museum, the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library, begins construction this month on an 80,000-square-foot renovation and expansion project. As 6sqft previously reported, the $140 million five-story extension at the rear of the museum's Upper West Side location will be designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern. New-York Historical president and CEO Louise Mirrer announced Monday the new addition will feature a Democracy Wing. When construction is completed in 2026–just in time for the nation's 250th anniversary–the new wing will offer educational programs and a home for valuable materials on American democracy.
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Stephen Sondheim’s Connecticut country retreat lists for $3.25M

All photos courtesy of Klemm Real Estate & Michael Bowman Photography

November 13, 2023

Stephen Sondheim’s Connecticut country retreat lists for $3.25M

By Michelle Cohen

The Roxbury, Connecticut home of late Broadway icon Stephen Sondheim is now on the market, asking $3,250,000. The celebrated composer and lyricist's retreat is for sale for the first time in nearly 40 years. Situated on nine secluded country acres, the historic 1792 property features a three-bedroom main house, a pool, a one-bedroom pool house, and a detached garage. Within, the home boasts a 21st-century renovation, with more than a passing nod to its former owner's remarkable creativity.
elegance and country charm, this way

Yankees legend Bernie Williams’ Westchester apartment asks $2M

Photo credit: Mike Cinelli of Jump Visual

November 10, 2023

Yankees legend Bernie Williams’ Westchester apartment asks $2M

By Michelle Cohen

Longtime center fielder for the New York Yankees and World Series champ Bernie Williams just put his Westchester condo on the market for $1,999,000. The two-bedroom apartment at 10 City Place in White Plains is the kind of home base any celebrity–or busy New Yorker–would appreciate: In addition to indoor and outdoor entertaining space, the full-service residential tower is packed with amenities, from a kids' playroom to a pool and tennis courts.
find out more

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Fire up your outdoor kitchen while looking out on the Hudson River in this $6M Bronx home

Photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker

November 9, 2023

Fire up your outdoor kitchen while looking out on the Hudson River in this $6M Bronx home

By Michelle Cohen

In the Bronx neighborhood of Spuyten Duyvil overlooking the Hudson River, this unusual mini-mansion at 3061 Scenic Place offers a chance to live the manor life without leaving New York City. Asking $5,990,000, this 5,872-square-foot recently-renovated Georgian Colonial home is a different kind of townhouse, breathtaking river views included. A full outdoor kitchen takes full advantage of the views, while a home movie theater keeps everyone entertained when the weather says, "stay indoors."
take the tour

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Sally Jessy Raphael’s $6.5M upstate manor comes with 17 bedrooms and 30 hand-carved mythical creatures

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 8, 2023

Sally Jessy Raphael’s $6.5M upstate manor comes with 17 bedrooms and 30 hand-carved mythical creatures

By Michelle Cohen

Former tabloid talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael's 25.5-acre equestrian estate just hit the market for $6,500,000. Even without the fame connection, this fanciful and fabulous property is worthy of its own TV show. The property consists of a 43-room Elizabethan manor house, two caretaker homes, a carriage house with groom's quarters, a yoga studio, a 12,000-square-foot stable, a greenhouse, and more. Known as Elmwood Farm, the Pawling, NY, estate is the town's most expensive listing. The main house, built in 1860 is itself an architectural event, with 17 bedrooms, 10 fireplaces, and endless ornate and whimsical details.
meet the many details within

This $18.5M modern Village mansion has a hot tub on the roof and a private garage

Photo credit: Tim Waltman

November 7, 2023

This $18.5M modern Village mansion has a hot tub on the roof and a private garage

By Michelle Cohen

Living in Greenwich Village comes at a premium regardless of size, so the $18,500,000 ask for a 7,198-square-foot townhouse at 9 Minetta Street comes as no surprise. For that jumbo price tag, you get mansion-sized measurements and an over-the-top collection of perks rarely found in Manhattan real estate. The contemporary townhouse spans seven floors, with a garage below and an elevator accessing all levels. The new construction home is topped with a rooftop retreat with a hot tub, and there's a rear garden with a water wall.
hop in the elevator, take the tour

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Popular Articles

SHOP THE LISTING: $3.5M Flatiron condo channels a dreamy Paris apartment with an upstairs atelier

Listing photos courtesy of Eytan Stern Weber of Evan Joseph

November 6, 2023

SHOP THE LISTING: $3.5M Flatiron condo channels a dreamy Paris apartment with an upstairs atelier

By Michelle Cohen

If you’ve dreamed of waking up in a Parisian flat and stepping out to the terrace for morning coffee and al fresco dining, this Flatiron condo at 10 East 22nd Street might be exactement ce que vous recherchez. Asking $3,495,000, this Manhattan penthouse is currently configured as a one-bedroom home, but a flexible floor plan has room for two additional bedrooms. A skylit atelier and verdant landscaped terraces make this two-story space a chic refuge from the New York City grind. If you love the interior design of this home, we’ve sourced a few key pieces that are identical or similar to the items in the listing photos. So you can get the look–without having to move.
shop the listing, this way

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Live the Victorian seaside life in this $5.2M Cape May confection

Image courtesy of Jersey Cape Realty

November 6, 2023

Live the Victorian seaside life in this $5.2M Cape May confection

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the popular destination town of Cape May on the southernmost tip of the Jersey Shore, this colorful cottage at 24 Jackson Street is surrounded by Victorian-style homes. Built in 1905, this historic property, asking $5,200,000, is a charming example of the neighborhood's eclectic architecture. The restoration of this former bed and breakfast was a true labor of love for the home's current owner, who added a full menu of modern updates while maintaining the home's historic character.
take the tour

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This $17M West Village townhouse is a glass-walled modern home behind a restored historic facade

Photo credit: © Travis Mark

November 2, 2023

This $17M West Village townhouse is a glass-walled modern home behind a restored historic facade

By Michelle Cohen

Many dream of a townhouse in the West Village, and this four-story home at 31 Grove Street, asking $16,995,000, is suitably dreamy. One of a pair of 1841 Greek Revival brick homes, its 19th-century facade has been completely restored to its historic beauty, while the home's interiors are a modern design lover's fantasy. A carefully considered 2018 renovation resulted in indoor and outdoor spaces that make the historic townhouse timeless. On four floors, the multi-family property configured as a single-family home currently offers four bedrooms (with plenty of flexibility for more), a landscaped back garden, a private roof deck and a full cellar.
take the townhouse tour

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Famed photographer William Wegman just listed his Chelsea townhouse/studio for $16.5M

Photo credit: Kenneth Chen of Evan Joseph Images for Douglas Elliman

November 1, 2023

Famed photographer William Wegman just listed his Chelsea townhouse/studio for $16.5M

By Michelle Cohen

American artist William Wegman, best known for his archly anthropomorphic portraits of Weimaraner dogs, is selling his Chelsea home at 245 West 18th Street. Built in 1915, the two-story, 45-foot-wide building formerly housed the Chelsea Day School; it has served as the artist's main studio as well as his family home for three decades. The live/work townhouse itself has a total of 5,834 square feet of interior space, along with a cellar. With 18,235 square feet of additional development rights, a curb cut and indoor parking, the property adds up to an unusual New York City opportunity.
Take the tour

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For the price of a two-bedroom condo, this $2.5M Kips Bay property is a townhouse with potential

Photo courtesy of Elegran | Forbes Global Properties

October 27, 2023

For the price of a two-bedroom condo, this $2.5M Kips Bay property is a townhouse with potential

By Michelle Cohen

Sometimes the best finds are hiding in plain sight. According to the listing, this unassuming building at 240 East 29th Street is the lowest-priced townhouse in Manhattan south of Central Park. It will require some effort to achieve peak townhouse status, but the best things in life often do. Asking $2.5 million, the Kips Bay property presents a wealth of investment opportunities, with lots of advantages from the start.
a diamond in the rough, this way

Distinctive Homes

Enjoy your own four-bedroom Versailles on the Upper East Side for $8M

Photo courtesy of Fox Residential

October 24, 2023

Enjoy your own four-bedroom Versailles on the Upper East Side for $8M

By Michelle Cohen

As if a Fifth Avenue address isn't elegant enough, this four-bedroom co-op at 910 Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side offers Gilded Age glamour in every detail along with Central Park vistas and a private terrace. At 4,200 square feet, this Manhattan home, asking $7,975,000, is townhouse-sized, with perks like a private elevator landing, service elevator, staff quarters, and much, much more.
step into the drawing room

This $8M Tribeca duplex means you don’t have to choose between downtown loft and doorman condo

Photo courtesy of Edward Menashy. All other photos courtesy of Evan Joseph.

October 23, 2023

This $8M Tribeca duplex means you don’t have to choose between downtown loft and doorman condo

By Michelle Cohen

If you've always dreamed of a massive loft in an old cast iron building in Tribeca, this 2,935-square-foot duplex at 143 Reade Street fits the bill, with ceilings of nearly 12 feet, massive windows, and hangar-sized open space for entertaining. But lofts can lack amenities and modern comforts. Asking $7,995,000, this 21st-century condo checks that box, too. Add panoramic city views from every room–with the added bonus of outdoor space in the form of one of the neighborhood's finest landscaped terraces.
loft with a view, this way

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For $9M, this jumbo Nomad loft is a home, event space, office, and spa all in one

Photo credit: Richard Caplan

October 20, 2023

For $9M, this jumbo Nomad loft is a home, event space, office, and spa all in one

By Michelle Cohen

This 5,500-square-foot loft co-op spans the entire ninth floor of 38 West 26th Street in the super-buzzy Nomad neighborhood. With this much space, the five-bedroom home, asking $8,995,000, is mansion-sized, with enough rooms for the whole family–and their friends, guests, and pets. There's room for office spaces, media and family rooms, a sauna, and more, with the sprawling common areas loft lovers crave. A high floor and four exposures mean great light and iconic New York City views.
Large loft living, this way

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$9.4M four-family townhouse is an unspoiled West Village dream with a celebrity past

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 19, 2023

$9.4M four-family townhouse is an unspoiled West Village dream with a celebrity past

By Michelle Cohen

From the outside, this graceful limestone townhouse with a mansard roof at 70 Perry Street resembles a picture postcard of West Village life, on a leafy historic block that embodies the neighborhood's charm. Just down the street from Carrie Bradshaw's fictional "Sex and the City" address, the four-story, four-family property appeared as a backdrop in several films and was the actual home of celebrity chef and restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian and reporter Charles Grumich. Asking $9,400,000, the townhouse is comprised of a duplex with a dreamy back garden and three floor-through apartments. Unlike some historic multi-family homes, its original details and materials have been beautifully preserved.
take the townhouse tour

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Annie Leibovitz lists her Central Park West home for $8.6M

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

October 17, 2023

Annie Leibovitz lists her Central Park West home for $8.6M

By Michelle Cohen

Celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz has listed her home in the Brentmore co-op at 88 Central Park West for $8.6 million. As 6sqft previously reported, Leibovitz purchased the "classic-seven" co-op in 2014 for $11.25 million in a building known for celebrity residents like Robert DeNiro, Paul Simon, and Sting. Leibovitz, whose iconic images feature luminaries from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to Mick Jagger and Demi Moore, thoroughly renovated the Upper West Side co-op, her Manhattan home base in the ensuing years. As the New York Times reports, she also owns a home in the West Village as well as a family home in Rhinebeck, NY.
Get a closer look

Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza to close after seven-year run

Photos courtesy of Bronx Night Market

October 16, 2023

Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza to close after seven-year run

By Michelle Cohen

October 28 will be the last day you'll be able to sample the food, crafts, and other local wares at the Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza. The borough's beloved foodie fest is closing down for good after a farewell fling. After seven years, the team behind the ground-breaking seasonal event has made the tough decision to close after safety concerns rose and sponsorships fell short.
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This three-story modern townhouse with a yard in Fort Greene asks $2.75M

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

October 13, 2023

This three-story modern townhouse with a yard in Fort Greene asks $2.75M

By Michelle Cohen

As part of the Navy Green development in the northern part of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in the Navy Yard and Wallabout neighborhoods, this single-family townhouse belongs to a unique community. The LEED-certified development is made up of townhouses and condos, with a 30,000-square-foot park at its center. The home at 19 Clermont Avenue, asking $2,750,000, offers four floors (finished basement included) of modern-design living space and contemporary comforts.
take the tour

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Dine and dance on the private rooftop of this $6.4M Flatiron penthouse loft

Photo credit: MW Studios for Sotheby’s International Realty

October 12, 2023

Dine and dance on the private rooftop of this $6.4M Flatiron penthouse loft

By Michelle Cohen

Situated between Broadway and Fifth Avenue in one of Manhattan's most vibrant neighborhoods, the home atop 22 East 18th Street in Flatiron offers 3,300 square feet of freshly renovated loft living with three bedrooms, 11-foot ceilings, and massive skylights. The best part of this stunning co-op apartment, asking $6,350,000, may just be the 1,800-square-foot private roof deck, complete with a wet bar, built-in lighting, and irrigation–and panoramic views of the surrounding city.
take the elevator to the rooftop

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Behind a historic facade, this $14M Upper West Side mansion is all about the 21st-century amenities

Photo credit: DDreps

October 11, 2023

Behind a historic facade, this $14M Upper West Side mansion is all about the 21st-century amenities

By Michelle Cohen

In the heart of the Upper West Side among the coveted neighborhood's historic townhomes and steps from Central Park, this newly-renovated mansion at 137 West 77th Street packs just about every modern perk into four stories (plus a rooftop terrace). Asking $13,995,000, the 7,000-square-foot 1890s home is semi-detached, with three exposures and fronted by a restored facade. Within, every convenience and comfort is present in the context of aesthetic perfection, from the private elevator, sauna, and spa to a full menu of home automation tools.
take the tour

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Your guide to the West Village: New York City’s downtown heart of cultural history

Southward view of Gay Street via Wiki Commons

October 10, 2023

Your guide to the West Village: New York City’s downtown heart of cultural history

By Michelle Cohen

It may seem challenging to navigate the winding, narrow streets in one of the few Manhattan neighborhoods not arranged on a sensible grid. Fortunately, it’s also hard to make a wrong turn no matter where you end up in the West Village. And there’s so much to see and do in this iconic and charming neighborhood, that you may find it even harder to leave.
discover the west village, old and new

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