All articles by Shiloh Frederick

Shiloh is an aspiring journalist looking to gain experience writing about a wide range of topics. A Brooklyn native, she is fascinated by all things New York, especially pertaining to the city's history. Shiloh currently studies history and journalism at Mount Holyoke College and she is summer intern at CityRealty.
October 25, 2016

For just $825K you can live like a governor’s daughter in this historic victorian home

For only $825,000 you can own a home fit for a princess, or at least for a governor's daughter. The Emma Flower Taylor Mansion is the historic Watertown home of its namesake and her husband John Byron Taylor. The 14,000-square-foot residence was built in 1896 as a wedding present from Mrs. Taylor's father, former New York Governor and financier Roswell Pettibone Flower. He recruited acclaimed architects Lamb and Rich to create the palace-like home perfect for his only daughter. Today, the 14 bedroom, nine bathroom mansion is divided into eight separate apartments; however, it has still retained the regal Victorian look that's made this home a cherished piece of New York history.
Take a look at the mansion
August 18, 2015

Become One With Nature Safely From Your Cocoon Tree

French designer Berni du Payrat has created the perfect product for those who want to be one with nature, but not exposed to the elements. Like a combination of the Kodama Zomes we recently featured and these suspended tents, the Cocoon Tree is a durable pod that's held in suspension by ropes tied to trees. It's made of aluminum and covered with waterproof tarpaulin that can stand up to all sorts of weather in any season. The 130-pound Cocoon Tree comfortably fits two people and comes with a mattress for total relaxation. According to the product website, you will be sure to "reconnect with sensations forgotten since the modern world consumes us today."
More on the Cocoon Tree here
August 13, 2015

Drovers Tavern, an Upstate Property with Many Past Lives, Seeks a New Owner

In its 195 years of existence, Drovers Tavern has changed hands several times; however, the one thing that hasn't seemed to change is its facade. Completed around 1820, the Cazenovia, New York property is a typical Federal-style house, but its history is anything but. In its earliest days, the four-bedroom house served as a resting spot for drovers shipping livestock down to New York City. After the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the droving profession, and consequently the tavern, became obsolete. Eventually, the 114-acre property was put to use as a family farm. Drovers Tavern has had its share of notable residents. It was home to Melville Clark, the creator of the Clark Irish Harp, and his nephew Melville Clark, Jr., a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project. Now up for auction, the historic mansion is in search of a new owner to continue its long, quirky history. Bids start at $525,000 and will be accepted until August 31st.
Tour the historic tavern here
August 11, 2015

DHD Interiors Bring the Beach Back to This Hamptons Beach House

When a Manhattan couple first bought this 8,000-square-foot Hamptons home, it seemed like more of a hunting house than a beach house. Wall-mounted deer heads and paisley wallpaper outfitted the space, while dark mahogany floors sucked the light out of the rooms. But the new homeowners didn't let this turn them away. “It was a big house with unbelievable water views and we thought it would be a fantastic place to host family and friends,” the wife told luxe. “But we knew it needed some work.” The couple called in Steven Wakenshaw and Steffani Aarons of DHD Interiors, as well as landscape architect Steven Tupu, to bring out the best in their now house, but what had started out as small-scale remodeling and redecorating snowballed into an architectural intervention. Given the placement of the house on the eroding shoreline, DHD was prevented from changing the shape of house without obtaining local ordinances, which could take years to get. The homeowners wanted the house ready in time for Memorial Day, giving the team only five months to complete the task. With those restrictions, the firm decided to work with what they had to create a stylish, family-friendly beach house.
See how DHD Interiors turned the house around
August 9, 2015

$7.4M Lake George Tudor Has 600 Feet of Private Waterfront and a Five-Slip Boathouse

You'd think having a private peninsula would appeal to people looking for seclusion, but this Lake George estate is geared for the gracious host who's ready to throw a serious lakeside party. The four-bedroom Tudor-style house is nearly ninety years old and is full of original architectural details like stone mullions and steep beamed ceilings. But when it comes to inviting friends and family over, it's the outdoor spaces that seal the deal. The 1.26-acre property has a whopping 600 feet of private waterfront, as well as three outdoor dining and cooking areas, a secluded spot to fish and swim, a massive five-slip boathouse, and a carriage house that boasts amenities like a 2,000-bottle wine cellar and home theater. What'll all this cost you? $7.4 million.
View the lakeside estate
August 5, 2015

Amy Lau Creates an East Hampton Retreat Using Mid-Century Modern Furniture

When two New York art enthusiasts left the city behind for a getaway home in East Hampton, they made sure to take along designer Amy Lau to create their relaxing lagoon-side residence. After purchasing the four-bedroom house in 2012 for $3.75 million, the couple wanted to create a setting that contrasted their art deco Upper East Side apartment. "We did not set out to collect modernist furniture for our house in the country but rather to find furnishings and art we could live with while relaxing," homeowner Joel Portugal told Modern Magazine. So they enlisted their long-time style influence Amy Lau, in addition to East Hampton architectural consultant Sandra Brauer, to combine mid-century art with tranquil, summery touches.
See the interior here
July 31, 2015

1970s Map Reveals Worldview According to New Yorkers

Does anything really exist outside of New York? The creator of this map doesn't think so. Made in the 1970s by an anonymous artist, this maps depicts the worldview of the stereotypical New Yorker. The greatest city in the world occupies the greatest amount of space on the map, while the rest of the country is reduced to a narrow strip of land. That is, the rest of the country that's worth acknowledging.
See the full map here
July 31, 2015

LinkedIn’s Remodeled Offices Have a Speakeasy and Plenty of Lounge Space

The Empire State Building is already one of the most unique places to work in the city, but the LinkedIn offices on the 28th floor have made the iconic building even cooler. Interior Architects recently remodeled the 33,005-square-foot space, which houses the social network's sales team. The result is a floor that is "fun and vibrant," but maintains the professionalism of a "club level of a hotel." Just a warning, though, everything about this office–from a wall of rotary phones that conceals a speakeasy to a photo display that celebrates employees' pets–is going to make you pretty bummed about your boring cubicle.
Take a tour of the office here
July 29, 2015

Hyperrealistic Artist Paul Cadden Uses Only a Pencil to Recreate Urban Photographs

Nowadays, when people want to get the details right in a photograph they turn to Photoshop. When artist Paul Cadden wants to capture all of a photo's details, he uses nothing more than a pencil. Cadden describes his art as hyperrealism–drawings that are so realistic that they are easily mistaken for photographs. The Scottish artist bases his work off photographs of objects and people that catch his attention. If he isn't drawing inspiration from his own photographs, Cadden told Don't Panic magazine that he "trawl[s] through a lot of stock images sites." What he does next isn't just a simple reproduction. "The idea is to go beyond the photograph," he says.
View more of Cadden's drawings here
July 28, 2015

Office of Architecture Brings Individuality and Adaptability to a Brooklyn Row House

Usually, there isn't much individuality to be found among Brooklyn row houses, at least not until you step inside. When a Brooklyn couple approached Office of Architecture about gut renovating their row house, the firm took it upon themselves to create a home that not only would stand out, but would be adaptable to the pair's needs as their life progressed.
Get a closer look
July 27, 2015

VIDEO: Go Behind the Super Antiquated Switchboard of Today’s NYC Subway

The MTA is showing its age in a new video put forth by the public benefit corporation. "People know the system is old," the narrator of MTA's video opens, "but I don't think they realize just how old it is." The New York City subway system has been running since 1904, and as we previously reported in December, it's been running on the same technology used in the 1930s. In the video, computers are noticeably absent from the West 4th Street Supervisory Tower, which is in control of all of the train movements around the area. Instead there are plenty of pens and papers, as well as old, lever-operated machinery that the railroad industry has long stopped manufacturing. It's no wonder that the MTA has put out this video promoting their Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, a project that aims to modernize the subway.
Watch the incredible video here
July 24, 2015

VIDEO: Rick Liss’ ‘No York City’ Encapsulates the Grittier New York of the ’80s

Feeling nostalgic for 1980s New York? Artist Rick Liss' short film "N.Y.C. (No York City)" transports you back to the city's grittier days. He uses stop motion to move you through the city "at the speed of blood," a pace that doesn't seem too different from the city's normal flow. But don't expect the typical tourist attractions on this journey. "No York City" features graffiti, street fights, and lots of crowds, all set to Laurie Anderson's "For Electronic Dogs."
Watch the video here
July 23, 2015

6sqft Behind the Scenes: Take a Tour of MakerBot’s New 3D Printer Factory in Brooklyn

MakerBot has officially opened its brand new factory in Industry City in Brooklyn's Sunset Park. The 170,000-square-foot space spans three floors, with the main production lines on the third floor of the building. The new location is four times larger than the company's previous Industry City location and will allow the company to double its production of 3D printers. This is far cry from the garage it started out in nearly two and a half years ago. MakerBot kicked off the opening of its new locale yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured MakerBot CEO Jonathan Jaglom and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. We were on the scene to capture this latest milestone for the 3D printer company.
Have a closer look here
July 21, 2015

Owen Dippie Channels Both Renaissance and Modern Artists in His Bushwick Murals

Owen Dippie is starting a modern renaissance in Brooklyn. Within the past couple of months, the New Zealand-born street artist has put up two pieces in Bushwick that skillfully remix the work of the Renaissance masters and contemporary art and culture. Dippie's clever pieces appeal to art lovers of all styles. For Dippie, creating these mashups is like paying homage to his idols. Growing up, Dippie's biggest influences were Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, Andy Warhol, Basquiat and Keith Haring. As he grew older and became more exposed to other artists, the Renaissance masters began to grow on him as well. With such varying influences, it makes sense for Dippie to have created these pieces.
See the stunning mashups here
July 17, 2015

Why Are the Mean Streets of Queens Numbered the Way They Are?

It's easy to tell if you're dealing with a Queens address–there's the hyphenated street number and the variety of numbered thoroughfare names (Street, Place, Road, Avenue, Lane, Terrace). The really hard part, however, is actually getting to that address in Queens, especially if you're a resident from another borough to whom it feels like trying to maneuver your way in another country where you don't know the language. But instead of continuing to find ourselves lost, we decided to get to the bottom of this complicated system. Prior to the consolidation of New York City in 1898, what is now known as the borough of Queens was only a hodgepodge of unconnected towns, each of which had its own road system and addresses. Once the towns were combined into one borough, having multiple road systems was becoming a hindrance to fast-growing Queens. So by 1911, the borough hired engineer Charles U. Powell to replace the old systems with a carefully planned grid system.
The rest of the story is right this way
July 17, 2015

Own an Old Abandoned Stone Mill, Now a Home Steeped in History, for $795K

Converted lofts are cool, but this revamped stone mill in St. Johnsville brings rehabbed homes to the next level. This historic treasure has been the home of Judith and Ron Hezel for nearly a quarter-century. The couple bought the abandoned factory in 1988 and after five years of hard work, they turned the 6,000-square-foot mill into a four-bedroom home. The avid preservationists made sure to maintain most of the mill's historical details and even had the site added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1995. The Hezels are ready to move on, but they hope the historic mill, along with a barn, three-stall garage, and guest house, all listed at $795,000, ends up in the hands of someone who appreciates history just as much as they do.
Learn more about this mill turned home
July 15, 2015

The MTA May Revive the W Train Line

Rumor has it that the W train may be returning from the dead. According to AM NY, the MTA is in talks with both public officials and rider advocates to bring the train back to service once the Q train is diverged to the Upper East Side to the new Second Avenue line in December 2016. Restoring the old line would prevent disrupting subway service in Astoria, an area with thousands of daily strap-hangers and only a few subways to choose from. The MTA hasn't made any official announcements on the matter thus far, but with the opening of the Second Avenue Subway line rapidly approaching, they are said to be seriously mulling it over.
More on the rumor here
July 10, 2015

VIDEO: Retro News Report Reveals Old Resentment for New York’s Graffiti

These days graffiti is celebrated in New York City. From top ten lists to graffiti tours, people can't seem to get enough of this street art form. But this sentiment is a far cry from how New Yorkers felt 30 years ago, when the city's graffiti epidemic seemed to be at its height. WPIX recently unearthed a news report from the summer of 1985 that shows the anti-graffiti resentment among New Yorkers, as well as the extent to which the city was coated in spray paint.
Watch the report here
July 9, 2015

POSH City Club Aims to Upgrade Your Public Restroom Experience

At any given time there are well over one million people in Manhattan who aren't Manhattan residents. This figure, obtained from a report from NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, accounts for tourists and commuting workers from the suburbs and the outer boroughs. That being said, non-residents don't usually have the luxury of popping home to drop off a few things, using a clean restroom, or especially showering. POSH City Club, a luxury storage and bathroom facility, plans to change that.
Learn more about this innovative startup here
July 8, 2015

VIDEO: Travel Through History to See How Transportation Has Changed

The fact that skiing has gone from a major mode of transportation to a winter recreational activity says a lot about how getting from point A to B has changed over the course of human history. "Here to There," the latest video in the Atlantic's 10-part animated series (we previously featured an installment on housing through time), traces the history of transportation from the canoe in 8,000 B.C. to the recent debut of the hydrogen fuel-cell car. Covering more than 10,000 years in two-and-a-half minutes, this video shows that there is much more to the timeline of transportation than the switch from horses and buggies to motor vehicles.
Watch the video here
July 7, 2015

Kimberly Peck’s All-White Union Square Loft Is Surprisingly Perfect for a Modern Family

Normally, white is a color families shy away from in fear of kid-related accidents. But daring architect Kimberly Peck has brushed off the age-old design restriction in this Union Square loft renovation that makes white the central color. Addressing the growing family's needs, she carved a second bedroom and bathroom out of the loft's 1,375 square feet, in addition to enlarging the kitchen. Working with the space's characteristic wooden floors and exposed brick walls, Peck created a space that's stylish, yet still homey.
See the renovation here
July 5, 2015

Live Lakeside for Less in This $400k Bungalow-Style Round House

It's obvious why this was once called the Blueberry Hill House. This 2,178-square-foot eclectic round house is the quirkiest residence in the Skaneateles Lake area thanks to its bold blue exterior and hut-like shape. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, this house makes for the perfect forest hideaway, whether you use it as a vacation home or if you want to make your stay in Skaneateles permanent. Best of all, you can live your blueberry bungalow dreams for a very affordable $400,000.
Take a look around the house here
July 1, 2015

Get to Know Chinatown Through These Iconic Cultural, Gastronomic and Architectural Spots

Back in March, we took a look at how Chinatown is predicted to undergo rapid changes within the next decade, transforming it into another haven for hipsters and real estate developers. As of right now, these changes are hard to see–luxury condos like Hester Gardens stand alone among the array of colorful shops and signs covered in Chinese characters. In fact, a past poll shows that readers are equally divided on Chinatown's future. As with all gentrifying neighborhoods, one of residents' biggest fears is that the neighborhood will lose the cultural characteristics that make it unique. With this in mind, we're taking stock of the iconic places that make Chinatown what it is. We've highlighted some of the neighborhood's best restaurants and shops (think Economy Candy and Joe's Shanghai), along with a few standout structures (the largest Buddhist temple in New York City, to name just one) that make this neighborhood unlike any other in the city.
See which places made the list here
June 28, 2015

Live the Charmed Life in This $1.3M Historic Babylon Victorian

With one look at this house you can immediately see the harmony at work between modern and traditional. Only a modern house would dare to be coated in a color so striking. However, the Victorian features of this Babylon, NY home elevate it from merely striking to sophisticated and chic. This 3,956-square-foot Babylon Victorian (h/t CIRCA) is perfect for the person who loves old world charm with modern conveniences (and who has $1.3 million to spend).
Look around the house here