All articles by Stephanie Hoina

A lifelong resident of New York City and married to an architect, Stephanie has a true passion for the city's eclectic mix of neighborhoods and structures and is thrilled to be a part of 6sqft. Though her professional background focused primarily on client services and corporate marketing/communications, she was fortunate to embark on a freelance writing career when her son Zachary was born in 1999, working for a wide range of businesses and non profit organizations. Stephanie currently resides in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, where she will proudly tell you her son is the 4th generation of her husband's family to live on their block. Her first novel, Kissing Atticus Primble, was published in 2014.
Renovated Chelsea Home Greets with a Bi-Level Garden Framed by a Two-Story Glass Wall
October 17, 2014

Renovated Chelsea Home Greets with a Bi-Level Garden Framed by a Two-Story Glass Wall

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The minute you walk into this gorgeously renovated three-bedroom apartment at 442 West 23rd Street in Chelsea you are greeted with the most unexpected of views: a breathtaking bi-level garden. Beautifully framed by a two-story Portella-designed architectural steel door and window combination, the 1,000-plus square feet of landscaped perfection is the focal point of this exquisite home.
See why this apartment will take your breath away
The Hardest Part About Living in this Perfect Brooklyn Heights Loft is Spelling the Name of Your Street
October 16, 2014

The Hardest Part About Living in this Perfect Brooklyn Heights Loft is Spelling the Name of Your Street

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S-C-H-E-R-M-E-R-H-O-R-N. A village in the Dutch province of North Holland. The name of one of President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Commissioners responsible for removing the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians beyond the Mississippi River (later known as the Trail of Tears). And the street where you will find this impeccable corner loft in Brooklyn Heights.
See why this Brooklyn Heights corner loft is letter perfect
Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-Square-Foot “Superdesk” Puts Literal Twist on Collaborative Workspace
October 15, 2014

Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-Square-Foot “Superdesk” Puts Literal Twist on Collaborative Workspace

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Visitors to this past weekend’s 12th Annual Open House New York were treated to tours of Manhattan’s first fully robotic parking system, an African Burial Ground National Monument in Tribeca, and this 4,400-square-foot “superdesk" winding its way through the Chelsea offices of the Barbarian Group, a New York-based creative agency.
Right this way for more on this fun and functional
Fabrica 718’s Renovation of Soho Loft in Former Department Store is Highly Fashionable
October 15, 2014

Fabrica 718’s Renovation of Soho Loft in Former Department Store is Highly Fashionable

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Firehouses, stables, factories – even churches – have long offered designers the opportunity to carve out unique living spaces from non-traditional structures. So it should come as no surprise that in a city as fashion conscious as New York, even department stores are fair game for residential conversion. When this co-op building in Soho was subdivided into loft apartments, each inherited some awkward and quirky features courtesy of its former life, but that didn’t stop Brooklyn-based designer Fabrica 718 from turning one of the apartments within into a different kind of showcase.
See more of Fabrica 718's fashionable renovation
$3M Park Slope Brownstone is Perfect for Multigenerational Living
October 10, 2014

$3M Park Slope Brownstone is Perfect for Multigenerational Living

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Not only is this rare 1882 brownstone situated in the heart of one of New York City’s quintessential family-friendly neighborhoods, the home itself is perfectly suited for familial bonding of another kind – multigenerational living. With an owner’s triplex over a floor-through garden apartment, this lovely residence at 107 St. John’s Place in Park Slope speaks to the time-honored tradition of sharing space with extended family. But if you’re not quite ready for the whole “Everybody Loves Raymond” scenario, having a sought-after income-producing rental is still a wonderful perk, and only one of the home’s many charms.
See more of this classic 1882 brownstone
You’ll Feel Right at Home in This Elegant $3.2M Apartment at the Dorilton
October 6, 2014

You’ll Feel Right at Home in This Elegant $3.2M Apartment at the Dorilton

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Sometimes it takes a while to settle into a new place, but the minute we saw this spectacular residence on the market for $3.2 million in the Dorilton at 171 West 71st Street, it felt like home. While it’s true the landmarked building’s elaborate Edwardian façade could seem a little imposing, the warmth emanating from this immaculate, five-room Upper West Side home more than makes up for any airs the grand and gated entrance might convey.
See why this home will capture your heart
Fort Greene Apartment in Former Seminary Has Us Praising Its Incredible Windows
October 3, 2014

Fort Greene Apartment in Former Seminary Has Us Praising Its Incredible Windows

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Formerly a seminary, the gothic-style structure sitting in Fort Greene at the crossroads of Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill was reborn as Cathedral Condominiums, and this 1,100-square-foot home within is certainly one to be worshipped. No matter what your religious persuasion there’s no denying the windows in this stunning condo at 555 Washington Avenue are a blessing.
See why this condo has us singing its praises
Colorful Loft by Ghislaine Vinas Will Have You Feeling Young at Heart
October 2, 2014

Colorful Loft by Ghislaine Vinas Will Have You Feeling Young at Heart

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Sure, this beautiful Tribeca loft by designer Ghislaine Viñas has the requisite “grown up” touches. One look at the soothing palette and economy of design in the master bedroom and the word sanctuary easily comes to mind. Similarly, the kitchen’s clean lines and austere finishes are decidedly adult. But make no mistake; this is very much a family home. Skillfully combining stark white furnishings with bursts of bright color, Viñas clearly had fun ensuring this home’s youngest inhabitants felt, well…at home.
See why children and adults alike will feel right at home
Impeccably Classic Residence in the Legendary Osborne Lists for $7M
October 1, 2014

Impeccably Classic Residence in the Legendary Osborne Lists for $7M

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Often overshadowed by the Dakota, its more famous “cousin” further uptown, the Osborne was one of New York’s first major luxury apartment buildings. Located in the heart of Midtown West and completed in 1883, the Osborne's somber appearance rising up from 205 West 57th Street belies the dazzling lobby within, “a luminous Byzantine dream of gilded tiles.” But the lobby isn’t the only treasure awaiting your entrance. This classically elegant, 12-room corner duplex exemplifies everything one would expect from a residence in such a legendary building. And it's on the market for $6,950,000.
See what makes this home so impeccably classic
$6.4M Loft on the Williamsburg Waterfront Is Rough-Around-the-Edges But Unique Nonetheless
September 30, 2014

$6.4M Loft on the Williamsburg Waterfront Is Rough-Around-the-Edges But Unique Nonetheless

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Every once in a while a real estate opportunity comes along that is too good to pass up, and this former firehouse at 411 Kent Avenue on the Williamsburg waterfront is a perfect example. The very definition of a creative Brooklyn loft, the existing 3,300-square foot, two-story building features massive open spaces, high ceilings, huge windows, multiple skylights, original wood floors, exposed brick, and completely exposed wood ceiling joists.
See what investing in Brooklyn's hottest neighborhood looks like
Gardens and Grandeur for $7M on a Tree-Lined Street in Brooklyn
September 29, 2014

Gardens and Grandeur for $7M on a Tree-Lined Street in Brooklyn

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It is no surprise this impeccable 24-foot-wide multifamily brownstone is located in the aptly-named enclave of Carroll Gardens, since it boasts two lovely and spacious gardens of its own. Located on tree-lined 1st Place, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan, its $7 million price tag offers a taste of suburbia with all the advantages of city living.
Tour the beauty here
D’Aquino Monaco-Designed Apartment at 15 Central Park West Is Colorful and Whimsical
September 26, 2014

D’Aquino Monaco-Designed Apartment at 15 Central Park West Is Colorful and Whimsical

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Tucked away within the austere limestone façade of Architect Robert A.M. Stern’s 15 Central Park West is this fabulous apartment courtesy of Carl D’Aquino and Francine Monaco of New York-based design firm D’Aquino Monaco. Every single room is a treat to the senses, with bold splashes of color and unusual finishing touches combined to create a living space as cozy as it is quirky.
Tour the colorful and whimsical home here
Beautiful Inside and Out: $2.5M Tribeca Loft is the Epitome of Cast Iron Elegance
September 25, 2014

Beautiful Inside and Out: $2.5M Tribeca Loft is the Epitome of Cast Iron Elegance

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How we love New York’s cast-iron buildings...there’s something to be said for the craftsmanship and history that comes with these turn-of-the-century gems. With New York boasting the world’s largest collection of cast-iron architecture, it’s hard to imagine a time when many of the most significant of these buildings faced a date with the wrecking-ball. Fortunately, early preservationists advocated for their protection, and this hard work paved the way for the 1973 designation of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District and, subsequently, individual landmarks and historic districts, like the Ladies’ Mile, NoHo, and the Tribeca South, West, and East Historic Districts. These efforts mean we get to appreciate the simple beauty of places like 47 Walker Street, where the interior of this 1,350-square-foot loft is just as elegant as the building's historic facade. With soaring 12-foot ceilings; huge, original four-by-ten-foot arched leaded windows; and a grand, open living space, this true Tribeca loft is respectful of its cast-iron-era roots.
See why we think this home is a beauty inside and out
This Roman and Williams-Designed Nolita Apartment on the Market for $2M is Bellisimo
September 24, 2014

This Roman and Williams-Designed Nolita Apartment on the Market for $2M is Bellisimo

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From the Boom Boom Room to the Standard and Ace Hotels, acclaimed husband and wife team Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch — aka, Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors — infuse plenty of personality into everything they do. And their first ground-up residential project, a seven-story condominium building in the heart of Nolita at 211 Elizabeth Street, was no exception. Not only did the duo bring their signature character to the building’s actual construction, which garnered the firm a Palladio Award in 2010, they piloted the interior design as well, including every detail of this one-bedroom unit currently on the market for $2 million.
See more of this apartment's Roman and Williams interior
Artists Who Converted Ink & Brush Factory into Their Own Masterpiece List it for $4.4M
September 23, 2014

Artists Who Converted Ink & Brush Factory into Their Own Masterpiece List it for $4.4M

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By their very nature artists are visionaries blessed with an innate ability to create something out of nothing. Time and time again some of New York City’s most industrialized areas have seen rebirth as residential enclaves courtesy of these imaginative souls. Examples of such artist-led gentrification abound - think SoHo, Chelsea, and Williamsburg, to name a few. So it should come as no surprise that it was two artists who came to the rescue of this former ink and brush factory located at 459 Carroll Street in Carroll Gardens and gave it new life as a practical-yet-cutting-edge home. Stripped to its core in 2006, the four-story manufacturing building built in 1888 was completely renovated into two distinct condominium residences, one of which is now on the market for $4.4 million.
From manufacturing-to-masterpiece right this way
Bold Color and Playful Touches: Incorporated Architecture & Design’s Bohemian Apartment
September 22, 2014

Bold Color and Playful Touches: Incorporated Architecture & Design’s Bohemian Apartment

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In terms of ordinary living spaces this apartment by Incorporated Architecture & Design ticks off all the customary boxes. Kitchen? Check. Dining room? Family Room? Check? Plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms? Check and check. But one look at these stunning photos and it’s clear that the realization of Incorporated’s vision is anything but ordinary. Every room has a very distinct personality ranging from bold and modern to fun and playful, from muted and earthy to funky and retro.
Peek inside this Colorful and playful home
From Four-Family to One: MAS Architectures’ Unique Carlton Avenue Conversion in Fort Greene
September 18, 2014

From Four-Family to One: MAS Architectures’ Unique Carlton Avenue Conversion in Fort Greene

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When tasked with converting this historic brownstone on Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene from an existing four-family residence to a single home for a growing brood, MANIFOLD Architecture Studio (MAS) appears to have focused on the one item that unified the building from the start – the stairway.
See more of MAS' Carlton Street conversion
Truly Exquisite West Village Rental with Historic Details Will Leave You Lusting for More

“Tis better to have loved and lost, t

September 17, 2014

Truly Exquisite West Village Rental with Historic Details Will Leave You Lusting for More

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han never to have loved at all.” We’re pretty sure poet Lord Tennyson wasn’t talking about West Village apartments when he wrote those immortal words, but we can’t help but feel they are more than appropriate in the case of this three-bedroom charmer at 23 Bank Street. While the home is only available as a rental, one look will tell you that loving it and then losing it upon lease end is definitely better than never having experienced its classic beauty at all.
Read on to see if you'd be able to love it and leave it
$1.5M Brooklyn Heights Triplex in Landmarked Eagle Warehouse Gets a Modern Update
September 16, 2014

$1.5M Brooklyn Heights Triplex in Landmarked Eagle Warehouse Gets a Modern Update

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Carriage houses, stables, factories…in a city short on space you have to get creative when looking for residential development opportunities. And this former warehouse at 28 Old Fulton Street in Brooklyn Heights is a perfect example of how a little vision can go a long way. When Brooklyn architect Frank Freeman completed the Eagle Warehouse and Storage Company building in 1894 it served as a place to store furniture and silverware. However, at the time, even warehouses were designed with a simplicity steeped in grace and beauty, often lacking in their modern-day counterparts. One look at the main entrance’s bold Roman arch adorned with the company name in large bronze lettering and there is no mistaking the care Mr. Freeman took with his “warehouse project”.
Read on to see what the future held for this warehouse
Ben Shahn Murals and a Market? YoungWoo & Associates Tries Again at the Bronx General Post Office
September 15, 2014

Ben Shahn Murals and a Market? YoungWoo & Associates Tries Again at the Bronx General Post Office

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The firm that once hoped to bring a Bronx market to the Kingsbridge Armory site may get their chance with another historic building in the borough. Last week it was announced that developer YoungWoo & Associates purchased the landmarked Bronx General Post Office building on the Grand Concourse and East 149th Street for an undisclosed sum.
What's in store for the building and its treasures?
Landmarked Fort Greene Stable Perfectly Suited for Two-Legged Residents with $1.2M to Spare
September 12, 2014

Landmarked Fort Greene Stable Perfectly Suited for Two-Legged Residents with $1.2M to Spare

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It’s hard to imagine a place as crowded and cosmopolitan as New York City once being filled with the clip-clop of equine hooves, but at the turn of the century it is estimated there were 130,000 horses working in Manhattan—more than 10 times the number of taxicabs on the streets here today! In most cases, the stables that housed our four-legged friends have long since been razed to make way for buildings more suitable to modern commercial enterprise or human occupancy. Fortunately, the Feuchtwanger Stable located at 159 Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene didn’t meet a similar fate. Nearly a century after its construction in 1888, this gorgeous Romanesque Revival building was designated by the National Register of Historic Places and subsequently underwent a stunning condo conversion now home to a lovely one-bedroom apartment.
Read on to see one stable that survived
Converted Cobble Hill Firehouse Comes with a Magical Secret Garden
September 11, 2014

Converted Cobble Hill Firehouse Comes with a Magical Secret Garden

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Even if this rustic carriage house at 172 Pacific Street in Cobble Hill hadn’t been featured in various films over the years (including Eat, Pray, Love), its star-quality is more than evident. Although currently configured as a two-unit home, its three loft-like levels can easily be converted into a spacious four-to-six bedroom residence with some very minor adjustments.
No fire pole but lots more to see here
From the Majestic Stair to Its Well-Dressed Walls, $20M Upper East Side Home is Pure Elegance
September 10, 2014

From the Majestic Stair to Its Well-Dressed Walls, $20M Upper East Side Home is Pure Elegance

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This extraordinary residence in The Ruxcroft at 20 East 64th Street is so classically elegant we almost felt like we had to get dressed up just to look at its pictures. One of only two units in this full-service 25-foot wide mansion condominium, its 2010 renovation was careful to restore many of the original period details, most notably the sweeping staircase winding its way through the home. How can anyone not feel elegant gliding down that majestic flight?
More pure elegance right this way
Cobblestone Quaintness and Modern Comforts Await Tribeca Penthouse’s Lucky New Owner
September 9, 2014

Cobblestone Quaintness and Modern Comforts Await Tribeca Penthouse’s Lucky New Owner

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It never ceases to amaze us how effortlessly one can “time travel” from the sleek, steel, and thoroughly modern skyscrapers of Manhattan to the old-time charm of places like 463 Greenwich Street, otherwise known as The Romanoff. We guess that's part of New York City's magic, and it casts its spell on us daily as we meander through one of the most diverse real estate markets in the world. The idyllic cobblestone streets that greet you as you make your way to this triple-mint, full-floor penthouse loft in Tribeca offer a study in contrast to the contemporary tone of the exquisite four-bedroom home inside. Original details like exposed brick and ceiling beams combine with modern comforts and stunning finishes to perfectly bridge the home’s turn-of-the-century roots with its 21st century incarnation. The flawless design by Turett Collaborative Architects features soaring 17-foot ceilings, an abundance of wood-framed windows, and custom Arrigoni wide-plank Bavarian oak floors, all enveloping a vast open entertaining expanse.
See more of where this home's cobblestone streets lead
Rare Full-Floor Loft in Tribeca is a Work of Art by Famed Norwegian Architectural Firm Tupelo
September 8, 2014

Rare Full-Floor Loft in Tribeca is a Work of Art by Famed Norwegian Architectural Firm Tupelo

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Artists seem to find inspiration everywhere, often taking even the simplest of ideas and turning them into striking masterpieces. Well, whoever winds up living in this rare full-floor artists loft at 144 Franklin Street in Tribeca will hit the inspiration jackpot. Norwegian architectural firm Tupelo has indeed turned its simple industrial form replete with massive cast iron columns, beamed ceilings, hand-oiled maple floors, and custom oversized double-glazed windows into a beautiful work of art. This stunning, 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom loft was created for-and-by artists, which is evident the moment you step from the key-locked elevator through the original factory door and witness the seamless combination of spectacular modern design with Tribeca’s industrial history.
Get inspired by more of this masterpiece here
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