Celebrities

January 8, 2015

The Lena Dunham Real Estate Effect: Looking at the Homes of the Stars of ‘Girls’

One of the reasons Girls became such an instant hit is because it was lauded as the anti-Sex & the City. Its characters live in Greenpoint, not the Upper West Side; they wear Converse instead of Manolos; they struggle to pay the rent rather than living in completely unrealistic apartments. But when it comes to their real lives in New York City, the cast of the HBO show is definitely not struggling to make ends meet, as is evidenced by their impressive collection of real estate. So, in anticipation for this Sunday's season four premier, let's take a look at how Lena Dunham and her posse actually live in the city, as compared with their characters' fictional digs.
See where the stars of 'Girls' live on and off the screen
January 8, 2015

Fox News Host Kimberly Guilfoyle Buys $3.4M Central Park West Apartment Full of Taxidermied Animals

Generally speaking, the ultra-conservative crowd isn't spending their free time volunteering with PETA. So it's quite fitting that Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle just picked up the infamous taxidermy-filled apartment in the Beresford. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your thoughts on decorative dead animals, the long-time owner, journalist Gregory Speck, is sending his massive collection of stuffed friends to the Virginia Museum of Natural History, according to the Post. And Guilfoyle has already hired architect Campion Platt to renovate the two-bedroom, "classic six" home. Lucky for us, though, it's not too late to see the bizarre (or some may say terrifying) Central Park West home.
Take a look inside
January 7, 2015

Tyra Banks Lists Nolita Condo for $3.8M

Fashion-forward supermodel Tyra Banks has listed her surprisingly unfashionable Nolita condo for $3.8 million, according to the Daily News. She bought the two-bedroom pad back in 2005 for $2.1 million. The historic Cass Gilbert-designed Beaux Arts building known as the Spring is located at 225 Lafayette Street and has quite the celebrity following. Actress Dakota Fanning currently resides there, and John Mayer sold his unit there for close to $4 million in 2013. We're guessing it wasn't the limelight that persuaded Banks to list, though.
Take a look around the rather un-fierce apartment here
January 2, 2015

Daphne Oz, Co-Host of ‘The Chew,’ Buys $1.6M Midtown East Apartment

Daphne Oz, daughter of the well-known Dr. Oz and co-host of the talk show "The Chew," has bought a $1,625,000 Midtown East apartment along with her husband John Jovanovic, according to city records. The three-bedroom unit at 140 East 40th Street offers plenty of space for the growing family, as the couple welcomed their first child last February. It's also much closer than the couple's previous New Jersey residence to the ABC Studio in Lincoln Center where "The Chew" is filmed.
Take a look around the Oz pad here
December 18, 2014

Meredith Vieira Buys an $8.55M Penthouse at the El Dorado

All of Meredith Vieira's hard work has certainly paid off. According to the Post, the journalist-slash-talk-show-host-slash-game-show-host has just scooped up a penthouse at the El Dorado. The home is a three-bedroom stunner with two large terraces and Central Park reservoir views. The final closing price has yet to be revealed, but it was last asking $8.55 million in May when it went into contract. The previous owners paid $5.95 million for it back in 2011—surely a recent, beautiful, never-lived-in renovation helped give this CPW pad a price boost.
Have a peek inside
December 15, 2014

Arne Glimcher, One of World’s Most Powerful Art Dealers, Buys $5.6M Madison Square Loft

If you're familiar with the NYC gallery scene you definitely know the Pace Gallery and its founder Arnold "Arne" Glimcher, one of the world's most powerful art dealers, as well as a film producer and director. According to city records, Arne and his son Marc have bought a $5.6 million Madison Square loft at 117 East 24th Street. The contemporary space boasts four bedrooms and 4,000 square feet as well as 11.5-foot ceilings and plenty of wall space to display one's art collection, though we're not sure which of the father-son art dealing pair will be residing in the loft.
Take a look around
December 12, 2014

Mayor De Blasio Builds a “Privacy Fence” Around Gracie Mansion to Keep Curious Eyes Out

“Man of the People” Mayor De Blasio seems to be getting a little annoyed with his constituents’ nosy nature. The Post reports that De Blasio has just erected a “privacy fence” adding another four feet to the home’s existing barrier. The new fence was constructed inside an existing red brick wall and a wrought-iron fence that […]

December 11, 2014

Robert De Niro Buys $2.8M West Village Apartment

He's at it again, this time buying a $2.8 million West Village apartment at 32 Morton Street. Real estate lover Robert De Niro inked the deal for the two-bedroom penthouse loft along with his stepdaughter Drena, according to city records. A few months ago, De Niro made headlines when he moved into a $125,000/month rental at star-studded 15 Central Park West while waiting for the renovation to be complete at his Brentmore triplex. He also got some recent notorious attention for getting into a very public tax fight with the Hudson Valley town where he owns a 78-acre property. And let's not forget about his $250 million Barbados hotel project. With so many real estate balls in the air, it's hard to say if De Niro or his daughter will be living in the latest acquisition, but it would be the perfect downtown pad.
Check out the penthouse here
December 11, 2014

Weather Anchor Sam Champion Sells Upper West Side Condo for $4.7M

Everyone’s favorite well-coiffed weatherman Sam Champion has sold his Upper West Side condo for $4.7 million, according to city records released today. Champion bought the 2,019-square-foot unit on the top floor of 45 West 67th Street in 1995 for $750,000, netting him an impressive $4 million profit on the sale. The 33-story building was erected in 1985 and […]

December 11, 2014

Karim Rashid Checks Out a Bright and Airy $3.5M Duplex in Williamsburg

With a handful of new buildings coming up in Manhattan, Karim Rashid's NYC architectural star is quickly rising. So it only makes sense that the renowned industrial-designer-cum-architect would want a place of his own to call home in the Big Apple. According to the NYP, Rashid was recently spotted scoping out this spectacular Atelier New York Architecture-designed pad located at 201 North 11th Street in Brooklyn. True to the designer's taste, the Williamsburg apartment is bright, modern, and plenty green with its 805 square feet of outdoor space and sweet views of McCarren Park and the surrounding historic buildings.
Have a look inside
December 9, 2014

Lena Dunham Buys $4.8M Brooklyn Heights Condo

According to the Daily Mail, Girls creator Lena Dunham has scooped up a $4.8 million condo at 30 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights, the former offices of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle–now known as The Heights. Despite the recent controversy over her memoir, 28-year-old Dunham is really moving up in the world. Not only did she reportedly get a $3.7 million book advance, but her first home in the neighborhood at 145 Hicks Street cost her only $500,000. She purchased her newest residence under a trust and still owns her one-bedroom pad. Dunham shares her new home with boyfriend and Fun frontman Jack Antonoff, who has been spotted on moving duty while Dunham is on her book tour. The four-bedroom corner apartment is completely elegant and modern, a sure sign that the "girl" is growing up.
More on Lena's big move
December 9, 2014

Rosie O’Donnell Sells Chic Greenwich Village Penthouse for $9M

After initially listing her Greenwich Village penthouse for $11 million in July 2013, Rosie O'Donnell has finally sold the chic four-bedroom home for the substantially lesser amount of $9 million, according to the Daily News. O'Donnell bought the duplex apartment at 130 West 12th Street, part of the former St. Vincent’s Hospital complex, for $8.09 million in the summer of 2012. She then redecorated it with a combination of artsy, modern, and elegant furnishings. In addition to benefitting from Rosie's design sense, the new owner will also get to take advantage of a 435-square-foot private terrace and views of both the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.
Take a look around the penthouse here
December 8, 2014

Bruce Willis Lists Central Park West Apartment for $13M

Bruce Willis is really stepping up his New York real estate game. Just five weeks after buying a $12 million, 22-acre estate in Bedford, New York, he and his wife, actress Emma Heming Willis, have listed their three-bedroom Central Park West co-op at the El Dorado for $13 million. The Daily News reports that the couple is looking to trade up to a bigger unit now that they have a second child. Willis bought the apartment at 300 Central Park West less than two years ago for $8.85 million from U2 bassist Adam Clayton. And after a meticulous renovation, he's looking to make $4 million on the flip.
Take a tour of the Willis home
December 5, 2014

Former Padres Owner’s Ex-Wife Buys $55M Unit at One57, Second-Highest Condo Sale of the Year

Just yesterday, Bloomberg released a grim report that sales had come to a halt at One57, as only one condo unit was sold in the third quarter. But it looks like the fourth quarter might prove a bit more optimistic for the city's most expensive building. According to city records released today, Rebecca Moores, ex-wife of John Jay Moores, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former owner of the San Diego Padres, dropped $55.5 million on unit 81 at the building, making it the second-highest condo sale of the year, according to CityRealty. The number one spot also goes to One57 for Bill Ackman's $90 million flip-happy purchase. The former couple also made real estate headlines in 2013 when they listed their Del Mar, California home for $23 million, making it one of the most expensive in the San Diego area and probably the only one with its own moat. Let's take a look, though, at Rebecca's latest property venture at One57.
Check out the floor plan
December 4, 2014

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Billionaire Businessman Father Sells Central Park West Pad for $7M

You likely know plenty about Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but did you know her father is a very prominent, very wealthy businessman? William Louis-Dreyfus is the chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services and the great grandson of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, founder of the Louis Dreyfus Group. He has an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion, and just made an impressive $7.1 million on the sale of his Upper West Side co-op, according to city records released today. Unit 9C at 262 Central Park West is a three-bedroom apartment with ten large picture windows and panoramic views of Central Park. And the sleek interior must have been pretty impressive in person, as the selling price is well over the $6.75 million asking price.
Take a look around the Louis-Dreyfus home
December 1, 2014

Astronaut Richard Garriott’s Townhouse Hides Secret Passageways and Trick Bookcases

When he’s not flying to outer space or developing the next award-winning video game, Richard Garriott rests his head in his very normal-looking Murray Hill townhouse. When he purchased the five-story brownstone last year, he decided to add in his own special touches to make it his unique home-sweet-home. Take a tour through the secret passageways […]

November 24, 2014

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones Sell Their Charming Bedford Farmhouse for $7.5M

It looks like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are bidding adieu to their "tiny" six-bedroom, six-bath brick Colonial up in Bedford. According to the LA Times, the couple have just sold the home for $7.5 million—a bit under their $8.1M August asking price, but well above the $5.1 million they originally paid for it. Bedford residents, however, shouldn't say their goodbyes just yet; Michael and Catherine will still be staying in the area. In October, after ending their separation, the pair snagged a $11.25 million, 15,458-square-foot stunner boasting eight bedrooms, 13.5 baths and 13 acres (Talk about a fresh start!). While the recently-sold home is quite demure when compared to their new estate, the updated 1930s farmhouse has plenty of charm and comes complete with 5.7 bucolic acres of its own, surrounded by a horse farm on three sides.
More inside here
November 24, 2014

Supermodel Gemma Ward Lists East Village Apartment for $2.25M

Australian supermodel Gemma Ward bought her East Village apartment in 2007 for $1.5 million, when she was only 20 years old, undertaking a gut renovation of the three-bedroom pad at 232 East 6th Street. But considering that, at age 16, she was the youngest model ever to appear on the cover of American Vogue, entering the NYC real estate game at 20 isn't that shocking. And she has now listed the pre-war apartment for $2.25 million, according to the Daily News.
Tour the stylish pad here
November 23, 2014

Sprawling Penthouse in Leonardo DiCaprio’s Eco-Friendly Village Building Gets a $10M Price Chop

Kim Kardashian checked out this penthouse at Delos Living's eco-friendly building at 66 East 11th Street back in August when it was listed for $50 million, but we guess she wasn't sold by the handcrafted “floating” metal staircase and beautiful glass atrium ceiling. Or maybe its health-centric amenities, including vitamin C-infused showers, circadian rhythm lighting, posture supporting floors, and a built-in herbarium, were too much for her. Another theory is that she didn't want to share the spotlight with celeb neighbors Leonardo DiCaprio and New Age guru Deepak Chopra. Whatever the case may be, though, she surely missed out, as the 7,693-square-foot Greenwich Village triplex just dropped its price by $10 million, now listed for $39.8 million.
Take a tour of what it would feel like to be Leo's neighbor
November 20, 2014

Robert Pattinson Checks Out a $20M Chelsea Penthouse with Drive-In Elevator

Perhaps the low-key lifestyle of an historic townhouse in Vinegar Hill didn't agree with Twilight Star Robert Pattinson. Because he's now reportedly been spotted checking out a much more high-profile pad in West Chelsea, according to the Post. In fact, the $20 million penthouse in the famous Sky Garage building is so impressive that it has its own private drive-in elevator. Yup, that's right, the Selldorf Architects-designed tower at 200 Eleventh Avenue is considered "paparazzi proof," since celeb residents including Nicole Kidman can drive right into their personal car elevators that take them directly to their contemporary apartments. Pattison toured the $20 million, three-bedroom, 3,598-square-foot penthouse of this unprecedented building, which has other jaw-dropping features like a glass floor that opens up with the press of a button to reveal a stairway that leads to the bedroom wing below.
Check out the rest of this Sky Garage penthouse
November 17, 2014

The $26M Listing for Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Is Finally Here

Those who've been waiting for a glimpse into the late Lauren Bacall's Dakota apartment will finally have their curiosity quelled. Curbed has just spotted the official listing for Ms. Bacall's sprawling Central Park West home and, as expected, it boasts a $26 million asking price. It was previously reported that the apartment was in need of quite a bit of work, but by the looks of things, the home is in fine shape with many of its original 19th century details still intact, including the original plaster moldings, pocket doors, fireplaces, wainscoting and hardware.
Inside the Dakota apartment
November 14, 2014

ESPN NFL Guru Adam Caplan Swaps Almost-Identical Tribeca Apartments

It's pretty common that we report on celebrities upgrading their digs, but today we have the opposite story. ESPN's NFL insider Adam Caplan sold his two-bedroom, floor-through penthouse apartment at 150 Chambers Street in Tribeca for $3 million, but picked up another similar two-bedroom unit in the same building for $2,375,000, according to city records released today.
Take a look at Caplan's old and new homes
November 14, 2014

Lindsay Lohan Rents Financial District Apartment

LiLo is moving to FiDi. When she wraps up her run of “Speed the Plough” on London's West End, Lindsay Lohan will cross the pond straight to the Financial District, where she's inked a deal on a 700-square-foot apartment at the W New York Downtown at 123 Washington Street, according to the Daily News. The one-bedroom pad was originally listed for $2 million and then as a $5,000/month rental, though there's no confirmed word on exactly what Lindsay, along with her sister Ali, will be paying. But the Lohan girls will have plenty of celeb neighbors, including Kate Upton and Bow Wow.
Take a look inside LiLo's new home