For $9M, a Noho penthouse that captures the spirit of the neighborhood’s past, and then some

Built in 1893, the six-story loft at 21 Bond Street, anchored by a street-level shop in the Noho Historic District, is a classic example of the neighborhood’s commercial Renaissance Revival architecture, with brownstone piers framing its cast-iron storefront with Palladian-inspired second-story windows above. Asking $8,995,000, this top-floor unit has been completely overhauled to become a modern-day home, surrounded by the carefully revealed original character of the loft.

According to Curbed, the unit was listed last May for $9.5 million; the loft had belonged to a German sculptor, and the current owner spent several years transforming the “boring white box” into a home inspired as much by Roald Dahl’s “James and the Giant Peach” as by the charm of the building’s cast-iron past.

In creating the space, existing sheetrock was stripped away to expose century-old brick and timber framing. Above, a massive skylight was installed in the unit’s 14-foot-high ceiling. Dinesen white oak plank flooring was installed throughout the home, with hand-selected individual planks. Antique European elements, like a Provençal-style mantel from a Paris flea market, add character.

In the great room, three skylights with motorized blackout shades fill the space with sunlight, framed by arched windows and a gas fireplace. Twenty-first-century luxuries include a Mitsubishi concealed central air system, Nest-controlled steam heat, Lutron-controlled lighting (including ERCO track-lighting system with wall washers and spotlight), and a Sony projector with a 125-inch motorized movie screen.

The kitchen is both loft- and penthouse-worthy, with a Miele 36-inch refrigerator/freezer, dual-fuel range and dishwasher, surrounded by custom oak cabinetry fronted by antique chicken-wire glass.

Standout fixtures include a Julien sink, Rosso Verona marble countertops, and vintage 1950s drafting chairs by General Fireproofing Co. A mirrored powder room boasts a smart toilet and a skylight.

In the primary bedroom, south-facing steel windows and 13-foot ceilings frame the space. Highlights include another gas fireplace and floor-to-ceiling mirrored oak wardrobes. In the primary bath are radiant-heated French terracotta floors, a deep porcelain cast-iron soaking tub, dual sinks, a towel warmer, an antique Empire-era vanity with a Belgian blackstone top, and a smart heated bidet toilet.

There are three additional bedrooms, each with a built-in desk and divided oak wardrobes. All have solar-powered skylights with blackout shades.

A second bath boasts the same level of bygone-era provenance and elegance, with terra-cotta flooring and luxury fixtures and finishes.

The six-unit boutique loft building has only one unit per floor. Each has a private keyed elevator–and each unit gets a one-fifth ownership share in the ground-floor store. There’s a communal rooftop terrace atop the building.

[Listing details: 21 Bond Street, Unit PH at CityRealty]

[At Compass by Esteban Gomez, Tay Kim, and Amy Kim]

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