Inside Lauren Bacall’s Incredible Dakota Apartment
Photo courtesy of Curbed
Last fall we showed you staged photos of Lauren Bacall’s $26 million apartment at the Dakota, but what you didn’t get to see was the real thing. Now, thanks to Curbed, we have pictures of the apartment as it was while the iconic actress was living there, during the final 53 years of her life. Bacall purchased the home in 1961 for an amount rumored to be from $28,000 to $48,000. After her death, her possessions went to Bonham’s and will be auctioned off at the end of this month. These pictures will show you more than just 13-foot ceilings and 100 feet of Central Park views. You’ll also see a more human element of a woman who collected antiques and artwork (quite possibly to the point of being a packrat), and clearly adored her late husband Humphrey Bogart.
The entrance has a private mahogany vestibule and an 18-foot foyer with its own original fireplace. A 70-foot gallery connects to the main rooms, including the living room, dining room, and library, each of which have fireplaces and views. The library has original pocket doors and a giant floor-to-ceiling window with a Juliet balcony overlooking the park in the most romantic way possible.
Photos courtesy of Curbed
An aqua 29-foot wide Great Room offers two huge park facing windows and mahogany doors. In the dining room there’s wainscoting, a corner china closet and a swing door to the original butler’s pantry. The festive dining room has 11-foot pocket doors, plenty of candlesticks, potted plants, and a Jules Cheret Pastilles Geraudel poster.
You’ll notice chaise lounges throughout the home, and Bacall’s 22-foot master suite is no exception. There’s a bright lounge right in front of the bay window overlooking the park. The master has a softer look with pink bedding to go with the chaise, large walk-in closets, and of course, more photos. A birdcage chandelier hangs overhead. A second bedroom with grey crown molding is large and grand enough to be a master as well, with a fireplace and an en suite bath. A third bedroom has fun with color, boasting busy bright yellow walls and a surprisingly pared down exhibit of cultural artwork.
Photos courtesy of Curbed
The Dakota was built in 1884 by Henry J. Hardenbergh. During her time there, Bacall had prominent neighbors like Boris Karloff, Judy Holliday and Roberta Flack. Her collection, an impressive 375-page catalog of items, will go to auction March 31 and April 1.
You can see many more photos of the apartment’s interiors over at Curbed >>
[Listing: 1 West 72nd Street #43 by Rebecca I. Edwardson of Warburg Realty]
[The Dakota at CityRealty]
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