Manhattan

After making a move on up to the penthouse this past spring, actor Willem Dafoe has shed his full-through third floor pad for $2.875 million, according to city records filed today. Dafoe originally purchased the two-bedroom co-op located at 67 Perry Street for $1.6 million back in 2005—meaning the actor made a tidy $1.28 million profit with the recent sale. The cozy home comes with exposed brick walls, a wood-burning fireplace, separate study nook with built-in bookshelves, and tranquil tree-top views from oversized bay windows.
Ihside the home here

October 14, 2014

Spacious Penthouse Loft in Soho Designed as an Escape from City Noise

By Rebecca Paul

New York City is a constant flow of sights and sounds, and with all of the buildings and people it can sometimes feel cramped. One of the best parts of loft-living in NYC is the openness these spaces provide amid the claustrophobic surroundings. This quintessential penthouse loft takes spacious living to the next level with its sprawling living area featuring 13-foot pressed-tin ceilings and an enormous skylight that dramatically crowns the open living/dining room. Located at 75 Grand Street atop of a 19th century terracotta-detailed building in historic Soho, this loft has clean modern lines, brilliant light and authentic architectural details throughout.
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Distinctive Homes

October 14, 2014

Billy Joel Unloads Another Apartment at 128 Central Park South

Piano man Billy Joel has just sold off his one-bedroom pad at 128 Central Park South for $775,000, according to public records. The sale is the second for Joel at the building, the first being an $11 million deal he struck last year for the two-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot penthouse he once shared with ex-wife Christie Brinkley. The one-bedroom is a comparably modest pad situated on a high floor of the building. An eat-in kitchen, abundant south light and city views are some of the perks, but the listing (now offline) noted that the home needed renovation. The apartment was previously rented out, though Joel and Brinkley did entertain it as a penthouse extension. The transaction was managed by Joel's accountants Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman. Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group brokered the deal.
See the floor plan here

October 13, 2014

Holiday Field Trip: Where to Find Christopher Columbus in NYC

It's easy to forget that Columbus Day is more than just a day off from work (which we're not complaining about), but rather a holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1942. But if you need reminding, look no further than these memorials scattered around New York City.
Take a tour of where to find Christopher Columbus monuments in NYC

October 13, 2014

Adorable Upper West Side Co-op Charms with Old-World Touches

Something about this charming pre-war co-op at 316 West 82nd Street makes us feel like we’re on the set of a Woody Allen film. The two-bedroom pad is nostalgic for its 1910 inception with graceful lines, exposed brick, and quiet views of the well-maintained early twentieth century buildings outside the windows.
Let's take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

October 13, 2014

$4M LES Loft Mixes 19th Century Architectural Details with Contemporary Design

While we always love a good listing in a Soho cast iron building, it's always exciting to see this type of architecture sprinkled throughout other neighborhoods. 345 Grand Street on the Lower East Side is one such example, built in 1888, and an available loft in the building has hit the market for $3.85 million. The 2,349-square-foot, full-floor apartment elegantly combines original 19th century architectural details with contemporary design elements like large, globe lanterns, sleek teak built-ins, and top-of-the-line appliances.
Tour the rest of this past-meets-present pad

Distinctive Homes

October 13, 2014

Condos at Bruce Eichner’s Glassy Flatiron Tower Will Be Priced Up to $42.5 Million

By Diane Pham

It’s going to cost you at least $2.5 million to live at 45 East 22nd Street. In a recent profile on the up-and-coming building, the Times revealed pricing and some juicy details about what’s planned for glassy tower. One-bedrooms averaging 1,074 square feet will be going for 2.5 mill, while the penthouse may go for as much as […]

October 13, 2014

7,000-Square-Foot Soho Penthouse Sells for $10M

As far as Manhattan apartments go, even penthouses, 7,000 square feet is palatial. And with 16 rooms, 13-foot ceilings, and a 2,600-square-foot planted terrace with rooftop kitchen this duplex penthouse takes the cake. Located at 54 Thompson Street in Soho, the home was featured on HGTV's "Selling New York." It was designed by architects Adam Yarinsky and Stephen Cassell of ARO and published on the cover of Interior Design magazine. The mesmerizing penthouse has now sold for an impressive $10.35 million, according to recently released city records.
More on the multi-million-dollar digs

October 10, 2014

NY Jets Owner’s Fifth Avenue Co-op Could Sell for a Record-Breaking $80M

By Diane Pham

Billionaire NY Jets owner, Woody Johnson is looking to break a record with the sale of his duplex at 834 Fifth Avenue. The unit, which was quietly being shopped around for $75 million, has gone into contract for $80 million. When closed, it will be the city’s most expensive co-op sale ever. This is clearly a billionaire’s game as […]

October 10, 2014

$2 Million Loft in Historic Robbins & Appleton Building Returns to the Market

Is this a case of buyer’s remorse? Just nine months after selling for $1.925 million, apartment 2D at 1 Bond Street has found its way back on the market, this time asking $2.195 million. The 1,205-square-foot unit is a modern take on a classic loft with tall beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, brand new oak hardwoods, and original cast-iron columns. Add to that, a strategic layout that makes the most of the natural light flooding in from the space’s four oversized windows, and you have a luminous haven in a prime location.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

New 35-Story DoubleTree Hotel by Gene Kaufman Coming to Midtown West

Rendering of DoubleTree Hotel via Gene Kaufman (L); The project site at 350 West 40th Street (R)

October 10, 2014

New 35-Story DoubleTree Hotel by Gene Kaufman Coming to Midtown West

Fresh renderings have been posted for a new 35-story hotel currently undergoing excavation at 350 West 40th Street. Located just southwest of Times Square and directly across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the block-front between Eighth and Ninth Avenues has been the victim of a half-dozen mid-range hotels. With the large blank wall of the bus terminal on one side and an ungainly assortment of budget hotels, walk-ups, and parking lots on the other, the street may be a worthy contender for the "Ugliest Street in Midtown." The project was first revealed by YIMBY last spring. Permits call for a 315-foot, 594-room DoubleTree Hotel designed by Gene Kaufman and developed by Sam Chang of McSam Hotels. McSam--which already has several hotels up and running on the block including a Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Hampton Inn--has been one of the city's most active and notorious developers in the last decade.
More on the project here

October 9, 2014

Former R.E.M Frontman Michael Stipe Unloads Soho Penthouse for $9.6M

Michael Stipe, former lead singer for the 80's rock band R.E.M., has sold his duplex penthouse at 533 Canal Street in Soho for $9.6 million, according to city records released today. Stipe listed the co-op in June 2012 for $10.95 million, after purchasing it in 2007 for $5.75 million while it was being renovating. The unit has an impressive celebrity past; Stipe bought it from Ben Affleck's younger brother Casey, who bought it from “Good Will Hunting” director Gus Van Sant. And recently actress Kirsten Dunst put her penthouse in the building on the rental market for $12,500 a month. The three-bedroom penthouse has a light-filled central atrium, 2,500-square-foot terrace with Hudson River views, and an industrial-style kitchen designed by Mario Batali. Stipe had said that he was looking to move further downtown to a loft/work space for himself and his partner.
Take a look at the rockin' digs

October 9, 2014

Ghislaine Viñas Brings a Whimsical Edge to the Interior Design of a Hip Tribeca Loft

By Rebecca Paul

Tribeca's own Ghislaine Viñas is back with another loft interior in the neighborhood that is a dynamic combo of sophistication, whimsy, and a harder edge. The playfully shaped accent pieces and confident color combinations are the finishing details that make Ghislaine Viñas' signature style. From a cable wired bed frame to the dark wood dining room table, the range of material, color, and influence used in this loft is nothing short of a good time.
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October 9, 2014

J.Lo Caught Eyeing a Sprawling $14M Penthouse Loft in Tribeca

Jennifer Lopez's hunt for a downtown pad continues. After spending time with celebrity broker Fredrik Eklund checking out a unit at the Walker Tower a few weeks ago, it looks like Jenny is moving her eyes from Chelsea to a new block: Tribeca. The superstar celeb was just spotted by the Post scoping out a 5,924-square-foot sprawling stunner at 55 Warren Street.
Inside the home here

October 9, 2014

Fifth Avenue Penthouse with Conservatory and Solarium Reduces Price to $10M

The penthouse at 1158 Fifth Avenue has just undergone yet another price chop nearly a year and a half after entering the market. The distinctive pad, initially listed for $17 million, has now made its way down to $9.95 million. Translation: someone is going to get a great deal on this Museum Mile penthouse with a lush terrace and a conservatory. The home’s antique furnishings and old-world details, compliments of its interior and landscape designer owner Pamela Scurry and her husband Richard, are admittedly specific although fitting in theme. Right now the many pieces and varying prints seem to compete with the architecture. Perhaps removing half the clutter would mitigate the distraction and bring out more of the home’s true beauty. However, whether you appreciate the décor or feel it needs to be significantly pared down, you won’t be able to deny this home is a rare and exquisite find.
See what's inside, here

Distinctive Homes

October 8, 2014

Landmarked 1867 Nomad Building May Recieve Blade Runner-Like Addition

Another iteration of a towering addition to a landmarked NoMad building has emerged from the 3-D visualization wizzes at Avoid Obvious. YIMBY broke the news back in March of a 20-story tower designed by the Spector Group and Think Architecture atop a charming commercial building at the northwest corner of West 27th Street and Broadway. Both iterations of Spector Group's design reveal a clean visual break between old and new: a restored neoclassical façade juxtaposed with a setback glassy prism rising above. The new reveal shows a more sculptural and chiseled tower rather than a Trump SoHo-like prism of clean vertical lines. It's unclear if this proposal is still on the table and if the Spector Group remains involved.
More on the design here

October 8, 2014

Bunny Mellon’s Incredible Upper East Side Mansion Finds a Buyer for $41M

After a year on the market, this incredible Upper East Side mansion designed by Bunny Mellon has finally found a family ready to call it home. According to the Observer, the 1960s townhouse currently owned by Irish businessman Tony White and his wife Clare just went into contract for $41 million. The couple originally paid $22.5 million for it in 2006, and when it came time to resell last year, they asked an impressive $46 million. Pricey? Yes. But given its darling location and architectural splendor, why this beauty didn't fly off the shelf is a bit of a surprise to us. Just have a look inside and you'll immediately understand why.
Tour the stunning estate

October 8, 2014

$6.4M Penthouse at the Renwick Modern Offers City Views from Five Different Terraces

Nest Seekers' Ryan Serhant may have just found his nest egg at the Renwick Modern, but that doesn’t mean he’s slowing down at all. The star broker is now hard at work on the listing for the neighboring Penthouse 1, which is asking $6.35 million. This luxurious loft-like condo stuns with a sprawling 2,700 square feet of never-before-lived-in interior space and an additional 1,380 square feet of outdoor space in the form of a roof deck and four separate terraces. Sound impressive? Let’s take a closer look.
See More of this Modern pad, here

Distinctive Homes

October 7, 2014

45 Park Place: Tribeca’s Latest Condo Tower Could be an Architectural Stunner

New images have been uncovered of an upcoming 39-story condominium tower poised to rise from a storied site in Tribeca. Curbed first broke the rendering reveal back in July and a representative of the developers noted that tower depicted in renderings are not quite final. Nevertheless new images posted on of SOMA Architects' website give us additional glimpses of what the project could be. Simply known as 45 Park Place (for now), the development is comprised of a 665-foot tower luxury tower and an Islamic museum, is being developed by a consortium led by Soho Properties, headed by Sharif El-Gamal. The tower is being crafted by Michel Abboud of SOMA Architects, with Ismael Leyva serving as the architect of record. Renderings posted on SOMA's website convey a light, airy tower composed of stem-like volumes bundled by delicate bands of lattice-like mullions. The ground-level view gives us our first glimpse of the adjacent Islamic museum and prayer space reportedly designed by Pritzker Prize–winning French architect Jean Nouvel. A small plaza fronting the museum will expose a vegetated side wall of the neighboring building that houses popular downtown grocer Amish Market.
More on the development here

October 7, 2014

Million Dollar Listing’s Ryan Serhant Nabs a Love Nest at the Renwick for $3.7M

It looks like Ryan Serhant of Million Dollar Listing fame is preparing for his upcoming nuptials by buying a lofty love nest atop the Renwick Modern. According to The Real Deal, the reality TV star just closed on the full 9th floor penthouse at the 22 Renwick Street building for $3.7 million. The 1,895-square-foot apartment hosts three bedrooms, a home office, a top of the line kitchen, and keyed elevator access. And for that little bit of extra oomph, the kitchen cabinets are clad in leather.
Inside the home here

October 7, 2014

Karim Rashid’s East Harlem HAP Building Gets a New Color Scheme After Much Opposition

By Diane Pham

After much outcry, the Karim Rashid-designed residential building at 329 Pleasant Avenue in Harlem will be getting a new color scheme. According to the WSJ, locals have voted to scrap HAP Five's color-blocked magenta and turquoise design for a facade of simple white balconies with a less audacious “translucent cirrus with [a] graduated magenta balcony trim”.
Find out more here

October 7, 2014

Unique $2.5 Million East Village Loft Boasts Barrel-Vaulted Ceilings and Loads of Character

The two-bedroom apartment at 59 Fourth Avenue is still sitting on the market six months after it first popped up. After an unfruitful summer and several price chops from its $3 million price tag, today the seller is asking a reduced $2.5 million for the East Village pad. While the loft has some interesting dimensions, it still has much in the way of character, and the flexible layout allows for creative adjustments. Add to that a sublime roof deck and a prime location at the intersection of Greenwich Village, East Village and Union Square, and this unique unit could be a winner. But we’ll let you be the judge.
Let's take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

16-Story Residential Sliver Building to Rise Near Union Square

Existing three-story building at the site occupied by the Catholic Medical Mission Board

October 7, 2014

16-Story Residential Sliver Building to Rise Near Union Square

**UPDATE 10/10/2014: We've been informed that the Spector Group is no longer involved in this project. Beyer Blinder Belle has taken over the design. We will provide new renderings of the project when available. A new 16-story residential sliver tower will squeeze its way skyward from a narrow lot at 10 West 17th Street, situated just a block from foodie-hub Union Square in the Ladies' Mile Historical District. Permits filed with the NYC Department of Buildings call for a 47,000-square-foot residential building with 15 units. The architect of record is Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, a firm well adept in crafting developments in historically sensitive locations and navigating the city's Landmark's approval process. The majority of units in 10 West 17th will likely be full-floor apartments. The renderings shown here are designs from the Spector Group website, but it's unknown if they are still involved in the project.
More on the plans here

October 6, 2014

Rent the Ultra-Opulent Plaza Pad of Kazakhstan President’s Nephew for $55K a Month

Daniyar Nazarbayev, the ultra-rich nephew of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, is now leasing his equally ultra-luxurious four-bedroom at The Plaza Hotel for $55,000 a month, reports the NYDN. The beautiful 4,200 square foot home is certainly of a presidential caliber and comes dripping with the ornate features and finishes that have become so synonymous with the storied Plaza. With sunny Central Park views from every room and expansive north and west exposures, this home also hosts ceilings highlighted with mosaic stained glass and crystal chandeliers, artistically detailed moldings, a formal dining room, marble entry foyer, and much more—including a helluva lot of international drama to boot.
Inside the embroiled plaza home here

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October 6, 2014

Hilton to Sell the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to Chinese Insurance Company for $1.95 Billion

It's where the Waldorf salad was invented; it was the first hotel to offer room service; and it has its own railway platform to Grand Central, large enough to fit FDR's car. The historic tidbits about the Waldorf Astoria are plenty, but now the world-famous hotel is making big changes to its future. Hilton Worldwide Holdings, who has officially owned the Art Deco landmark since 1972, has agreed to sell the 1,232-room hotel to the Anbang Insurance Group Co., a financial and insurance company based in Beijing, for $1.95 billion. Hilton, the world's largest publicly traded hotel operator, will continue to manage the property under a "strategic partnership."
More on the plans here

October 6, 2014

Fashion Designer Elie Tahari Buys Two Units at 15 Central Park West for $25M