Manhattan

On an average workday in New York, over 3.9 million people crowd onto the tiny island of Manhattan. That’s a lot of behinds needing a seat, and the city provides plenty of those in the form of benches. But not all benches are created equal. There are gems hidden in every borough – beautiful, funky, unique slabs for you to sit on this summer.
See more fantastic benches here

Architecture And Design

June 23, 2014

Temporary Treasures: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Demolished New York Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of architecture's most important figures, and you can see his work in five countries and 37 of 50 states. But when it comes to New York City, there is only one major Wright construction to be found: The Guggenheim. There is also a pre-fab house in Staten Island and one in Blauvelt just north of the city, but what other work did he do in the five boroughs? It turns out that Wright designed two other major projects in NYC, but both have been demolished. Here's a look at these lost works by the great architect.
See the historic Frank Lloyd Wright works here

June 23, 2014

West Village Rental in Renowned Bing & Bing Condominium Offers a Lot of Bang for the Buck

Celebrity sightings are not uncommon in the West Village and along the quiet, leafy street named Christopher filled with charming homes owned by the likes of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman and comedienne Amy Sedaris. But residents here take it all in stride, and that low-key vibe permeates the walls of this beautifully appointed 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo at 45 Christopher Street. This corner unit’s original beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and light-filled rooms offer a perfect setting to the city views greeting you to the north and west.
See more pics of this Christopher Street charmer

Distinctive Homes

June 23, 2014

Listing for NYC’s Most Expensive Home Officially Here – “The Penthouse Collection” Up for $118.5M

By Annie Doge

Last week we reported on the plans of two industrious property owners at the Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park City who were pooling their three penthouses in hopes of making a record-breaking $118.5 million sale. Hearsay no more because it looks like the listing for the space has officially emerged, and will be managed by none other than power broker Ryan Serhant at Nestseekers. Aptly dubbed 'The Penthouse Collection', the combined 39th and 40th floor spaces owned by Randall Yanker and Gary Segal offer up a staggering duplex totaling 15,434 square feet — or in layman's terms (or is that possible with something this size?) 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms with "the potential" to extend both those numbers further. 20-foot ceilings, three kitchens, four terraces, and multiple living areas also means its a good thing that hotel amenities include housekeeping.
All the photos you've been waiting for this way

Distinctive Homes

June 23, 2014

Stunning $13 Million Birkenstock Penthouse Takes You Around the World in 3,500sqft

Alex Birkenstock, heir to the shoe brand worn in colleges across the U.S., is selling his Setai Wall Street penthouse and he’s asking $12.995 million. If you’re into movies like Back to the Future or the episodes of Family Guy where Stewie and Brian hop in the time machine, you’ll get a kick out of this amazing apartment. With the help of Steve Harivel, one of the designers behind the famous Soho House hotel, this 3,500-square-foot pad seamlessly blends modern technology and vintage charm… and the best part is the furniture is included. If you’re already screaming like you got called to the front in The Price is Right, just wait until you see what this place has in store.
Oh, but there's more... a lot more. Just click here.

Distinctive Homes

June 23, 2014

Deepak Chopra Finally Unloads Park Imperial Pad for $3.5 Million

Deepak Chopra has finally been able to free himself of the mediocre, non-wellness oriented piece of real estate he once called home. After spending $14.5 million on a Greenwich Village apartment built for a hypochondriac – the space has antimicrobial coating on high-touch surfaces and EMF shielding to protect residents from electromagnetic fields – he has finally managed to get rid of the germ-soaked two-bedroom unit his lesser-evolved self once appreciated.
Take a look inside the Park Imperial Pad here

June 22, 2014

Manhattan Mansions: 5 of the Biggest (We Mean Gigantic) Single-Family Homes

Everyone knows Manhattan is all about high-rise condos, tall apartment buildings, and any other kind of building in which people live above other people. But it wasn't always that way. A hundred years ago, there was still room on this small island for the ultra-rich to build mansions all to themselves, single-family homes with the square footage of a castle. Today many of these buildings, all "Millionaire's Row" mansions in the Upper East Side, belong to museums and schools, but the question remains: What are the biggest buildings in Manhattan today that were built as single-family homes?
See our list of mansions here

Giant Rocking Horse Head Sculpture by Jeff Koons Going Up at Rockefeller Center

Photo © Jeff Koons. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery. Photography by Tom Powel Imaging.

June 21, 2014

Giant Rocking Horse Head Sculpture by Jeff Koons Going Up at Rockefeller Center

By Annie Doge

Is it a giant rat? A horse? A dinosaur? Those passing by 30 Rock over the past week and a half have probably been wondering what's going up in the famed plaza (at least we have). Word has it that Jeff Koons is back in the 'hood, this time with a massive sculpture of a pony, or "Split-Rocker", grafted in living flowers and complete with an internal irrigation system. Editor's note 8/27: This article has been updated to show the completed work, seen above.
Find out more about the work here

June 20, 2014

Here Comes the Sun…In This Industrial Tribeca Loft Complete with Artist’s Studio

By Dana Schulz

That's right, little darling, we have here a sun-soaked duplex apartment that will make you want to belt out Beatles' tunes. The 2BR/1BA apartment at 74 Reade Street comes complete with 3,000 square feet of flexible space and a live/work permit — the perfect combination for an artist or entrepreneur looking to personalize their home. Apartment 1E is listed for $3.1 million. Its selling point is most definitely the abundance of natural light that shines in through the full wall of double-height windows on the first floor and large, geometric skylights that grace each bedroom. The open floor plan, huge exposed brick walls, and 15-foot tin ceilings add to the bright, airy feel of the apartment.
sun, sun, sun...more this way

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2014

Combined Ritz-Carlton Condos Look to Set Record With $118.5 Million Asking Price

What’s better than getting $56.5 million for your 7,600-square-foot, five-bedroom duplex? Joining forces with your neighbor and adding in your second apartment to list the whole kit and caboodle for a record $118.5 million. At least that’s what Five Star Electric’s Gary Segal chose to do, according to the Wall Street Journal. Segal briefly listed his Ritz-Carlton duplex, which has two terraces and views of the Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center, for $56.5 million last year before apparently getting shiny ball syndrome and taking it off the market. Who wants $56.5 million when you could get $7,600 per square foot? It appears his neighbor, financier Randall Yanker, agreed after putting his 4BR/5BA duplex up for sale earlier this year, asking $23 million, then lowering to $19 million, before ultimately taking it off the market.
Check out some photos of the three-condo combo here

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2014

$7.5 Million Award-Winning Renovated Loft With Two-Story Living Room Has Us Going Overboard

If you’re looking for a conveniently located loft with over 4,000 square feet of interior space and enough outdoor space to turn the phrase “in the doghouse” into a reward, this award-winning penthouse in The Chelsea Quarter might be your pad. PHAB at 129 West 20th Street is a beautifully renovated two-story condominium with a National Design Award from the Society of American Registered Architects to back it up. There’s something about this home we find adorably endearing; perhaps because it makes us a bit nostalgic for an ‘80s yachting movie. And we mean that in the best way possible.
Take a peek inside this award-winning loft here

Distinctive Homes

June 19, 2014

5 Prohibition-Style Speakeasies to Transport You Back to the Gilded Age

Speakeasies and retro bars have been the new trend in New York for so long that this style may not be a trend at all. These "speakeasy bars" hearken back to a time somewhere between the Gilded Age and Prohibition, giving their interior designers a chance to play around with this fantastic historical style. The five speakeasies and retro bars below show a true design sense that transports us to the time of outlawed alcohol and tiny flapper dresses.
See our speakeasy gallery here

NYC Guides

June 19, 2014

WORKac Designs Creative NYC Headquarters for Ad Agency Wieden+Kennedy

By Patty Lee

It takes a lot of teamwork to come up with a winning advertisement, so when renowned agency Wieden+Kennedy enlisted WORKac to design its New York City headquarters, the mission was clear: to move away from the recent "office-as-playground" trend and create an environment that fosters creative thinking.
Take a tour of the office right this way

June 19, 2014

Renderings of Pritzker Winner Tadao Ando’s Concrete and Glass Condo for Nolita Revealed

By Diane Pham

It was announced back in March that Pritzker Prize winning architect Tadao Ando would be bringing his signature style to Nolita, and we've been waiting with bated breath to see what beauty he would design for the city. Wait no more... It looks like a few renderings of the 7-story, 8-unit residence planned for 152 Elizabeth Street have finally been unveiled!
See more images of 152 this way

June 19, 2014

Orlando Bloom Purchases Tribeca Loft for $4.88 Million

Orlando Bloom just got a lot closer to Taylor Swift, and she didn’t even have to write a break-up song about him. The Lord of the Rings star has just purchased a $4.88 million three-bedroom loft at 155 Franklin Street, in the building formerly known as the Sugarloaf Warehouse. (We figure that sentence would make Prince proud.) We’re guessing this building has a certain appeal to hobbit acquaintances as the penthouse, now home to Swift, was formerly home to director Peter Jackson. So, it’s the hobbit gift that keeps on giving. According to the New York Post, the star was drawn to the loft’s “cast-iron columns, exposed brick walls, open chef’s kitchen and wood-beamed ceilings”. We would be too.
Take a look inside the hobbit star's Sugarloaf loft here

June 19, 2014

The Country Meets the City in This $6.7 Million Old-World Charmer

Hiding away in the premier St. Urban, 285 Central Park West #12W is what you imagine was the result when old-world country mouse met old-world city mouse… and the two bought a lavish Central Park apartment. With gorgeous pre-war details accented with a touch of country chic, this 3,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts style apartment has a combination of opulence and southern comfort to make anyone happy. In fact, we suspect if Oliver and Lisa from Green Acres had purchased this place, it would have settled all their arguments.
Find out why this Central Park West pad is the place to be here

Distinctive Homes

June 18, 2014

Caveat to DeBlasio’s Grand Central Terminal Area Rezoning Would Require Special Permit for New Hotels

The impetus behind the rezoning plan allowing taller towers in the blocks surrounding Grand Central Terminal - specifically the five blocks of Vanderbilt Avenue from East 42nd Street to East 47th Street - is to keep New York competitive with office development in other major cities like London and Shanghai. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, the hotel-workers union, which had a key role in the demise of a similar proposal under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has flexed its muscles once again, seeking a concession that would require any new hotels to receive a special permit from the City Planning Commission and the City Council.
More details on the rezoning here

Real Estate Trends

June 17, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Million Dollar Condos Come to Bed Stuy; Working Out in the Streets

Everybody Loves Brooklyn… Except Brooklyn: The Observer talks about the fact that the name Brooklyn may be a top name everywhere else, but Brooklynites are so over it. Million Dollar Condos Come to Bed Stuy: Before you know it, we common folk won’t be able to afford Brooklyn. The Brownstoner has some details and beautiful […]

Uncategorized

June 17, 2014

$8M Full Floor Greene Street Loft Leaves Us Speechless

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and we’re inclined to agree. While we love using words to tell you all about some of the most amazing residences on the market, we’re not sure words can quite do this Soho beauty justice. Located in a landmarked building at 60 Greene Street, with its cobbled stones and quaint charm, this nearly 4,000-square-foot full floor condominium loft not only took our words away, it took our breath away too!
See why this loft took our words - and our breath - away

Distinctive Homes

June 17, 2014

A Garden So Private No One Has The Key? Now We’ve Heard It All

Forget the legendary and uber-privileged access to the oasis known as Gramercy Park. The newest wave of private gardens are apparently so exclusive even residents can’t enjoy a stroll through the lush greenery. Take the 2,400-square-foot courtyard currently being designed at The Sterling Mason, a new Tribeca loft building where an apartment can set you back up to $24 million. In a city where even the tiniest bit of green space is viewed as the ultimate amenity, turning what would have been a barren airshaft into a verdant outdoor sanctuary seems like a terrific idea. Tapping Deborah Nevins, one of the world’s most sought-after landscape designers to do it, an even better one. Keeping residents from enjoying more than a visual inspection of the rich white blossoms, lush green leaves, ivy walls and sculptural stream? Eh, we’re not so sure about that.
What's up with this off limits trend?

Architecture And Design

June 17, 2014

Helen Hunt Finally Sells Upper West Side Pied-a-Terre for $2.58 Million

It looks like Helen Hunt has finally sold her Upper West Side apartment to the tune of $2.58 million. This new development comes after having the apartment on the market for nearly 9 months. That’s essentially like having a baby. Hunt purchased the apartment at 320 West 86th Street for $2.43 million in 2006, according to the Daily News, and was using the 3/BR as a pied-a-terre. Her main residence is in California. After acquiring the co-op, Hunt completely renovated the pad, creating a six-room layout with restored herringbone floors, hideaway office spaces and decorative fireplaces.
Take a look inside the star's pad here

June 17, 2014

Time Warner V.P. Unloads Upper West Side Condo for $4.3 Million

By Dana Schulz

A strikingly elegant co-op apartment at 375 West End Avenue has for $4.3 million, according to city records. The seller, Paul T. Cappuccio, Vice President and General Counsel at Time Warner, Inc., bought the 5BR/3.5BA unit in July 2011 for $3.5 million, netting him an almost $1 million profit. The handsome, 2,400-square-foot space is a mix of traditional design and convenient, modern touches. Stunning, detailed moldings and shiny herringbone hardwood floors work alongside barely-there recessed lighting and a contemporary, marble bathroom. Ten-foot ceilings and large windows framed by panel molding are decorative elements that harken back to the building's prewar construction, while custom walk-in closets and a laundry room with full-size washer/dryer are 21st-century touches.
Take a look at the rest of this swoon-worthy pad

June 16, 2014

Fashion Meets Utility Inside Lela Rose’s Tribeca Loft Designed by WORKac (Catwalk Included)

By Patty Lee

New York is a true walking city, but can you imagine installing a sidewalk inside your apartment? That's essentially what the architects at Work Architecture Company (WORKac) did for this minimalist White Street loft. At the very heart of the living and dining rooms sits a row of Japanese-style tables that can be extended or retracted to act as a dance floor, catwalk or stage. That's just one of the many stunning features conceived by WORKac and the home's owner, fashion designer Lela Rose.
Take a peek inside right this way

June 16, 2014

Prodigy Network Announces Winning Designs for 17John “Cotel” – NYC’s First Crowdsourced Hotel

By Annie Doge

Remember that competition held in February to crowdsource the design of a hotel to be located in downtown Manhattan? Looks like the results are in and Prodigy Network just announced the winners of the competition for the 17John ‘Cotel’ (collaborative + hotel = cotel). The winning designs cover both the public interior spaces and the private rooms of 17John, and as the competition brief outlined, all the rooms are specifically tailored to the modern business traveler. Rooms range from long-term living spaces to more standard short-stay hotel rooms. The hotel will also be equipped with flexible spaces for work and meetings, and digital services that "provide comfort, community, and connectivity for its guests".
see the winning designs here

June 16, 2014

Unusual Bathroom Design May Have You Going Hmmm But the Rest of This $1.6M Soho Loft Will Have You Going Mmmm

Thirteen windows wrapping around three sides of this 1,100 square foot loft means bright and airy in a big way – even the bedroom closet and bathroom are filled with sunlight! Overlooking two of the building’s three charming courtyards this gorgeous unit at 140 Sullivan Street has a wonderfully open floor plan with extra high ceilings exposing all of the original wood and steel beams, wide plank cherry floors throughout, and built-ins galore. And while a NYC curator created this open concept to merge the aesthetics of uptown chic with the artistic and architectural details of downtown, this home presents its next owner with a virtual clean slate as there is plenty of space to carve out additional bedrooms, an office, even formalize the dining and living areas.
Right this way for hmmm and mmmm

Distinctive Homes

June 16, 2014

Frick Museum Expansion Renderings Unveiled