Upper East Side

April 3, 2015

Mad for Modern: NYC Homes That Are Cooler Than Don Draper’s Park Avenue Pad

We admit it: We’re a bit obsessed with mid-20th century modern design–its architecturally and socially advanced concepts so often result in a perfect mix of aesthetic appeal and livability. Sometimes met with suspicion and derision in its earlier days, modernist architecture has endured the test of time and is having an enormous resurgence in popularity and appreciation. How else could you explain fans' obsession with the award-winning and pitch-perfect mid-mod sets on Matthew Weiner’s “Mad Men.” It’s often said that the best ideas in home design are the ones that make the home a great place to live; the origins of modernist design had that idea at their heart. We've rounded up a few of the city’s mid-century architectural treasures and a handful of homes that embody modernist style.
More on the 'Mad Men'sets and NYC's Mid-Century Modern gems this way

April 3, 2015

Opulent Steven Gambrel-Designed UES Co-Op Looks to Make $6M Flip

By Aisha Carter

Before we get into this listing, we just have to point out that the owner of this lavish prewar co-op at 79 East 79th Street is a man named Timothy O'Hara from Savannah, Georgia. We wonder if he has a fictional ancestor named Scarlett. We also wonder if he hasn't heard that joke a million times in his life. O'Hara and his wife Dara purchased the Upper East Side home for $7.25 million back in 2012, and in a flip for the ages, it's back on the market for nearly double that price, at $13.5 million. However, this newly renovated home's custom millwork and bold lacquer paint finishes create a blend of subtle sophistication and vitality that just might be enough to lure buyers to drop some serious cash.
Tour the elegant abode here

Distinctive Homes

The High and Low: Two ‘Mad’ Pads Offer Modernist Details, Timeless Appeal

Butterfield House at 37 West 12th Street (l); 225 East 74th Street (r).

April 1, 2015

The High and Low: Two ‘Mad’ Pads Offer Modernist Details, Timeless Appeal

By Michelle Cohen

In honor of the final season of "Mad Men," we've found a pair of current listings with the modern appeal of the Draper apartment at (fictional) 783 Park Avenue. Accents that might come straight from the pages of a mid-century magazine—like a sunken living room, wood paneling and a Nelson hanging light–or 21st century perks like open kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and city views add up to just as much modern cool as they did in the "Mad Men" era. $2.8 million gets you a serious mid-century pedigree, an enclosed balcony and a prime Greenwich Village location, but for $925,000, a top-floor Upper East Side pre-war pad with a recent renovation, city views and a compellingly modernist vibe looks like a serious deal.
Check out these two 'Mad Men'-worthy pads here

Distinctive Homes

March 27, 2015

$12M Duplex Designed by Robert Couturier Brings a Bit of Versailles to the Upper East Side

By Aisha Carter

There's a beautiful four-bedroom duplex available at 953 Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, asking $12 million. The Robert Couturier-designed apartment seamlessly incorporates classic and contemporary styles while offering great views of the park. And it all starts with a private elevator entrance and a foyer with beautiful wood floor details.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

March 26, 2015

Woody Johnson’s Co-op Sale Still Sets Record, but Comes In Lower Than Expected at $77.5M

By Dana Schulz

The real estate world was abuzz last fall when the news hit that Jets owner Woody Johnson had sold his Upper East Side apartment to billionaire Leonard Blavatnik for $80 million, setting the record for most expensive co-op sale ever. The official city documents have hit, though, and the sale price came in lower than expected at $77.5 million. But […]

Real Estate Trends

March 26, 2015

Joan Rivers’ Neighbor Lists Her ‘Shabby’ Apartment for $6M

By Aisha Carter

Here's a chance to own a different kind of piece of history. This one-bedroom condo at The Spencer was the subject of a contentious five-year legal battle between the owner, the condo board, and the estate of Joan Rivers, and was actually referred to as the shabbiest apartment in the entire building. Now owner Elizabeth Hazan has listed the unit, asking $6 million, a far cry from the $28 million Rivers' estate is requesting for her former penthouse.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

March 25, 2015

Artist Abby Leigh Asks $38M for Her Elevator-Equipped Upper East Side Townhome

By Aisha Carter

Famed artist Abby Leigh has listed her five-story townhome at 49 East 68th Street for $38 million. The 25-foot wide, 12,500 square-foot red brick limestone townhome sets itself apart right at the entrance, boasting a ground-floor round arched arcade that was more commonly seen among commercial buildings of its time. And inside you can catch glimpses of Leigh's own artwork, which can also be found exhibited at the Met, the Guggenheim, the Whitney, and internationally.
Let's have a look inside

Distinctive Homes

March 23, 2015

Carmelo and LaLa Anthony’s UES Rental Hits the Market for $12M

By Annie Doge

Though their lease doesn't end until August, Carmelo and LaLa Anthony's Upper East Side/East Harlem rental has hit the market for $12 million, according to the Post. Fear not, though, the New York Knicks star and his wife will not be homeless. They inked a deal last month for an $11 million, High Line-adjacent, full-floor unit at Cary Tamarkin’s new complex at 508 West 24th Street. The couple's rental at 1212 Fifth Avenue is a 4,000-square-foot, five-bedroom, pre-war condo with exceptional Central Park views.
Take a look around the former Anthony pad

March 17, 2015

Will the Luck of the Irish Help This $18M, 17-Room UES Maisonette Finally Find a Buyer?

By Stephanie Hoina

From four leaf clovers to corned beef and cabbage, today’s the day to celebrate all things Irish, and with a bit of luck maybe the seventeen rooms of this grand residence located at 120 East End Avenue at the corner of 85th Street in Yorkville will finally find a buyer. Initially listed in 2012, this magnificent six-bedroom, sun-flooded, full-service cooperative offers an elegant, sophisticated living experience rarely available in Manhattan.
More photos of this exquisite home

Distinctive Homes

March 13, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: David Brooks, Illuminating the City One Bulb at a Time

By Susan Cohen

A block from Bloomingdales, on 60th right off of Third, is a store that every New Yorker should know about. The store sells 36,000 kinds of one thing, and its name gives it away: Just Bulbs. Just Bulbs has been taking care of New York’s light bulb needs in one variation or another since 1945. It's currently owned and run by David Brooks, who began working at the family business back in 1982. Since he hit the register at Just Bulbs over thirty years ago, he has learned as much about bulbs as people. And when it comes to people, they are often buying the wrong bulbs. Wanting an insider's look into the world of bulbs, I recently visited Just Bulbs to speak with David. In between questions, he was ringing up customers and answering questions over the phone. For David, today was just another day helping New York keep the lights on.
Read our interview with David here

March 12, 2015

Kelly Ripa Revealed as Buyer of $27M UES Townhouse

By Annie Doge

When it made headlines that Kelly Ripa had sold her posh Soho penthouse at 76 Crosby Street for $20 million ($4.5 million under the asking price), most people assumed the fun-loving, down-to-earth talk show host would swap the apartment for another downtown home. But in a surprising twist of celebrity real estate, the Daily News revealed today that she and her […]

March 10, 2015

New Exhibit Explores the Sounds of Iconic NYC Interiors; An Apple Store Architecture Tour

By Dana Schulz

Soundscape exhibit, which opens tonight, highlights the actual sounds of iconic New York interiors, such as Grand Central Terminal, the Seagram Building lobby, and the Guggenheim. [MCNY] The MTA wants to turn token booth clerks into subway concierges with eyes on the platforms. [Gothamist] Take a global tour of the 50 most eye-catching apple stores. [Curbed] When […]

Uncategorized

March 5, 2015

REVEALED: Asking Prices, Floorplans for 520 Park Avenue, the Next Billionaire’s Row Blockbuster

By Gabby Warshawer

Developers of 520 Park Avenue have revealed apartment prices for all units in the building, which is poised to become one of the city’s most expensive condominium towers and include a $130 million penthouse. The building, which will rise in the high-priced corridor flanking Central Park that has been dubbed “Billionaire’s Row,” is expected to gross $1.2 billion in apartment sales, according to initial offering prices detailed in documents filed with the Attorney General’s office. The $1.2 billion in total sales—which will make the building one of the most expensive in Manhattan history—is all the more impressive considering that current plans call for only 31 units, most of which will be full-floor residences.
Click here for full pricing information and floor plans

March 2, 2015

You’ll Love This $1.2M Triplex as Much as This Painting Does

By Aisha Carter

There’s a reason the kid in this painting is smiling with arms wide open, and it’s because he’s welcoming you into the coolest pad in the Upper East Side Historic District. This two-bedroom triplex at 18 East 63rd Street sold for just $497,000 in 2011. But after an extensive renovation, it’s back on the market with all the right bells and whistles, asking $1.15 million.
More cartoony fun inside

February 19, 2015

$300K Rental at the Surrey Hotel Is the City’s Most Expensive One-Bedroom

By Diane Pham

Why buy a $3.6 million dollar home when you can pay the same amount of money to live in a modest one-bedroom for a year? The latest unit to join the city's ever-growing collection of priciest listings is a 1200-square-foot apartment in the Surrey Hotel at 20 East 76th Street. The Post reports that the pad—which is actually the 17th-floor penthouse if that sweetens the deal any—is currently renting for $300,000 a month and comes with one "oversized" bedroom, one-and-a-half bathrooms, and access to the hotel’s English rooftop garden and five-star amenities, which include a day spa and a place to pamper your pooch, amongst other perks.
Have a look around here

February 9, 2015

Joan Rivers’ Legendary Upper East Side Penthouse Is on the Market for $28M

By Annie Doge

Joan Rivers' Upper East Side triplex penthouse, where she lived for 25 years, is opulent to say the least, with a huge Louis XIV-inspired ballroom, a bordello-esque master bedroom and gilded details galore. And we wouldn't expect any less from the late, great comedienne, who once said of her lavish Spencer Condominium apartment at 1 East 62nd Street, "It's what Marie Antoinette would have done, if she had money," and described the décor as "Louis XIV meets Fred and Ginger." After Rivers' daughter Melissa inherited her mother's apartment in October, it's now officially hit the market for $28 million, reports the Daily News.
Tour the legendary home

February 3, 2015

Luxe Penthouse at the Carlton House Sells at a Discounted $52 Million

By Diane Pham

It's been a couple weeks since we've seen a sale break the $50 million mark, but lo and behold, the penthouse at Extell Development's Carlton House has just sold for $52 million. According to city records filed today, the top unit sold at a markdown, originally listed for $65 million back when it first hit the market in October 2013. The price cut, however, shouldn't discount what's inside. The six-bedroom, six-plus-bathroom, 8,988-square-foot Upper East Side duplex features a private outdoor roof space (there's 5,261 square feet of outdoor space in total), en-suite bathrooms in all the bedrooms and wrap-around terraces. The building itself also boasts quite an interesting backstory. It was originally designed in 1940 by Kenneth B. Norton, but not completed until 1950 as construction was halted during World War II. After purchasing the building in 2010, Extell hired Beyer Blinder Belle to convert the structure into condos. The job cost a reported $350 million and Extell's President Gary Barnett told The New York Times that the decision to preserve the building was “actually more expensive than if we tore the damn building down and built it again.”
Check out the floor plan here

Real Estate Trends

February 2, 2015

Wake Up Over and Over Again in This $6M Yorkville Townhouse with Soaring Vaulted Ceiling

By Stephanie Hoina

It’s Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil promises six more weeks of winter–not necessarily a bad thing if you’re viewing the latest snowfall through a picturesque wall of windows while cozying up to a roaring fire. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in this gorgeous townhouse at 343 East 84th Street in Yorkville.
More of this stunning home this way

Distinctive Homes

February 2, 2015

Charming Renovated Upper East Side Duplex Asks $2.5M

By Aisha Carter

There’s a nice new Upper East Side duplex on the market, asking $2.5 million. This turn-of-the-century pad is on the fourth and fifth floors of 165 East 60th Street, and it has been “cautiously renovated,” making sure to maintain all of its old school charm such as beamed ceilings and hardwood floors even though it sports modern updates.
Take a look inside here

Distinctive Homes

January 29, 2015

Reduced! $125 Million Pierre Penthouse Now Asking Just $63 Million

By Aisha Carter

Desperate times call for desperate measures? This dazzling former home to eccentric stock investor Martin Zweig has just received a near 50 percent price cut by the late investor's widow, Barbara Zweig, who is now asking a mere $63 million. The 41st floor co-op at the Pierre first hit the market in 2013 for what would have been a record-breaking $125 million, but the home didn't sell—even after being slashed to $95 million in December 2013. Now it looks like Zweig just wants to rid herself of the property which occupies the top three levels of the Pierre. The penthouse is the highest prewar co-op apartment in Manhattan, meaning not only do you have views of the skyline, but you're also part of the skyline. But that's not to discount the 360-degree vistas of the city, which include all of Central Park. So, will someone bite at $63 mill?
Let's take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

As Younger Renters Move to the UES, Trendy Commercial Tenants Follow

Say goodbye to afternoon tea and hello to happy hour, via roboppy via photopin cc

January 27, 2015

As Younger Renters Move to the UES, Trendy Commercial Tenants Follow

By Dana Schulz

You don't have to tell us twice that the Upper East Side is trading its reputation as a stodgy, ladies-who-lunch spot for a younger, more hip vibe. Not only do we think it's a hidden hot spot for artists, but we recently profiled the unofficial "new" Upper East Side, the high 80s and 90s, clustered between Park and 1st Avenues. And let's not forget how the Second Avenue subway is already shaking things up. But with a new generation of Upper East Siders gobbling up the surprisingly affordable real estate offerings, it's no surprise that trendy commercial spots are also getting in on the action. Small, local shops and restaurants create little communities that you might expect to find in brownstone Brooklyn, and larger, big-name businesses like Warby Parker and Whole Foods promise to make it a neighborhood to rival Union Square or Chelsea.
More on the real estate trend ahead

January 20, 2015

The New Design Project’s Upper East Side Apartment Has a Downtown Industrial Vibe

By Dana Schulz

At first glance, this urban-chic apartment with its industrial vibe and cool pops of geometric colors definitely appears to be located in trendy Soho or any up-and-coming section of Brooklyn. But it's actually in the neighborhood that's often considered the most unhip of all–the Upper East Side. A creation of The New Design Project, this 400-square-foot Uptown apartment was inspired by the urban features that the design team uncovered during the renovation at the landmarked Cherokee Apartments. Exposed brick walls and metal frames were left raw and are juxtaposed with bold colors, geometric patterns, and custom artwork. As the firm states, "the result is a space that does not take itself too seriously, where each room has a strong personality that delivers a happy experience."
Tour the apartment here

January 19, 2015

Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich Buys Up Three UES Townhouses to Build a Makeshift Mansion

By Diane Pham

While some billionaires are busy eyeing the glass penthouses of the city's up-and-coming and ultra-luxe towers, others are taking a more DIY approach to realizing their dream home. The latest to join the building-your-own-mansion trend is billionaire Roman Abramovich, who according to the NY Post has just "secretly" purchased a 9,495-square-foot townhouse at 11 East 75th Street for $29.7 million from developer Larry Gluck. The buy follows Abramovich's December purchase of another 7,286-square-foot townhouse two doors down for $18.3 million, and word on the street is that he's in contract for the townhouse wedged right in between.
READ MORE

January 16, 2015

How the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion Went from Private Home to the Ukrainian Institute of America

By Dana Schulz

Earlier this week, the Ukrainian community rang in the new year, so we thought it appropriate to take a look at one of the city's largest centers of Ukrainian-American life. Located at 2 East 79th Street at the corner of Fifth Avenue, the Fletcher-Sinclair mansion was built in 1897 by famed architect Charles Pierrepont Henry Gilbert (C. P. H. Gilbert) as a single-family home for Isaac D. Fletcher, a banker, broker, and railroad investor. Today, the French Gothic masterpiece houses the Ukrainian Institute of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art, music and literature of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora. But how did this massive home become home to the Institute?
Find out here

December 26, 2014

As the Met Prepares to Move into the Whitney’s Old Building, A Madison Avenue Block Is Transformed

By Dana Schulz

All eyes have been on the construction of Renzo Piano's new downtown home for the Whitney Museum, set to open in May. But let's not forget about what's happening to the Whitney's old Marcel Breuer-designed building on Madison Avenue and 75th Street. The Brutalist building opened in 1966 and has since dominated its Upper East Side surroundings. It's set to be taken over as a satellite location for the Metropolitan Museum of Art to showcase their contemporary and modern art collections when it reopens in March 2016. And though the Met will not alter the façade of the landmarked museum building, its surroundings will certainly look different than in the Whitney's days. The biggest changes are happening right next door, where the row of six 19th-century Italianate and Greek Revival brownstones on Madison Avenue and two townhouses on East 74th Street are being reimagined as condos and retail space by developer and healthcare entrepreneur Daniel Straus, who bought the properties from the Whitney in 2010 for $95 million and subsequently was granted approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission for their new design by Beyer Blinder Belle. According to the Times, who profiled the development, the flurry of construction could be considered "the Met effect."
More on the development here

December 19, 2014

Beautiful $2.9M Carnegie Hill Duplex Sports a Sweeping Staircase

By Aisha Carter

A charming duplex at 64 East 86th Street is available for a recently discounted $2.85 million. This 2,100-square-foot pad boasts all the offerings of a chic suburban home all within arms' reach of Central Park, the Met and the Guggenheim. And to top it all off, that gorgeous staircase…
More on that, here

Distinctive Homes

December 18, 2014

Unique “Stone” House Struggles on the Market, Asking $7.5 Million

By Aisha Carter

Apparently, living in a landmarked townhouse designed by the same architect responsible for the MoMA is not as appealing to buyers as you would think. The Edward Durell Stone-designed home at 130 East 64th Street has been on the market for over a year now, with its asking price steadily declining from a $9.995 million price tag to $7.5 million, and it’s still sitting. But this four-story house is no stranger to mixed reviews.
Find out more here

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Bergen Brooklyn

323 Bergen Street

Boerum Hill

World-class design rooted in Brooklyn charm

studios starting at $825,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,925,000
3 beds starting at $3,050,000
4 beds starting at $6,000,000

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