This $9.7M Nolita loft is a luxury confection in a former chocolate factory

If you’re looking for a classic loft with 21st-century convenience, this corner condo at 285 Lafayette Street checks the boxes. Located at the border of Nolita and Soho, the one-time chocolate factory was among the neighborhood’s first full-service condominiums. Within, the two-bedroom loft, asking $9,745,000, has exposed original beams and columns, 10-foot ceilings, and oversized windows that frame unfettered views of Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. This historic frame adds a backdrop of simplicity for design flourishes like Venetian plaster, statement marble, and dramatic designer lighting.

The main space in the 3,365-square-foot loft is an open great room framed by Venetian plaster and oak. Southern and eastern exposures mean plenty of light.

This sprawling living space has room for lounging and dining. In one corner, a separate home office is set apart by walls of factory-style steel-framed glass.

The open kitchen is a masterpiece of subtle elegance. Dramatic Fantastico Arni marble worktops, backsplash, and dining island frame a Sub-Zero refrigerator, wine fridge, and Miele dishwasher. A Viking range is topped by a plaster-clad exhaust hood.

A set of oversized wooden doors opens to an entry hall leading to the primary suite. This secluded chamber has a customized walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom with a steam shower and a soaking tub.

In an equally secluded opposite corner, a guest wing holds the second bedroom with an en-suite bath and a separate den. A washer/dryer and lots of storage space add convenience.

The sought-after building has been home to celebrity residents (there’s a discreet private entrance on Mulberry Street) such as David Bowie and Iman, Courtney Love, hotelier Ian Schrager, and actor Saul Rubinek from “Frasier.” Amenities include a 24-hour concierge, a lush lobby, and a landscaped roof deck.

[Listing details: 285 Lafayette Street, #5D at CityRealty]

[At Compass by Marina Schindler]

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