Asking Double Its 2012 Price, Brooding West Village Townhouse Features a Two-Story Wall of Glass
Every now and then a Cool Listing comes along that is so spectacular we find ourselves at a loss for words. Well, not today. That’s because there’s so much to share about this incredibly sumptuous home at 75 Bedford Street in the West Village we’re afraid we’ll run out of room!
Let’s start with those responsible for our enthusiasm–namely,  M.N. Ahari, architect for the recent renovation, and interior designer Fernando Santangelo, the genius behind one of Hollywood’s havens for the rich-and-famous, the Chateau Marmont, who transformed this historic townhouse from an all-white Zen oasis into a brooding bachelor pad for his friend James Oakley, a filmmaker who originally hails from Tennessee. Oakley, whose stepfather owns the Cleveland Browns, bought the home in 2012 for $5.8 million, but after the extensive renovation he’s now looking to unload the residence for $12.5 million.
Though its presence on Bedford Street dates back to 1836, the interior of this Greek Revival-style townhouse has come a long way from its 19th century roots. According to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, who featured the home on their 2014 house tour, the structure was originally two-and-a-half stories high, first owned by Charles Oakley (interestingly of no relation to James), a prolific developer in 1820s Greenwich Village. In the 1920s, the top floor was added as an artist’s studio, and this lounge is what James now considers “the best room in the house.”
The parlor level’s reception gallery welcomes you with a stunning mezzanine featuring Olive Elm Burl veneer walls, Venetian Terrazzo floors, and a nearly invisible glass half-wall that overlooks the 300-plus-square-foot great room on the garden floor, which draws you in with an absolutely magnificent two-story wall of glass highlighting the lush gardens and flooding the interior with an abundance of natural light. This double-height space was a 1989 addition.
We couldn’t help but wonder where one might acquire such impossibly tall curtains but they beautifully frame the picture perfect – and easily accessible – outdoor space. An enormous soapstone fireplace with a matching wood storage element and Bardiglio Nuvolato marble radiant-heated floors bring a sense of warmth and scale to the voluminous room.
The open chef’s kitchen features Crystal Stratus marble countertops, and professional-grade stainless steel appliances, and the dining area offers a stunning, built-in antique mahogany armoire converted to a custom built-in dry bar with ice machine. Though both can seem a tad claustrophobic when compared to the adjacent great room, they take full advantage of the view afforded by their luxurious neighbor and provide an elegant venue for entertaining guests in style.
Speaking of entertaining, the home’s fully finished basement is outfitted with a state-of-the-art home theater and ample wine storage for the devoted wine collector. The colorful fabric walls and recessed lighting beautifully conceal the fact that you’ve entered the home’s lowest level.
The top floor presents a dramatic sky-lit atelier/studio with powder room and wet bar, easily convertible to a private master floor, and an outdoor spiral staircase leads to the rooftop, where you’ll find a lovely sitting area and spectacular views of the surrounding neighborhood.
When you’re ready to call it a day, the two pin-drop quiet bedrooms await on the residence’s third floor. The inviting and sumptuous master suite overlooks the sunlit southern gardens and offers a bath with Luce de Luna Quartzite slab marble and Barber Wilson custom hardware and the guest suite (which we suspect will be used quite often because who wouldn’t want to spend time here?) extends to an oversized spa-like bath retreat.
One look at our gallery below and you’ll see why the New York Times recently called this house the “Dark Knight.” Oakley admits to the paper that he loves “those sort of noirish environments” and says “I hate white, I despise it.” Hopefully the new owner will be able to adjust to the dark atmosphere.
[Listing: 75 Bedford Street by Jeremy V. Stein, Gaetano Morello, Robin Stein, and Jennifer Lanza of Sotheby’s International Realty]
[Via Curbed]
Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty
