All articles by Emily Nonko

Emily is a Brooklyn-based writer who has covered New York City real estate, architecture and design for Brownstoner, The Wall Street Journal, Dwell and other publications. You can follow her on Twitter @EmilyNonko.

July 11, 2016

The Evolution of Related Companies: From Affordable Housing to Hudson Yards

By Emily Nonko

There’s only one developer in New York currently tasked with building an entire city neighborhood, and that’s the Related Cos. In 2008, Related embarked on Hudson Yards, a type of project never before tackled in New York—28 acres of apartments, office space, retail, parkland (and a subway stop, to boot) on top of the West […]

July 8, 2016

$995K Bed-Stuy Loft Boasts Custom Closet and Reclaimed Wood Staircase

By Emily Nonko

689 Myrtle Avenue in Bed-Stuy is known as the Chocolate Factory Lofts as this warehouse building was formerly home to the Chocoline Chocolate Factory. Today there are 45 loft apartments in the building, and this one stands out from the rest--at least according to the listing. The one-bedroom pad is decked out with custom, one-of-a-kind details, like a curved, iron and reclaimed wood staircase and a hand-built five section "disappearing" closet. (In that it's storage space that blends right in with the apartment.) This quirky loft has just hit the market for a hair under $1 million.
Take a look around

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July 7, 2016

$15,000/Month Firehouse Offers a Sprawling Live/Work Space in Williamsburg

By Emily Nonko

Check out this 5,000-square-foot live/work space at 246 Frost Street, a former 19th century Williamsburg firehouse. While the historic facade remains intact, the interior has pretty much been transformed into a lofty, two-floor apartment with plenty of exposed brick to go around. And it's full of bonus space: a finished basement, an extra sleeping loft, a deck, parking garage, recording studio and fully-functioning dark room. For all that, it'll cost a cool $15,000 a month.
Take a look

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July 6, 2016

Jimmy Choo Co-Founder Offers UES Mansion Penthouse for $60K/Month

By Emily Nonko

Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon has long been trying to sell her palatial penthouse pad, which sits atop the Carhart Mansion at 3 East 95th Street. The Carnegie Hill apartment, which boasts five bedrooms and one of the most impressive shoe closets of all time, recently reduced its price from $34 million to $27 million. And now it's on the rental market for $60,000 a month. The 7,000-square-foot penthouse has a long line of impressive owners—Mellon bought this from the Seagram heir Charles Bronfman Jr.
Check out that closet

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July 5, 2016

$625K for This Charming Two Bedroom in a Prewar Co-op of Jackson Heights

By Emily Nonko

The prewar cooperatives of Jackson Heights are well-known for their interior courtyards, not to mention lovely apartments with generous floor plans. This two bedroom comes from the Fillmore at 83-10 35th Avenue, which was built in 1935 by the architect Thomas K. Reinhart in the Art Deco style and includes a glorious planted courtyard that's shared by residents. This particular apartment, asking $625,000, is sitting pretty on the top floor of the building.
See the interior and the courtyard

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July 4, 2016

See Inside This 1833 West Village Townhouse, Now Asking $5.975 Million

By Emily Nonko

232 West 10th Street is a brick townhouse in the West Village, constructed way back in 1833. The builder was John C. Blauvelt, who was earning a living as a cartman and built his home "typical of the Federal-style homes being built at the time" according to Daytonian in Manhattan. All these years later the brick facade has remained remarkably in tact. And now that it's on the market, asking nearly $6 million, we can take a peek inside the well-preserved interior, too.
Check it out

June 30, 2016

Renovation of This $1.25M Greenwich Village Co-op Maximized Its Space to the Fullest

By Emily Nonko

When it comes to maximizing all your space in an apartment, nothing does the trick like adding a loft. This one-bedroom apartment, at the Greenwich Village co-op 35 East 10th Street, did just that in a recent renovation. A well-designed loft of glass, steel and wood creates a nice big living room below, with a spacious sleeping alcove above. On top of that, a wall of glass in the rear of the apartment offers a seamless transition out to its own private patio. Amazingly, this unit sold for $500,000 just three years ago, and now it's on the market post-reno for more than twice that amount.
Take the tour

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June 29, 2016

A 32-Foot Long Living Room with Exposed Brick Dominates This Hell’s Kitchen Loft Rental

By Emily Nonko

When you're tasked with decorating a 32-foot-long living room, you know you've made it in the world. Luckily such a room, located at this Hell's Kitchen apartment up for rent at 529 Ninth Avenue, is lined with exposed brick which lends it plenty of character. This lofty top-floor apartment is 1,200 square feet, with its own private roof deck. For all that space, it's going to cost $4,800 a month.
Take a look inside

June 28, 2016

Former Soho Loft of Artist Bill Alpert Hits the Market for $3.1M

By Emily Nonko

Here's a rare opportunity to own a Soho loft that was the longtime home of an artist--most of the artist apartments of the 60s and 70s have since changed hands. This apartment at 64 Grand Street belonged to Bill Alpert, who was known for his abstract paintings and lived here from 1967 until his death last year. It is very much a raw space, with the original hardwood floors, exposed ceiling pipes, a fire escape view and walls high enough to hang nothing but artwork. We can't imagine the price for it back in 1968, but now it's asking just a hair over $3 million.
Take a tour

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June 27, 2016

Financial District Loft Rental Comes With Its Own 800-Square-Foot Patio

By Emily Nonko

Located in the Financial District, just one block from the South Street Seaport, is this 1,800-square-foot pre-war duplex with a very cool private patio. The building at 324 Pearl Street was built in 1888 as a warehouse, so the apartment now boasts 14-foot ceilings, exposed brick and lots of open space. Even the patio has a lofty vibe, surrounded by greenery against more brick. Although this is a condo, you can now rent it for $6,495 a month.
See the entire pad

$1M Murray Hill Co-op Features 15-Foot Barrel Ceiling With Terracotta Tiles

By Emily Nonko

Having high ceilings is a common feature of many New York apartments, but this is something different: the 15-foot-tall, barrel ceiling that's lined with terra cotta tiles in this co-op for sale at 372 5th Avenue, in Murray Hill. It's a stunning feature of the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, and a lofted bedroom means you get to enjoy the ceiling from up close. The apartment comes from an 11-story co-op that was built for clothing store Best & Co back in 1910.
See the ceiling up close

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June 23, 2016

$2M Upper East Side Co-Op Boasts a Marble Mantle from the Plaza Hotel

By Emily Nonko

When your home boasts a marble mantlepiece that originally belonged to the Plaza Hotel, you know you've got something special. Such an item can be found at this prewar co-op, on the market for $1.995 million at the Lenox Hill building 333 East 68th Street. The owner, a former Saks Fifth Avenue executive, took on the designer Lindsay Coral Harper to gut renovate it. She transformed a traditional two-bedroom co-op was into a luxurious bachelorette pad that melds new luxury finishes with restored historic details.
See more

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June 22, 2016

Parlor-Floor Apartment With Four Palladian Windows Asks $1.2 Million Off Central Park

By Emily Nonko

If you're going to live on any floor of a New York City townhouse, it may as well be the parlor floor as it's usually considered the crown jewel of the home. This $1.2 million co-op occupies 1,000 square feet of an historic brownstone building at 61 West 68th Street. The exposed brick interior takes full advantage of the massive Palladian windows that line the apartment. The location, right off Central Park West, is nothing to scoff about either.
Check out the interior

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June 21, 2016

Pretty Top-Floor Co-Op With its Own Roof Deck Asks $1.2M in Park Slope

By Emily Nonko

Park Slope is known for its pretty real estate, and this top-floor co-op at 656 Carroll Street is no exception. Decked out with a wood-burning fireplace, arched doorways, exposed brick and stained glass, this is a one-of-a-kind interior that matches the historic vibe in the rest of the neighborhood. And it's all topped by a private roof deck offering 360-degree views of Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline.
See more this way

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June 20, 2016

Historic Prospect Heights Rowhouse, Asking $12,500/Month, Has All Its Woodwork Intact

By Emily Nonko

William H. Reynolds may not be a recognizable name in New York City history today, but back in his day he was known as an influential real estate developer, politician, and entrepreneur who developed much of Prospect Heights. He is responsible for this lovely townhouse at 323 Sterling Place, located right off Grand Army Plaza. Over the years much of the interior has been preserved, so the home feels like a time machine taking you back to the days Reynolds was building up the neighborhood.
Take an interior tour

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June 17, 2016

Furnished Noho Rental Outfitted by Renowned Designer Asks $14K/Month

By Emily Nonko

If you're dropping $14,000 a month on a furnished rental, it may as well be by a professional designer. That's what the listing promises for 27 Great Jones Street, a sprawling two-bedroom Noho loft that's on the market. The 2,000-square-foot apartment, it says, is owned by a renowned designer that has masterfully decorated it. And it's true, the furniture and decor certainly compliment lofty details like exposed brick and 16-foot beamed ceilings.
See more this way

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June 16, 2016

One Month Free at 76 North 4th Street, Steel Factory Turned Rental in Williamsburg

By Emily Nonko

For the renter looking for a balance between Williamsburg's old warehouse buildings and its newer luxury development, the Lewis Steel Building beckons. This 83-unit rental was co-developed by Cayuga Capital and Jake Toll, the son of the developer behind Toll Brothers. They transformed a 1930s steel factory into modern apartments while keeping the 13-foot ceilings, exposed beams and factory-sized windows intact. Leasing launched last year and there are now six apartments left, ranging from a $3,117/month one-bedroom to a $5,683/month three-bedroom. And for any renters who pick up the remaining apartments, they're getting the first month of rent free.
Take a look around

June 15, 2016

Historic Home Upgraded by High-End Furniture Designer Asks $2.995M in Bed-Stuy

By Emily Nonko

588 Madison Street is a French Neo-Grec brownstone built in 1889 by the architect William Godfrey. While the single-family, Bed-Stuy home is steeped in history, a recent owner has brought it stylishly into modern day. The owner/developer, a principle at the design firm KGBL, specializes in designing high-end furniture. Here, they played off the existing historic details to add some unique, modern touches. And the mashup of historic and modern is asking nearly $3 million.
Take a look

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June 14, 2016

$1.6M Floor-Through Loft Is All About Minimalism in the East Village

By Emily Nonko

When an apartment has really good bones, there's no need to crowd it with stuff. Or at least that's the thinking behind the interiors at this floor-through loft in the East Village at 432 East 10th Street. Now on the market for $1.595 million, the two-bedroom, 1,400-square-foot pad basks in details like high ceilings, big windows, and exposed brick. (Even the brick's been painted white to minimize its appearance.) Top that off with smart, if sparse, design, and it makes for an impressive space.
See more of the interior

Distinctive Homes

June 13, 2016

$850K for a Romantic Top-Floor Townhouse Apartment in the West Village

By Emily Nonko

There's definitely something dreamy about being perched on the top floor of a West Village townhouse, looking at the neighborhood's charming residential streets from above. At 226 West 11th Street, a 19th century townhouse, the top-floor co-op apartment is now for sale, priced just under $1 million. The one-bedroom pad is just as romantic as the neighborhood below it--the listing even goes so far as to call West 11th Street "the most romantic enclave in the West Village."
Take a look

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June 10, 2016

Grand Loft on Grand Street With Original Cast Iron Columns Asks $17,500/Month

By Emily Nonko

This Lower East Side loft is so grand you need a wide-angled lens to capture all its lofty goodness in a photo. The apartment comes from 345 Grand Street, a cast iron building that is now a six-unit condo. It's just been listed for rent for a hefty $17,500 a month. With all that money comes excellent features—the original wood beamed joist ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, a private terrace—as well as 2,500 square feet of space to spread out. Another bonus: this well-designed space will come fully furnished for the lucky renter.
Take a peek

June 10, 2016

The Historic Henry F. Spaulding Estate in Riverdale Looks Like it Belongs Upstate

By Emily Nonko

Riverdale is a neighborhood known for its incredible mansion properties. But this one at 4970 Independence Avenue--now on the market asking $3.69 million--really stands out among them all. First there's the architecture -- the home is a fine example of the Stick-Eastlake style, rarely seen in New York City. Then there's its "utterly fascinating history," as reported by Cured. Known as the Henry F. Spaulding Estate, it was constructed in 1880 in Riverdale when the area was a private community of country estates. To make way for the development of Wave Hill, the sprawling property was picked up and moved to its current location in 1909. If all that sounds interesting, just wait until you see the interior.
Take a tour

June 9, 2016

$2.8M Condo at Former Greenwich Village Horse Stable Boasts Great Windows and Exposed Brick

By Emily Nonko

49 Downing Street is a building of note in Greenwich Village for a number of reasons. The late 1800s horse stable is on the National Register of Historic Places. And as a 10-unit co-op, it has housed Yoko Ono, who bought an apartment in 1995 for her son Sean Lennon and sold in 2014 for $8.3 million. The latest apartment to hit the market here is this two-bedroom unit, asking $2.8 million, which boasts stunning windows that decorate the stable's historic facade.
See more of the interior

June 9, 2016

A Rare Historic Townhouse in Long Island City Asks $2.4M

By Emily Nonko

Long Island City is a neighborhood better known for its warehouses and new waterfront development than it is historic townhouses. But there are a few blocks of the neighborhood that look more Brooklyn than Queens, with 19th century townhouses along tree-lined streets. It's not everyday that one of these gems hits the market--here's a charming home that was listed this spring--but this one at 45-10 11th Street is now asking $2.395 million. It's been in the same family for 34 years and still has lovely interior details from when the home was constructed in 1911.
Take a tour

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June 8, 2016

Last Apartment Left at Gothic Revival Church in Fort Greene Asks $8,200/Month

By Emily Nonko

Gothic Revival church turned luxury rental apartment: only in New York. That's the story behind 232 Adelphi Street, a majestic Fort Greene church built in 1888. It fell into disrepair before being converted into 12 apartments in recent years. This is the last apartment left empty and it's a pricy one. It's also big: an 1,800-square-foot duplex with two bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, all accessed via a private entrance.
Check out the church details that remain

Distinctive Homes

All articles by Emily Nonko

$995K Bed-Stuy Loft Boasts Custom Closet and Reclaimed Wood Staircase

$15,000/Month Firehouse Offers a Sprawling Live/Work Space in Williamsburg

Jimmy Choo Co-Founder Offers UES Mansion Penthouse for $60K/Month

$625K for This Charming Two Bedroom in a Prewar Co-op of Jackson Heights

See Inside This 1833 West Village Townhouse, Now Asking $5.975 Million

Renovation of This $1.25M Greenwich Village Co-op Maximized Its Space to the Fullest

A 32-Foot Long Living Room with Exposed Brick Dominates This Hell’s Kitchen Loft Rental

Former Soho Loft of Artist Bill Alpert Hits the Market for $3.1M

Financial District Loft Rental Comes With Its Own 800-Square-Foot Patio

$1M Murray Hill Co-op Features 15-Foot Barrel Ceiling With Terracotta Tiles

$2M Upper East Side Co-Op Boasts a Marble Mantle from the Plaza Hotel

Parlor-Floor Apartment With Four Palladian Windows Asks $1.2 Million Off Central Park

Pretty Top-Floor Co-Op With its Own Roof Deck Asks $1.2M in Park Slope

Historic Prospect Heights Rowhouse, Asking $12,500/Month, Has All Its Woodwork Intact

For $25M, a Flatiron penthouse in a golden cupola, with Manhattan at your feet

Furnished Noho Rental Outfitted by Renowned Designer Asks $14K/Month

One Month Free at 76 North 4th Street, Steel Factory Turned Rental in Williamsburg

Historic Home Upgraded by High-End Furniture Designer Asks $2.995M in Bed-Stuy

$1.6M Floor-Through Loft Is All About Minimalism in the East Village

$850K for a Romantic Top-Floor Townhouse Apartment in the West Village

Grand Loft on Grand Street With Original Cast Iron Columns Asks $17,500/Month

The Historic Henry F. Spaulding Estate in Riverdale Looks Like it Belongs Upstate

$2.8M Condo at Former Greenwich Village Horse Stable Boasts Great Windows and Exposed Brick

A Rare Historic Townhouse in Long Island City Asks $2.4M

Last Apartment Left at Gothic Revival Church in Fort Greene Asks $8,200/Month

138 Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn

All articles by Emily Nonko

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