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.

October 12, 2017

New Affiliates makes plywood look modern and sexy in this Bed-Stuy reno

By Emily Nonko

Plywood doesn't have the reputation of a desirable material when it comes to chic home renovations. But the Manhattan design studio New Affiliates used it in this Bed-Stuy loft reno to surprising results. By using raw plywood and rough materials like exposed steel and mesh screens as finishes, the space retains its industrial edge while pulling off a clean, modern--even sexy--aesthetic by pairing such materials with stark blocks of color. As the firm says, "These adjacenies of contrasting materials work to produce something clean, light, and unprecious while maximizing usable space in the loft." All we have to say is, who knew plywood could be so appealing?
See more photos of the project

October 11, 2017

Asking $325/night, this secluded Catskills treehouse may be one of the coolest vacation escapes ever

By Emily Nonko

If you're looking for an escape, it doesn't get much better than this modern treehouse, nestled among the natural surroundings of the Catskills. This is the work of the UK-based designer Antony Gibbons, who believes the angular lines and pronounced geometry of the structure enhance the organic nature of this forested locale, just outside of Woodstock, New York. Despite the modern aesthetic, the facade is made of cedar from the surrounding Catskills Valley and the interior is lined in a reclaimed pine, in so that the modest home "still blends into the surroundings with its timber materials," Gibbons has said. If you're swooning over the space--and wondering what it's like to live among the trees--it's now available as a vacation home through Airbnb, asking $325 per night.
Imagine your upstate vacation

October 10, 2017

For $1.65M, a folksy and funky East Village duplex with prime outdoor space

By Emily Nonko

We are loving this East Village duplex, which boasts a front door straight out to a huge, elevated common terrace that acts like a private park for the residents of this boutique condo at 549 East 11th Street. Inside, a unique, whimsical interior has been decorated by owner Olga Vieira, owner of the yarn-turned-travel business the Koko Company. The apartment was last purchased in 1999 for $180,500 and now it's asking $1.65 million. And if you can't afford that, there's still a chance to Airbnb it.
Check out the outdoor space

Distinctive Homes

October 9, 2017

This $988K Tudor in Bayside, Queens looks like something out of a fairy tale

By Emily Nonko

A turreted entryway, arched front door, leaded and stained glass windows and wood beamed ceilings--it all makes for a mini-castle in the heart of Bayside, Queens. This Tudor home at 48-12 217th Street was built in the 1930s, and is located in a neighborhood filled with other Tudor beauties with well manicured front yards. This home comes with plenty of suburban perks, like a front and back yard, garage and finished basement. Combined with the 1930s period details, it's a unique property that's now on the market for $988,000 and may just lure you out to eastern Queens.
There's even a Tiffany chandelier

October 6, 2017

For $3.75M, escape to the Mediterranean waterfront right in Westchester

By Emily Nonko

This home looks better suited for Europe or California, but it's located just north of Manhattan in the Westchester suburb of Mamaroneck. The Spanish Mediterranean manse was built in 1926 and is situated on a half-acre of land right along the water. Stunning views from the waterfront lawn and private dock look out toward Larchmont Harbor, the Long Island Sound, and the distant Manhattan skyline. Inside, it's like an escape to a European or Hollywood retreat--take your pick--with incredible details that include Spanish tile floors imported from Seville.
Time to go inside

Distinctive Homes

October 4, 2017

Celebrity photographer Ken Nahoum’s eye-popping three-penthouse combo asks $20M in Soho

By Emily Nonko

This gigantic three-penthouse combo is owned by the celebrity photographer Ken Nahoum, who's captured everyone from Robert De Niro to Michael Douglas to Dr. Dre to Johnny Cash. According to Mansion Global, he began living in the cast iron SoHo building, 95 Greene Street, in the 1980s after it was converted to residential use. In 1999, he bought up a 1,231-square-foot apartment here with his now ex-girlfriend, Victoria’s Secret model Basia Milewicz. Then in 2002, he bought the two adjacent penthouses and the rooftop section. Now it's a massive showpiece penthouse, with 8,200 square feet of interior living space alongside five outdoor terraces totaling 4,000 square feet.
There are glass staircases, too

October 4, 2017

INTERVIEW: LOT-EK’s Giuseppe Lignano talks sustainability and shipping container architecture

By Emily Nonko

After completing architecture school at Universita’ di Napoli, Italy, Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano fell in love with New York City, deciding in 1995 to establish an innovative firm in Manhattan called LOT-EK. Early experiments in the art world grew into a substantial architecture practice, but their philosophy has always been the same: Both Ada and Giuseppe are focused on a concept they call "up-cycling," taking existing objects and elevating them through art, design, and architecture. The firm has done its most innovative work re-using shipping containers and received a wave of attention this year for a Brooklyn residential project that utilized 21 shipping containers in surprising, stunning ways. The firm has just released its second monograph, LOT-EK: Objects and Operations, a photo-heavy showcase of dozens of projects the firm produced around the world over the past 15 years. "LOT-EK is a design practice that believes in being unoriginal, ugly, and cheap," the book states. "Also in being revolutionary, gorgeous, and completely luxurious." With 6sqft, co-founder Giuseppe Lignano talks about the early days of running a firm and waiting tables in 1990s New York, explains the firm's philosophy behind sustainability and re-use, and discusses the inspiration behind their notable Williamsburg project.
This way for the interview

October 4, 2017

Tribeca townhouse with an address once used for John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Nutopia’ is for rent

By Emily Nonko

John Lennon and Yoko Ono never lived at this Tribeca townhouse—it's well known they preferred the Upper West Side—but they certainly have a unique connection to it. Here's the story, per the New York Times: in 1973, Lennon and Ono announced the birth of Nutopia, "a conceptual country" with no boundaries and "no laws other than cosmic." Mr. Lennon, who was being threatened with deportation because of a 1968 marijuana conviction in England, was seeking diplomatic immunity and United Nations recognition as a Nutopian ambassador. The iconic couple gave 1 White Street as the embassy address.
Check out the interior

October 3, 2017

Single-room treehouse in an Upstate forest was constructed by its owners for just $20K

By Emily Nonko

Located within the forest of the Catskills town of Barryville is the Half-Tree House, designed by the Manhattan firm JacobsChang. This remote 60 acres of land, about two hours outside of New York, is a second-growth forest in a steep, isolated area with no vehicular access, no piped water, and no electricity. The firm designed this 360-square-foot cabin on a $20,000 budget for the clients, who also decided to construct the structure entirely by themselves with only weekend assistance. JacobsChang made building on the difficult site easier by lifting the structure above the ground and bringing in support from the surrounding trees. It was an apparent success, with a compact and modern cabin sitting gracefully within its surroundings.
The interior is simple yet stunning

Olsen twins’ former West Village penthouse hits the market for $25M

Olsen twins photo via Wikipedia

October 3, 2017

Olsen twins’ former West Village penthouse hits the market for $25M

By Emily Nonko

A massive penthouse with star power has just hit the market for a cool $25 million. The apartment, located atop luxury West Village condo 1 Morton Square, was previously owned by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. According to Curbed, the famous twins bought the pad for $7.3 million in 2009 while the building was still under construction, put it on the market soon after buying, and finally sold in 2010. Well-known New York developer Bruce Eichner of the Continuum Company was the buyer--for $7.7 million--and now he's looking to make quite the profit. The apartment is impressive, though, with interior details imported from France, a sculptural glass wine refrigerator, and a gallery to display art and sculptures.
You've got to see inside

$895K upstate home has stained glass from Brooklyn Navy Yard and an archway from Jackie O’s estate

By Emily Nonko

This is only one of a few estates still standing in the historic district of the upstate New York town of Tappan, and it's on the market for $895,000 (h/t CIRCA). Built in 1835, the Victorian home boasts everything from 10-foot ceilings, five fireplaces, wood floors, stained glass made at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and a grand archway in the dining room from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' estate. It's currently configured as a two-family home, but some TLC and elbow grease could turn this back into an impressive and stately single-family showpiece.
Check out the stained glass

There’s a trolley car graveyard buried without a trace in Canarsie, Brooklyn

A Coney Island trolley, via Coney Island History

September 27, 2017

There’s a trolley car graveyard buried without a trace in Canarsie, Brooklyn

By Emily Nonko

It may be hard to imagine today, but Brooklyn of the late-19th and mid-20th centuries was full of trolley cars. A number of different companies built out an expansive trolley system that connected residents to different neighborhoods and up to Queens—in fact, by 1930, nearly 1,800 trolleys were traveling along the streets of Brooklyn from Greenpoint to Gowanus to Bay Ridge and beyond. (The Brooklyn Dodgers were originally known as the “Trolley Dodgers,” for the practice of jumping out of the path of speeding electric streetcars.) But as automobiles began to take over the streets, trolley use diminished throughout New York. That, of course, meant that Brooklyn needed to figure out what to do with all those unneeded cars. According to Atlas Obscura, there were a few options, including sending cars to other cities as well as countries as far as South America, or selling them to museums. But the most fascinating—and forgotten—end to the Brooklyn trolley car can be found in Canarsie, where many were simply sunk into a pit about the size of a city block at the end of the Canarsie train line.
Learn more about this trolley graveyard

September 26, 2017

For $875K, a boho-glam East Village co-op with its own roof deck

By Emily Nonko

Scale to the top of the historic brick townhouse at 111 East 10th Street in the East Village and you'll find this charming one-bedroom co-op now on the market for $875,000. The walk-up may not be great, but there are lots of benefits of living on the top floor here. The ceiling has been heightened and expanded to include a row of skylights, and there's direct access to a private rooftop garden. The unit is part of a unique, coveted cooperative comprised of six 19th century townhouses that sit within the landmarked St. Mark's Historic District, holding 29 residences total.
Take a peek

Distinctive Homes

September 25, 2017

Andrew Franz transformed this Chelsea apartment by replacing walls with glass partitions

By Emily Nonko

To bring light into this Chelsea apartment, architect Andrew Franz pulled out all the tricks. To open and brighten up every corner of the 800-square-foot pad, the firm removed walls, added full-height glass partitions and high-gloss lacquered ceilings. While some of the apartment's historic details were restored, the final product feels super modern and spacious—with each room, of course, awash in sunlight.
Take a tour

September 22, 2017

Rare and historic Dumbo triplex once owned by artist Caro Heller hits the market for $2M

By Emily Nonko

If you've visited Brooklyn Bridge Park then it's likely you've seen 8 Old Fulton Street, the historic brick cooperative--with the red door--directly facing the park. In the 1860s, this building was constructed for the Brooklyn City Railroad Company. Today the landmark holds just 10 co-ops, meaning it's rare to see apartments up for grabs. But this one-bedroom triplex has hit the market for $1.975 million, decked out with columns, exposed brick and twelve-foot ceilings. The previous owner was the artist Caro Heller, who passed away in 2014. According to public records, her children--an adventure writer and gallery owner--have listed the property for sale.
See the stunning interior

September 21, 2017

Architensions transformed a Brooklyn townhouse into a stunning compound with a writing pavilion

By Emily Nonko

This Brooklyn abode feels more like a compound than traditional townhouse, with a redesign that blurred the lines between inside and out, and added three pavilions to the backyard. Two pavilions extend from the rear of the townhouse, while the third was envisioned as a mini writers retreat. (We've swooned over this backyard pavilion before.) Inside the main house, the completely paired down, modern interiors were finished with light wood, gray tile and high ceilings.
Head inside

September 20, 2017

$1.55M garden duplex in Gramercy stands out with 1920s tin ceilings

By Emily Nonko

Tin ceilings aren't uncommon in prewar New York apartments, but they're usually painted over white. This prewar garden duplex, at the Gramercy Park cooperative 224 East 18th Street, is featuring bold, silver ceilings on its main floor--an original design element of the 1920s townhouse. A more recent renovation transformed the apartment from a two bedroom into a one bedroom with a den/media room downstairs. There's also access to a private backyard garden. The ask comes in at $1.55 million.
Check out both floors

Distinctive Homes

September 19, 2017

Williamsburg townhouse gets a ‘mullet’ reno with business in front and a party out back

By Emily Nonko

Yes, you heard that right--the architects characterized this East Williamsburg townhouse renovation as having "a mullet strategy" of a "business/historically correct approach in the front and a party/modern attitude toward the back." The architects, BFDO, were tasked with restoring the facade of a historic wood frame house, while also modernizing and expanding it. The result? A pleasing blend of older historic details with a brightness and openness not often on display in a Brooklyn townhouse.
Check it out

September 19, 2017

Massive, stunning East Village condo with a similarly impressive roof deck is renting for $10K a month

By Emily Nonko

Looking for a huge, dramatic living space right in the heart of the East Village? It's right here, at 175 East 2nd Street, but it'll cost a cool $10,000 a month. This one-bedroom condo now up for rent spans 1,450 square feet and comes with a 1,247-square-foot roof deck. That's a ton of space, and all of it is dripping in unique, super trendy details: 11-foot ceilings with the original wooden ceiling beams, exposed brick, a fireplace and a long skylight over a renovated kitchen. Chic furniture and artwork fills all the open living space, and the apartment comes with the option to move into it furnished.
You'll be tempted to move in

Distinctive Homes

September 18, 2017

Map shows how many years of life a house costs, and in NYC the numbers aren’t pretty

By Emily Nonko

New Yorkers know that taking on a mortgage in the city is no easy feat. But a recent map shows that, compared to the rest of the country, we'll spend many more years than most everyone else (except San Franciscans) in our attempts to pay it off. This map, which measures "mortgage magnitude," looked at the median local income and median local home value to show the relative affordability of property in each US county. The value of the average property was then expressed in the number of years salary it costs. In some counties, a house will only set you back a total of one year's pay. But as you move out toward costal cities like New York, that number gets dramatically higher.
Here's how many years New Yorkers should expect

Affordable Housing

September 15, 2017

Malba mansion with views of the Whitestone Bridge and its own wood-fired pizza oven asks $8.8M

By Emily Nonko

You'll have to go all the way to the northernmost part of New York City to find a 12,000-square-foot mansion on a 16,000-square-foot lot. But here it is, at 3 Point Crescent in Malba, Queens. The sprawling seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom home has all sorts of interior flourishes--including plenty of mahogany--and the property comes with direct views of the Whitestone Bridge. There are lots of other perks too, like a seven car driveway, temperature controlled wine room, 40-foot pool and a wood-fired oven in the basement. The entire package is up for grabs at an ask of $8.795 million.
Take the very grand tour

Distinctive Homes

September 13, 2017

This renovated Park Slope co-op, asking $995K, has its own Instagram account

By Emily Nonko

If there was a contest for most popular apartments in New York City, this one would be in the running as the winner. Apartment #3L at the Park Slope co-op 749 Union Street has been profiled in Lonny and Architectural Digest. It has its own Instagram account. And it was designed by Dan Mazzarini, the former director of store design at Ralph Lauren who went on to open his own design firm, BHDM. Envisioned as a black-and-white bachelor pad with a sleek, modern kitchen, the apartment is now looking for its next owner at an ask of $995,000.
Read more about the reno

September 12, 2017

Loci Architecture took this 1878 Carroll Gardens brownstone and decked it out with wood

By Emily Nonko

The Manhattan-based firm Loci Architecture took plenty of care in the renovation of this historic Carroll Gardens townhouse, which dates back to 1878. (According to the firm, the home was once occupied by the last queen of Sikkim, a northeastern state of India.) In a complete renovation and rear extension, Loci completely decked the interior out with wood--everything from salvaged pine, to Douglass Fir, to reclaimed barn timbers. Wood floors, ceiling beams, built ins, and storage space make for a warm, textural interior.
Now go see the finishes

September 11, 2017

Live in an octagon-shaped, Victorian style home in Westchester for $40,000 a month

By Emily Nonko

The listing goes right ahead and calls this "one of the most visually unique homes in the world," and it'd be hard to argue with that. This is known as the Armour–Stiner House, or the Carmer Octagon House, a unique octagon-shaped and domed Victorian style home located in Irvington, a town of Westchester County. It was built in 1860 by financier Paul J. Armour, enlarged between 1872 and 1876, and is now the only known residence constructed in the eight-sided, domed colonnaded shape of a classic Roman Temple. The current owner, Joseph Pell Lombardi, a preservation architect with his own firm, has listed it for rent asking a hefty $40,000 a month.
See the breathtaking interior

September 8, 2017

$3M full-floor loft embodies ‘old school Tribeca’ with tin ceilings and a steel fire door

By Emily Nonko

This Tribeca apartment will remind you of the artist lofts that once proliferated New York, but will also serve a jolt back to reality when it comes to the city's ever-growing real estate prices. The full-floor pad at 60 Thomas Street sold in 2004 for $1.255 million, in 2007 for $1.795 million, and is now on the market asking $2.995 million. A keyed elevator entrance opens up to details like tin ceilings, a steel fire door, and exposed brick. The massive space also manages to fit four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a media room, office, and full-sized laundry room.
Walk through the space

Distinctive Homes

All articles by Emily Nonko

Pitch a Story

Interested in seeing the property in person?

Interested in seeing the property in person?

Distinctive Post Form

Get in Touch

Send us a Tip

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Thinking about selling your home?

Sell a Home (Footer)

Before You Move On from this Page.

Your Passport to NYC:Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Your Passport to NYC:
Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!