All articles by Michelle Cohen

Michelle is a New York-based writer and content strategist who has worked extensively with lifestyle brands like Seventeen, Country Living, Harper’s Bazaar and iVillage. In addition to being a copywriter for a digital media agency she writes about culture, New York City neighborhoods, real estate, style, design and technology among other topics. She has lived in a number of major US cities on both coasts and in between and loves all things relating to urbanism and culture.

A grown-up townhouse with a Bushwick address–and a koi pond–asks $2M

Photos courtesy of Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

November 4, 2024

A grown-up townhouse with a Bushwick address–and a koi pond–asks $2M

By Michelle Cohen

While Bushwick may be where the cool kids are, this three-story townhouse at 1163 Putnam Avenue is an adult-friendly two-family property with all the trimmings. With a picture-perfect renovation designed by the current owner, a former creative director at Elle Decor magazine, the turn-key home, asking $1,995,000, includes a separate garden apartment and a landscaped backyard, complete with a koi pond.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Kenny Scharf’s painted swings at Luna Luna in Los Angeles. Credit: Joshua White/Luna Luna, LLC

November 1, 2024

Resurrected avant-garde art carnival Luna Luna opens this month at The Shed at Hudson Yards

By Michelle Cohen

Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, the world’s first art amusement park, is coming to The Shed at Hudson Yards this month. Lost to time since its debut in Hamburg, Germany in 1987, the avant-garde art carnival is being recreated to dazzle, delight, and perplex 21st-century visitors in New York City after a spectacular resurrection in Los Angeles earlier this year. You'll be able to experience the original colorful, surreal riot of carnival rides and immersive attractions created by iconic 20th-century art stars like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, David Hockney, Salvador Dalí, Roy Lichtenstein, and more.
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Events & Things To Do

For $700K, this parkside Brooklyn co-op adds dramatic design details to classic pre-war bones

Photo Credit: Manuel Pellón

October 30, 2024

For $700K, this parkside Brooklyn co-op adds dramatic design details to classic pre-war bones

By Michelle Cohen

This thoughtfully renovated 1,000-square-foot Prospect Lefferts Gardens home at 125 Ocean Avenue is a perfectly elegant blend of custom comforts, striking design, and gracious pre-war proportions. Asking $700,000, the one-bedroom (plus home office space) co-op is framed by Art Deco details, like a sunken living room and gracefully arched doorways, with modern additions, adding up to a sophisticated 21st-century home across from Prospect Park.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Behold the breathtaking views from this $18M home on the Montauk coastline

Photo credit: Dronehub for Douglas Elliman

October 29, 2024

Behold the breathtaking views from this $18M home on the Montauk coastline

By Michelle Cohen

High on the southernmost bluff of Long Island, the Stone House at 408 Old Montauk Highway embodies the mythical wildness and wonder of Montauk, long referred to by locals as "The End." This peerless private oceanfront estate, surrounded by panoramic views of Montauk Lighthouse and Block Island, occupies a front-row seat to watching the sun and moon rise over the water. Asking $18,000,000, the 3.2-acre estate's main residence sits on a vegetative 70-foot bluff protected by a rare rock revetment on the Atlantic Ocean.
get an eyeful of ocean view, this way

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Bill Murray’s former Snedens Landing home asks $3.7M

Photo credit: Andrea B. Swenson/Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

October 25, 2024

Bill Murray’s former Snedens Landing home asks $3.7M

By Michelle Cohen

On nearly four acres off a private lane in the celebrity-studded enclave of Snedens Landing in the Rockland County hamlet of Palisades, New York, this charming property was built in 1986 by actor Bill Murray, who enjoyed it as a family home in the years that followed. Asking $3,695,000, the 5,177-square-foot main house at 19 Ludlow Lane comes with an additional buildable two acres.
see inside

$4.5M Central Park West duplex in Hotel des Artistes gets color just right

Photo credit: Real Estate Production Network for Sotheby’s International Realty

October 24, 2024

$4.5M Central Park West duplex in Hotel des Artistes gets color just right

By Michelle Cohen

With its Gothic-style facade and rich history of being home to notable New Yorkers, the Hotel des Artistes co-op at 1 West 67th Street is a Manhattan icon. This freshly renovated 1,800-square-foot duplex was converted to a one-bedroom home with gracious proportions and luxurious details, highlighted by a perfectly curated color palette. Asking $4,495,000, the decidedly not-beige pre-war home comes with a separate guest/staff room on the same floor.
a stylish rainbow, this way

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This $3.15M co-op embodies East Village cool, all grown up

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 23, 2024

This $3.15M co-op embodies East Village cool, all grown up

By Michelle Cohen

In a pre-war co-op building on classically chic East 6th Street, this three-bedroom residence captures the enduring charm of the neighborhood with sophisticated style. Asking $3,150,000, the creatively designed home at 232 East 6th Street is filled with striking features like bespoke floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, decorative wallpaper, and a full spectrum of paint hues, adding up to a rock-star look that's more polished than punk. As an additional perk, a full-sized laundry room ups the storage game beyond what you'd expect to find in the neighborhood.
Take the tour

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For $1.45M, this barrel-fronted Bay Ridge home offers three floors for living and lots of outdoor space

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

October 22, 2024

For $1.45M, this barrel-fronted Bay Ridge home offers three floors for living and lots of outdoor space

By Michelle Cohen

In quiet Bay Ridge, surrounded by waterfront and parks, this classic townhouse at 172 Senator Street has plenty of curb appeal. A limestone-clad facade and gracefully rounded barrel front–like those of its neighbors–wrap a 20-foot-wide, 2,000-square-foot single-family home. Within are three floors of cozy rooms, highlighted by historic architectural details like pocket doors, high coffered and medallioned ceilings, and bay and stained-glass windows.
get a closer look

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SHOP THE LISTING: Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s $9.75M West Village townhouse is an all-season urban refuge

Photo courtesy of Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

October 17, 2024

SHOP THE LISTING: Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s $9.75M West Village townhouse is an all-season urban refuge

By Michelle Cohen

From the wine cellar to the terraces, roof deck, and outdoor kitchen, the West Village home of actors Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy is a dreamy four-story urban refuge with prize-winning interiors by the architecture firm of BKSK. Profiled in the New York Times, the celebrity pair wanted more space for their family; they put the 3,890-square-foot home at 19 Downing Street on the market for $9,750,000 in August. The pair quickly found a buyer for the Greek Revival-style townhouse, according to the Post, and the home is now in contract. If you love the interior design of this home, we’ve sourced a few key pieces that are identical or similar to the items in the listing photos, so you can get the look for your own space.
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For $1.5M, get (way) off the grid in Gilded Age style on your own private island in Alexandria Bay

Photo credit: Lost Retainer BK

October 16, 2024

For $1.5M, get (way) off the grid in Gilded Age style on your own private island in Alexandria Bay

By Michelle Cohen

Between the upcoming election frenzy and the impending holiday hustle, it may seem like a good time to imagine really getting away from it all–like, private-island away. This unique property on Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands (birthplace of Waldorf Astoria's famous salad dressing with the same name) is about as upstate as you can get without being in Canada, and it's only accessible by boat or seaplane. Being surrounded by water comes with 360 degrees of pristine water views, with fixed and floating docks to park your vessel of choice. Asking $1,500,000, the island is surrounded by the Gilded Age homes of Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, and Trudeaus as well as the neighboring Boldt Castle, whose design inspired the modern, spacious three-bedroom home situated at the island's edge.
private island life, this way

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For $2.7M, this Crown Heights townhouse is a brilliant bohemian paradise designed for living

By Michelle Cohen

This one-of-a-kind two-family townhouse at 1459 Dean Street in landmarked Crown Heights, asking $2,695,000, consists of a spacious duplex atop a large garden flat. Both are spacious enough for family living, with a deck and a magical garden oasis. A recent renovation blessed the home with every possible comfort and modern detail; the interiors in both units elevate design to masterpiece level, adding up to a sophisticated bohemian paradise of the highest order.
take the tour

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This six-story $13.9M Upper West Side townhouse has all of life’s luxuries under one roof, with an elevator to get there

All photos courtesy of H5 Photography for The Corcoran Group

October 10, 2024

This six-story $13.9M Upper West Side townhouse has all of life’s luxuries under one roof, with an elevator to get there

By Michelle Cohen

On a historic Upper West Side townhouse block, this six-story home at 308 West 88th Street is truly a Manhattan mansion. From the rec-room-ready full basement to the indoor/outdoor retreat on the rooftop–and the elevator that hits every floor–the home, asking $13,850,000, provides a gracious, historic residence with every 21st-century convenience. A no-expense-spared renovation added modern amenities to the pre-war architecture of the 8,500-square-foot townhouse, including skylights, a sauna, a wine cellar and tasting room, a luxurious full-floor primary suite, and a state-of-the-art kitchen.
take the six-floor townhouse tour

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$11M historic West Village home offers the privacy, parking, and outdoor space you’d find in a suburban subdivision

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

October 7, 2024

$11M historic West Village home offers the privacy, parking, and outdoor space you’d find in a suburban subdivision

By Michelle Cohen

On a postcard-perfect West Village street, this 1830 Federal townhouse at 18 Commerce Street is at the center of one of Manhattan's favorite downtown neighborhoods; yet the charming brick home has the privacy, parking, and outdoor space–hot tub included–you'd find on a suburban cul-de-sac. At 25 feet wide, the historic home, asking $10,995,000, offers four floors for gracious living, with "secret" rooms, a tea porch, a patio, and gated off-street parking at the back.
take the tour

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Rendering courtesy of SCAPE and Bjarke Ingels Group

October 3, 2024

SCAPE and Bjarke Ingels to turn former Connecticut power plant site into public park

By Michelle Cohen

After a private company's plan to develop waterfront housing languished, Manresa Island, an extension of Norwalk, Connecticut that reaches into Long Island Sound, sat in limbo, held captive by the hulking mass of a defunct 20th-century power plant that rose from its lush marshland. Area residents Austin and Allison McChord have unveiled a plan to transform the abandoned land into a fully accessible and dynamic natural park and community destination with event and recreation spaces by 2030. The couple enlisted the aid of internationally renowned architect Bjarke Ingels of BIG and award-winning landscape architecture firm SCAPE to design the next life for the island as a thriving community hub.
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Architecture And Design

TWA Hotel New York; Photo credit: Eric Laignel

October 2, 2024

Open House New York Weekend is back, with tours and special access to 270 sites throughout NYC

By Michelle Cohen

October is a month of discovery for fans of New York City's architecture, and a great time to explore the city's unique spaces. In addition to the Archtober celebration, Open House New York Weekend 2024 has just announced this year's lineup for a behind-the-scenes view of the city from October 18 to 20, promising hundreds of tours, unique access opportunities, and other events. From subway tunnels and skyscrapers to treasures as diverse as the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine Textile Conservation Lab to the Apollo Stages and the Bronx Music Hall, read on to discover over 270 places, tours, activities, and more throughout the five boroughs.
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An art historian’s Village loft with pieces by Ai Weiwei and more asks $4.2M

Photo credit: H5 Photo

October 1, 2024

An art historian’s Village loft with pieces by Ai Weiwei and more asks $4.2M

By Michelle Cohen

This classic loft at 55 East 11th Street is in a pre-war co-op building on an idyllic Greenwich Village block; it comes with the option to acquire works of art that accompany its creative pedigree. The bright, renovated co-op has been the home of noted art historian John Tanock and Christophe W. Mao, founder of the Chambers Fine Art Gallery. Asking $4,200,000, the unit includes art pieces by Ai Weiwei, Lu Shenzhong, and Martin Kline, all offered for sale.
get a closer look

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This $25M Greenwich Village townhouse has been an artist’s refuge for well over a century

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 30, 2024

This $25M Greenwich Village townhouse has been an artist’s refuge for well over a century

By Michelle Cohen

Built in 1849, the cheerful yellow townhouse at 125 West 11th Street in Greenwich Village adds a soft hit of color to the historic streetscape. Inside, this Greek revival home is a world unto itself. Owned by a family of artists for the past 70 years, the 7,878-square-foot home has just emerged from a three-year renovation that added pitch-perfect design details to this infinitely livable haven. Asking $25,000,000, the six-story single-family townhouse boasts an elevator that runs from its amazing garden-level studio to the rooftop terrace with cityscape views.
step in side this unique manhattan mansion

Distinctive Homes

September 26, 2024

15 of New York City’s most atmospheric outdoor dining spots

By Michelle Cohen

New York City's outdoor dining scene is once again about to change: Restaurants that did not apply for the city’s new outdoor dining program by the August 3 deadline will need to remove the by-now-familiar "dining sheds" that have occupied city streets and sidewalks since 2020. Largely as a result of recently approved new program guidelines and regulations, only about 15 percent of the 13,000 or so establishments with outdoor dining structures have applied to keep them, as 6sqft previously reported. Though many sidewalk sheds may soon be gone, there will be no shortage of enchanting al fresco dining opportunities. Keep reading for a short list of some of the city's loveliest outdoor dining establishments with no plans to disappear.
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$475K Bed-Stuy co-op is a cozy home in a historic mansion

Photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow Photography

September 25, 2024

$475K Bed-Stuy co-op is a cozy home in a historic mansion

By Michelle Cohen

The Romanesque Renaissance Revival mansion at 237 Hancock Street, originally designed by architect Peter Lauritzen for clothier Wilson Randolph in 1890, possesses the curb appeal and historic charm coveted in landmarked Bedford-Stuyvesant. Within, this one-bedroom second-floor co-op, asking $475,000, offers a well-appointed refuge for modern life–surrounded by the neighborhood's vibrant social scene.
get a closer look

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The corner terrace at this $4.4M Stella Tower condo puts the city skyline at your feet

Photo credit: DDReps | Hayley Ellen Day

September 24, 2024

The corner terrace at this $4.4M Stella Tower condo puts the city skyline at your feet

By Michelle Cohen

Stella Tower at 425 West 50th Street was designed in 1927 by renowned Deco-era architect Ralph Walker for the New York Telephone Company. The landmarked 17-story building, redesigned as a 21st-century condominium residence, retains its pre-war charm while offering an elevated level of modern luxury. This split two-bedroom home, asking $4,400,000, spans 1,763 square feet, offering the rare perk of a private corner terrace with one of the world's most dazzling city skylines just beyond.
step out and behold the view

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Data Vandals artist-activists bring data to life in NYC at colorful Cooper Union exhibition

Image credit: DataVandals.com

September 24, 2024

Data Vandals artist-activists bring data to life in NYC at colorful Cooper Union exhibition

By Michelle Cohen

Not all New York City events are easy to categorize; a provocative program taking place at Cooper Union from Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29, straddles the worlds of art, technology, data science, and community participation. Showcasing the talents of NYC data-activist collective Data Vandals (artist Jen Ray and data visualization expert Jason Forrest), the exhibition's full title "Hello From The Data Vandals (or free as air and water, or whatsoever things are true)” highlights just how many things in our daily lives intersect with what we know as data.
find out more

Events & Things To Do

Photo credit: Nathan Patrick Media for Sotheby’s International Realty

September 23, 2024

An artist’s Upper East Side condo is a palace-sized riot of joyful color for $8.75M

By Michelle Cohen

This full-floor home spanning the entire 29th floor of the Siena condominium at 188 East 76th Street on the Upper East Side offers luxury enough, arranged in a gracious circle over 4,000 square feet. Available for the first time in a quarter-century, the apartment, asking $8,750,000, offers 360-degree views of the city, but the interiors of this palace-sized home offer an equally stunning eyeful. This one-of-a-kind apartment is the longtime home of artist Apryl Miller, who has been its only owner. Miller designed every inch of the space to resemble a candy-colored castle filled with delight and creative energy. Dazzling patterns, bold hues, and surprising materials include Venetian plaster, painted wood, brilliant tiles, statement metallics, and swirling swaths of colored carpet, all beneath ceilings that soar above nine feet high.
add some color to your day

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For $3.25M, this compact Boerum Hill townhouse goes beyond the condo alternative with three levels and a yard

Photos courtesy of Shannon Dupre at DDReps

September 20, 2024

For $3.25M, this compact Boerum Hill townhouse goes beyond the condo alternative with three levels and a yard

By Michelle Cohen

On a landmarked block in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood, this historic property is a petite, three-story space (including a fully-finished, windowed cellar), with the same appeal–and outdoor space–as any of the city's covetable townhomes. Asking $3,250,000, 112 Nevins Street is newly renovated with stunning finishes, designer details, and modern amenities in its chef's kitchen and two bathrooms. The full-height rear glazing on the main floor overlooks–and opens to–an enchanted landscaped back garden.
take the tour

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Photo credit: Mike Tauber

September 19, 2024

This $5.6M Tribeca condo in a former spice-grinding factory brings warmth to loft proportions

By Michelle Cohen

Converted industrial spaces often lack the warmth of other types of pre-war properties. This fourth-floor loft at 176 Duane Street, asking $5,600,000, is wrapped in warm wood and natural brick, with a wood-burning fireplace and burnished wood floors. Built in the 1800s and used as a spice and coffee grinding factory, the Neo-Grec building in the Tribeca West Historic District–just across from Duane Park–was converted to lofts in 1999. The two-bedroom loft doesn't sacrifice warmth for loft luxuries like open spaces and soaring ceilings.
take the tour

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For $5.5M, this Flatiron condo with four-bedroom potential is a prize for loft-lovers

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

September 18, 2024

For $5.5M, this Flatiron condo with four-bedroom potential is a prize for loft-lovers

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the Flatiron District just off Madison Square Park at 35 West 23rd Street, this 3,400-square-foot, full-floor home checks all the boxes for classic Manhattan loft living. Asking $5,495,000, the sprawling space comes with the condo convenience lacking in the city's pre-war lofts. As an added perk, there's a balcony for a dose of outdoor enjoyment. All the good stuff is there, including ceilings of nearly 14 feet, tall cast-iron columns, and 10-foot-high windows. Spanning the building's entire third floor, the space is currently configured with two bedrooms and internal sleeping and office rooms, but an alternate floor plan shows the ease with which it can be made into a four-bedroom home.
loft living, this way

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All articles by Michelle Cohen

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