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.

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman / Rise Media

July 2, 2024

Asking $4.5M, this eclectic Bridgehampton home and artists’ studio was once a potato barn

By Michelle Cohen

This unusual home and working art studio at 488 Ocean Road in Bridgehampton, New York began life as a potato barn, embedded in the ground. In its utterly charming current life, the property is the home and studios of noted collage artist Karl Mann and acclaimed painter Hector Leonardi, who have lived and worked there for 32 years. Asking $4,450,000, the living quarters, art studios, and grounds have been rebuilt and renovated in a way that shows the owners' creativity in every corner, while serving as a luxurious and comfortable Hamptons home. Surrounded by landscaped gardens and patios, the home sits next to a pair of loft-like studios.
Unique hamptons homestead, this way

Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: Anton Brookes at H5 Property for The Corcoran Group

July 1, 2024

For $7.9M, this sprawling four-bedroom Chelsea condo is a modern city mansion in a landmarked building

By Michelle Cohen

On Manhattan's west side, the landmarked Cass Gilbert building at 130 West 30th Street is a classic Chelsea address. Asking $7,850,000, this 21st-century condo spans 4,000 square feet, offering the kind of space you'd expect in a country mansion, surrounded by iconic New York City views. There's an abundance of outdoor space in the form of two sweeping terraces, so you can even include your garden dreams in your modern city estate.
take the tour

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Photo credit: David Plakke

June 28, 2024

NYC artists ‘take over’ iconic spaces in a rare peek inside Westbeth Artists Housing complex

By Michelle Cohen

Westbeth Artists Housing is hosting an event that will provide a unique glimpse into the iconic arts organization's home and the important architecture surrounding it while showcasing the work of talented artists. During the Westbeth Artists Takeover, taking place through July 14, participants will exhibit works in a former synagogue, a daycare center, and a dramatic sculpture studio–all of which have been off-limits to the public for decades. Participants include Tom Fruin–known for his stained glass water towers placed throughout the city–who will be showing new work, and a wide range of New York-centric artists.
find out more

Events & Things To Do

Photo credit: Evan Joseph Photography

June 26, 2024

With a private elevator and terraces, this $24.5M Tribeca triplex embodies downtown penthouse living

By Michelle Cohen

One of a handful of historic Manhattan towers that has been given new life as a luxurious residential building, 108 Leonard Street is a downtown landmark in the heart of Tribeca. Designed by McKim, Mead & White, the full-block Beaux-Arts building rose in the 1890s. At its crown, this 6,252-square-foot, three-story condominium, fittingly known as the Crown Penthouse, now sits, surrounded by glass, sprawling terraces, and New York City views. The condominium building, with interiors by the late Jeffrey Beers, is known for celebrity residents, including Nicole Kidman, Clive Davis, and Samuel L. Jackson. Asking $24,450,000, this five-bedroom triplex is definitely an A-list-worthy home.
Tribeca penthouse tour, this way

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Photos courtesy of Virginia Carey

June 25, 2024

For $11M, this Cobble Hill townhouse offers modern comforts, elevated design, and a garage

By Michelle Cohen

This historic Brooklyn townhouse at 219 Kane Street, mansion-priced at $11,000,000, is a manageable two-unit property with notable advantages. The renovated 1850s Greek Revival home has been thoroughly upgraded, with a carefully considered design highlighting well-preserved Italianate details. Located within the Cobble Hill Historic District, the townhouse is 22 feet wide with a two-story rear extension, a garage, and several outdoor spaces.
take the brooklyn townhouse tour

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This $2.7M Red Hook home brings color and creativity to townhouse living

Photo credit: DDReps

June 21, 2024

This $2.7M Red Hook home brings color and creativity to townhouse living

By Michelle Cohen

This 25-foot-wide townhouse at 100 King Street in the quirky waterfront community of Red Hook, Brooklyn, is currently owned by an artist; this fact is not surprising when we step inside the tame-on-the-outside wood-frame home. Asking $2,675,000, the home has a private backyard with a separate studio space, a covered deck, and three floors of colorful rooms and welcoming spaces that are anything but beige.
Take the tour

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SHOP THE LISTING: Park Slope’s priciest townhouse is an $18M masterpiece of modern design

Photo credit: Kevin Scott/ Brown Harris Stevens

June 20, 2024

SHOP THE LISTING: Park Slope’s priciest townhouse is an $18M masterpiece of modern design

By Michelle Cohen

Not all big-ticket properties live up to their astronomical price tags, but the most expensive listing in Park Slope–a custom-engineered five-story townhouse at 535 1st Street on a prime landmarked block–is the very definition of no-expense-spared reconstruction. The five-bedroom residence, asking $18,000,000, was commissioned by the award-winning architecture and design firm Leroy Street Studio. Recently featured in Architectural Digest, this British Regency-style limestone mansion has been recreated with dramatic details like double-height entertaining levels and terraced, landscaped outdoor spaces, executed with flawless engineering skill and modern design expertise. The home would become Park Slope’s priciest townhouse on record if it sells for the asking price. 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–without having to move.
read on for interior inspiration

This 1969 stone-and-glass modern house on 25 Connecticut acres is a ‘fire sale’ listing for $1.3M

Photos courtesy of Klemm Real Estate

June 20, 2024

This 1969 stone-and-glass modern house on 25 Connecticut acres is a ‘fire sale’ listing for $1.3M

By Michelle Cohen

Modernist architectural gems turn up everywhere, often priced to reflect an unflagging interest in the modern design and clean lines pioneered in the middle of the 20th century. This circa 1969 home at 35 Dibble Hill Road in Cornwall, Connecticut, was designed by Sherwood Smith, a Gordon Bunshaft protege with the well-known Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architecture firm. The house sits on 25 remote acres, where you'll also find an in-ground pool and an antique barn. The home, asking $1,300,000, is being sold, according to the listing, as a "diamond in the rough" stripped down to the studs, awaiting a complete restoration after an electrical fire.
Find out more

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For $65M, this limestone Beaux Arts mansion on the UES is a trophy townhouse for the ages

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for Sotheby’s International Realty

June 18, 2024

For $65M, this limestone Beaux Arts mansion on the UES is a trophy townhouse for the ages

By Michelle Cohen

Only a few of Manhattan's opulent Gilded Age mansions remain standing and possessed of their original splendor. Many have been turned into art galleries and cultural destinations–the Frick Collection, the Cooper Hewitt design museum, and the Morgan Library and Museum–come to mind. This limestone Beaux Arts mansion at 15 East 63rd Street is a rare opportunity to own one of these stunning survivors. Located just off Fifth Avenue and Central Park on the Upper East Side, the palatial eight-level townhouse, asking a trophy-tier $65 million, offers 18,000 square feet of interior space, with an elevator to access every floor.
revisit the gilded age

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Live a life of country grandeur at this $12.25M French-inspired stone chateau in Garrison, N.Y.

Photo credit: Will Nainis of Sundae Projects

June 14, 2024

Live a life of country grandeur at this $12.25M French-inspired stone chateau in Garrison, N.Y.

By Michelle Cohen

Situated on a Hudson Valley hilltop in Garrison, New York, this 50-acre estate with a French-inspired stone chateaux at its heart is a dream of grand country living come to life. Asking $12,250,000, the 6,200-square foot manse is surrounded by gardens and woods, with porches and patios, a pool, a guest house, and a billiards cabin, all within 50 miles of New York City.
stroll around the grounds

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NYC’s best rooftop hotel pools offering day passes

By Michelle Cohen

Coming soon: Full-time sun and swimsuit season. Some lucky apartment dwellers count a private pool among their building’s amenities. Otherwise, your local options include public pools or pricey pool clubs and gyms. One way to hack summer in NYC is to snag a day pass to a pool atop one of the city’s trendy hotels. Usually reserved for hotel guests, some hotels allow visitors to pay by the day–often with poolside restaurant and bar privileges. Some venues host events like pool parties with DJs, live music, and drink specials. Read on for cool pools with day rates. Many hotel pools open on Memorial Day weekend. Pools may be reserved for private events, or rates and access information may change; be sure to check in with the venue before finalizing your plans.
Everyone in the pool

Events & Things To Do

This $3.9M Park Slope townhouse is an unspoiled historic beauty

Photo credit: Kate Norberg/Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

June 13, 2024

This $3.9M Park Slope townhouse is an unspoiled historic beauty

By Michelle Cohen

If you cringe at the sight of painted-over wood details and 19th-century homes with glass and drywall where intricate plaster once framed formal parlor spaces, this four-story home at 223 Garfield Place will make you smile. Asking $3,899,000, the 3,200-square-foot Neo-Grec townhouse on a pretty Park Slope block was built in 1890, and it has managed to retain its old-world charm. The single-family townhouse may not possess the most up-to-date flourishes, but it's four floors of gracious living–including the enviable Brooklyn bonus of a tranquil back garden.
Historic townhouse tour, this way

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Stylishly renovated $1.6M Ridgewood townhouse has room for living and rental income

Photo credit: Interiors by Kat for The Corcoran Group

June 12, 2024

Stylishly renovated $1.6M Ridgewood townhouse has room for living and rental income

By Michelle Cohen

Located within the Stockholm Street Historic District in artsy, laid-back Ridgewood, this charming light brick home at 1867 Stockholm Street seems almost like a steal at $1,595,000. Though it rises only two stories high, the two-unit property has a fully-finished lower level and a lovely landscaped backyard. Inside, the home has been updated by an artist owner with an eye for simple and chic design.
take the tour

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Asking $7M, this unconventional Brooklyn property is a home, studio, and artist’s private gallery

Photo credit: SERHANT. Studios

June 11, 2024

Asking $7M, this unconventional Brooklyn property is a home, studio, and artist’s private gallery

By Michelle Cohen

Behind an eye-popping purple brick facade punctuated by candy-pink doors and glass-paned windows, two former warehouses have been combined to form what is now Number 47, a unique home, studio, and gallery at the bustling border between Carroll Gardens and Gowanus. The 50-foot-wide property at 47 Fourth Street is currently artist John Mosler's home and studio, designed by architect Jonathan Marvel and Maum Design. Asking $6,995,000, the 5,782-square-foot space, approved as a single-family residence, has the potential to expand to 12,500 square feet (plans included). Its basic infrastructure is a statement of modern architecture, built around a 30-foot-high glass atrium.
Get a closer look

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This $4.25M Village condo has a deck with city views–and a rooftop studio inside an old water tank

Photo credit: Tim Waltman / Evan Joseph Images for CORE

June 10, 2024

This $4.25M Village condo has a deck with city views–and a rooftop studio inside an old water tank

By Michelle Cohen

This breezy, modern two-bedroom condo at 12 East 12th Street has the pristine interiors, light-filled rooms, and dazzling views that command a $4,250,000 ask; a massive roof deck adds coveted outdoor space. But one detail that sets this Village aerie above its many competitors is revealed in an Architectural Digest feature: A sunlit studio space on the home's top level was created inside a decommissioned classic New York City water tank.
Outdoor living in the village, this way

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Bring your whole squad and fleet to this newly-minted $8M Williamsburg townhouse

Photo credit: Shannon Dupree at DDreps

June 6, 2024

Bring your whole squad and fleet to this newly-minted $8M Williamsburg townhouse

By Michelle Cohen

When looking for a home in New York City, a four-car garage isn't often at the top of buyers' "must-have" list. But if your vehicles need as much space as you do, this 5,000-square-foot new construction townhouse at 218 North Fifth Street has you–and your G-wagon–covered. On a corner lot in the high-profile environs of Williamsburg's Northside, this single-family residence was built in 2013 and is now asking $7,995,000. With terrace space on four levels, including a helipad-sized roof deck, you can entertain all summer long.
the party starts now

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$14M Lincoln Square townhouse was home to designer Perry Ellis and the founder of Rolling Stone

Photo credit: Brad Stein

June 4, 2024

$14M Lincoln Square townhouse was home to designer Perry Ellis and the founder of Rolling Stone

By Michelle Cohen

On an Upper West Side block lined with historic brownstones, the 20-foot-wide, single-family home at 37 West 70th Street is in good company. The five-story home, built in 1891, was once the residence of the late American fashion icon Perry Ellis. Purchased in 1987 by Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner and his wife, Jane, the home received a full renovation by designer Ward Bennett. Now on the market for $14,000,000, the home's historic craftsmanship has endured, and a New York City legacy of visionary design has shaped the rooms within.
take the townhouse tour

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Katharine Hepburn’s longtime home in Turtle Bay Gardens asks $7.2M

Photo credit: DDreps for Sotheby’s International Realty

June 3, 2024

Katharine Hepburn’s longtime home in Turtle Bay Gardens asks $7.2M

By Michelle Cohen

Set within the covetable enclave of Turtle Bay Gardens, the stately turn-of-the-19th-century townhouse at 244 East 49th Street has a historic cachet beyond its location and provenance. For many decades, the four-story, single-family property was the New York City home of actress Katharine Hepburn, whose elegant mirrored vanity still graces its primary bedroom suite. The 4,600-square-foot townhouse, asking $7,200,00, offers a mix of elegant interiors and architectural beauty in a private East Side enclave whose residents have included Bob Dylan, Stephen Sondheim, and E. B. White. The property includes a 1,000-square-foot rear garden for a true Manhattan oasis.
Have a look inside and outside

For $5.4M, this Park Avenue duplex has modern architectural appeal and two terraces

Photos courtesy of Joel Pitra/ DD-Reps

May 31, 2024

For $5.4M, this Park Avenue duplex has modern architectural appeal and two terraces

By Michelle Cohen

On streets lined with historic buildings, glamorous historic hotels, and stately townhouses, modern architecture on the Upper East Side is rare, making the neighborhood's notable modernist buildings all the more desirable. Behind a sleek limestone and glass facade, this two-bedroom condo at 949 Park Avenue, asking $5,350,000, is a fine example. The light-filled duplex has massive windows offering iconic Upper East Side views from within and from the home's two terraces, one on each level.
park avenue modern, this way

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Jessica Chastain’s lavish Osborne co-op lists for $7.45M

Photo credit: Evan Joseph / Sotheby’s International Realty

May 30, 2024

Jessica Chastain’s lavish Osborne co-op lists for $7.45M

By Michelle Cohen

In 2015, actress Jessica Chastain made celebrity real estate news when she purchased a sprawling, opulent home in the venerable Osborne building at 205 West 57th Street for just over $5 million. Since then, the stunning four-bedroom, 3,200-square-foot home that once belonged to Leonard Bernstein has been impressively renovated and is back on the market, asking $7.45 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. The iconic Midtown apartment has been featured in Architectural Digest and other design publications; historic architectural details like Tiffany glass and oak parquet floors have stood the test of time to frame a thoroughly star-worthy home.
take the tour

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Upper East Side pre-war elegance in a compact co-op package asks $1.75M

Photo credit: Celeste Godoy for The Corcoran Group

May 29, 2024

Upper East Side pre-war elegance in a compact co-op package asks $1.75M

By Michelle Cohen

This one-bedroom co-op at 14 East 75th Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side embodies the elegance and drama of the neighborhood's sought-after pre-war residences. It may not be palatial in size, but glamorous details like a sunken living room, 14-foot ceilings, iron-framed casement windows, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves have all been scaled to fit within its compact frame. Asking $1,750,000, the home's interiors offer a sophisticated take on classic Gothic style. Open views across the neighborhood's townhouses and gardens–and the Carlyle Hotel–complete the picture of New York City living.
Step down into the living room

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Asking $2.5M, this unusual Brooklyn condo feels like an artist’s loft inside a rustic farmhouse

Photos courtesy of Gabriele Sewtz

May 23, 2024

Asking $2.5M, this unusual Brooklyn condo feels like an artist’s loft inside a rustic farmhouse

By Michelle Cohen

Asking $2,495,000, this creative Brooklyn home in Greenwood Heights offers the convenience of a condo and the space of a townhouse, with loft-like interiors that reflect the lifestyle of its current resident, an accomplished artist. This extraordinary residence at 248 17th Street spans four levels, with two levels of secluded private outdoor space and additional roof rights. The building–once an industrial warehouse–was converted into a seven-unit condo in 2002. It retains its frame of brick, timber, and concrete, and the unusual apartments within have a distinctly urban industrial feel.
get a closer look

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This $5M co-op at The Osborne has old-world glamour, Tiffany glass, and a bonus studio

Photo credit: REPN for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 22, 2024

This $5M co-op at The Osborne has old-world glamour, Tiffany glass, and a bonus studio

By Michelle Cohen

This beautifully preserved co-op in The Osborne at 205 West 57th Street is a prime example of Billionaires' Row the way it used to be. Gilded Age grandeur is present in architectural details like carved mahogany moldings, leaded-glass windows, and Tiffany glass transoms, and rooms are large and gracious, with plenty of built-in storage. Asking $4,950,000, the three-bedroom property has the unique option of an adjacent studio unit, perfect for office space, guest or staff quarters, or to add to the main space as an additional bedroom.
osborne elegance, this way

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Photo credit: Russ Ross Photography

May 21, 2024

Spend summer on the terrace of this $2.6M Brooklyn Heights co-op

By Michelle Cohen

This three-bedroom co-op on a historic Brooklyn Heights block at 167 Clinton Street has a townhouse vibe that reflects the 1800s building it occupies. The full-floor home, asking $2,595,000, offers a gracious layout and easy-on-the-eyes interiors. Though sunlight fills the rooms of the pretty corner flat, the best part may be its impressive outdoor space in the form of a landscaped terrace overlooking neighborhood greenery.
step outside on the terrace

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For $28.5M, own a designer’s Victorian Gothic mansion on 13 acres overlooking the Hudson River

Photo credit: Ian Nelson

May 17, 2024

For $28.5M, own a designer’s Victorian Gothic mansion on 13 acres overlooking the Hudson River

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the sought-after Snedens Landing community in Palisades, New York, this 13-acre estate at 23 Ludlow Lane is asking $28,500,000. While this is undeniably an astounding ask, the Rockland County property transcends the ordinary Hudson Valley spread. Consisting of three adjoining lots being sold together for the first time since it was created in 1874, the estate, known as Niederhurst, is anchored by a stunning home on a scenic bluff overlooking the Hudson River. The eight-bedroom house has a Victorian Gothic exterior with gable and hip roofs, six-panel shutters, and an intricate pattern of polychrome brickwork.
Tour this amazing hudson valley property

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