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.

Fire up your outdoor kitchen while looking out on the Hudson River in this $6M Bronx home

Photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker

November 9, 2023

Fire up your outdoor kitchen while looking out on the Hudson River in this $6M Bronx home

By Michelle Cohen

In the Bronx neighborhood of Spuyten Duyvil overlooking the Hudson River, this unusual mini-mansion at 3061 Scenic Place offers a chance to live the manor life without leaving New York City. Asking $5,990,000, this 5,872-square-foot recently-renovated Georgian Colonial home is a different kind of townhouse, breathtaking river views included. A full outdoor kitchen takes full advantage of the views, while a home movie theater keeps everyone entertained when the weather says, "stay indoors."
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Sally Jessy Raphael’s $6.5M upstate manor comes with 17 bedrooms and 30 hand-carved mythical creatures

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 8, 2023

Sally Jessy Raphael’s $6.5M upstate manor comes with 17 bedrooms and 30 hand-carved mythical creatures

By Michelle Cohen

Former tabloid talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael's 25.5-acre equestrian estate just hit the market for $6,500,000. Even without the fame connection, this fanciful and fabulous property is worthy of its own TV show. The property consists of a 43-room Elizabethan manor house, two caretaker homes, a carriage house with groom's quarters, a yoga studio, a 12,000-square-foot stable, a greenhouse, and more. Known as Elmwood Farm, the Pawling, NY, estate is the town's most expensive listing. The main house, built in 1860 is itself an architectural event, with 17 bedrooms, 10 fireplaces, and endless ornate and whimsical details.
meet the many details within

This $18.5M modern Village mansion has a hot tub on the roof and a private garage

Photo credit: Tim Waltman

November 7, 2023

This $18.5M modern Village mansion has a hot tub on the roof and a private garage

By Michelle Cohen

Living in Greenwich Village comes at a premium regardless of size, so the $18,500,000 ask for a 7,198-square-foot townhouse at 9 Minetta Street comes as no surprise. For that jumbo price tag, you get mansion-sized measurements and an over-the-top collection of perks rarely found in Manhattan real estate. The contemporary townhouse spans seven floors, with a garage below and an elevator accessing all levels. The new construction home is topped with a rooftop retreat with a hot tub, and there's a rear garden with a water wall.
hop in the elevator, take the tour

Distinctive Homes

SHOP THE LISTING: $3.5M Flatiron condo channels a dreamy Paris apartment with an upstairs atelier

Listing photos courtesy of Eytan Stern Weber of Evan Joseph

November 6, 2023

SHOP THE LISTING: $3.5M Flatiron condo channels a dreamy Paris apartment with an upstairs atelier

By Michelle Cohen

If you’ve dreamed of waking up in a Parisian flat and stepping out to the terrace for morning coffee and al fresco dining, this Flatiron condo at 10 East 22nd Street might be exactement ce que vous recherchez. Asking $3,495,000, this Manhattan penthouse is currently configured as a one-bedroom home, but a flexible floor plan has room for two additional bedrooms. A skylit atelier and verdant landscaped terraces make this two-story space a chic refuge from the New York City grind. 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.
shop the listing, this way

Shop

Live the Victorian seaside life in this $5.2M Cape May confection

Image courtesy of Jersey Cape Realty

November 6, 2023

Live the Victorian seaside life in this $5.2M Cape May confection

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the popular destination town of Cape May on the southernmost tip of the Jersey Shore, this colorful cottage at 24 Jackson Street is surrounded by Victorian-style homes. Built in 1905, this historic property, asking $5,200,000, is a charming example of the neighborhood's eclectic architecture. The restoration of this former bed and breakfast was a true labor of love for the home's current owner, who added a full menu of modern updates while maintaining the home's historic character.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

This $17M West Village townhouse is a glass-walled modern home behind a restored historic facade

Photo credit: © Travis Mark

November 2, 2023

This $17M West Village townhouse is a glass-walled modern home behind a restored historic facade

By Michelle Cohen

Many dream of a townhouse in the West Village, and this four-story home at 31 Grove Street, asking $16,995,000, is suitably dreamy. One of a pair of 1841 Greek Revival brick homes, its 19th-century facade has been completely restored to its historic beauty, while the home's interiors are a modern design lover's fantasy. A carefully considered 2018 renovation resulted in indoor and outdoor spaces that make the historic townhouse timeless. On four floors, the multi-family property configured as a single-family home currently offers four bedrooms (with plenty of flexibility for more), a landscaped back garden, a private roof deck and a full cellar.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Famed photographer William Wegman just listed his Chelsea townhouse/studio for $16.5M

Photo credit: Kenneth Chen of Evan Joseph Images for Douglas Elliman

November 1, 2023

Famed photographer William Wegman just listed his Chelsea townhouse/studio for $16.5M

By Michelle Cohen

American artist William Wegman, best known for his archly anthropomorphic portraits of Weimaraner dogs, is selling his Chelsea home at 245 West 18th Street. Built in 1915, the two-story, 45-foot-wide building formerly housed the Chelsea Day School; it has served as the artist's main studio as well as his family home for three decades. The live/work townhouse itself has a total of 5,834 square feet of interior space, along with a cellar. With 18,235 square feet of additional development rights, a curb cut and indoor parking, the property adds up to an unusual New York City opportunity.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

For the price of a two-bedroom condo, this $2.5M Kips Bay property is a townhouse with potential

Photo courtesy of Elegran | Forbes Global Properties

October 27, 2023

For the price of a two-bedroom condo, this $2.5M Kips Bay property is a townhouse with potential

By Michelle Cohen

Sometimes the best finds are hiding in plain sight. According to the listing, this unassuming building at 240 East 29th Street is the lowest-priced townhouse in Manhattan south of Central Park. It will require some effort to achieve peak townhouse status, but the best things in life often do. Asking $2.5 million, the Kips Bay property presents a wealth of investment opportunities, with lots of advantages from the start.
a diamond in the rough, this way

Distinctive Homes

Enjoy your own four-bedroom Versailles on the Upper East Side for $8M

Photo courtesy of Fox Residential

October 24, 2023

Enjoy your own four-bedroom Versailles on the Upper East Side for $8M

By Michelle Cohen

As if a Fifth Avenue address isn't elegant enough, this four-bedroom co-op at 910 Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side offers Gilded Age glamour in every detail along with Central Park vistas and a private terrace. At 4,200 square feet, this Manhattan home, asking $7,975,000, is townhouse-sized, with perks like a private elevator landing, service elevator, staff quarters, and much, much more.
step into the drawing room

This $8M Tribeca duplex means you don’t have to choose between downtown loft and doorman condo

Photo courtesy of Edward Menashy. All other photos courtesy of Evan Joseph.

October 23, 2023

This $8M Tribeca duplex means you don’t have to choose between downtown loft and doorman condo

By Michelle Cohen

If you've always dreamed of a massive loft in an old cast iron building in Tribeca, this 2,935-square-foot duplex at 143 Reade Street fits the bill, with ceilings of nearly 12 feet, massive windows, and hangar-sized open space for entertaining. But lofts can lack amenities and modern comforts. Asking $7,995,000, this 21st-century condo checks that box, too. Add panoramic city views from every room–with the added bonus of outdoor space in the form of one of the neighborhood's finest landscaped terraces.
loft with a view, this way

Distinctive Homes

Popular Articles

For $9M, this jumbo Nomad loft is a home, event space, office, and spa all in one

Photo credit: Richard Caplan

October 20, 2023

For $9M, this jumbo Nomad loft is a home, event space, office, and spa all in one

By Michelle Cohen

This 5,500-square-foot loft co-op spans the entire ninth floor of 38 West 26th Street in the super-buzzy Nomad neighborhood. With this much space, the five-bedroom home, asking $8,995,000, is mansion-sized, with enough rooms for the whole family–and their friends, guests, and pets. There's room for office spaces, media and family rooms, a sauna, and more, with the sprawling common areas loft lovers crave. A high floor and four exposures mean great light and iconic New York City views.
Large loft living, this way

Distinctive Homes

$9.4M four-family townhouse is an unspoiled West Village dream with a celebrity past

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 19, 2023

$9.4M four-family townhouse is an unspoiled West Village dream with a celebrity past

By Michelle Cohen

From the outside, this graceful limestone townhouse with a mansard roof at 70 Perry Street resembles a picture postcard of West Village life, on a leafy historic block that embodies the neighborhood's charm. Just down the street from Carrie Bradshaw's fictional "Sex and the City" address, the four-story, four-family property appeared as a backdrop in several films and was the actual home of celebrity chef and restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian and reporter Charles Grumich. Asking $9,400,000, the townhouse is comprised of a duplex with a dreamy back garden and three floor-through apartments. Unlike some historic multi-family homes, its original details and materials have been beautifully preserved.
take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Annie Leibovitz lists her Central Park West home for $8.6M

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

October 17, 2023

Annie Leibovitz lists her Central Park West home for $8.6M

By Michelle Cohen

Celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz has listed her home in the Brentmore co-op at 88 Central Park West for $8.6 million. As 6sqft previously reported, Leibovitz purchased the "classic-seven" co-op in 2014 for $11.25 million in a building known for celebrity residents like Robert DeNiro, Paul Simon, and Sting. Leibovitz, whose iconic images feature luminaries from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to Mick Jagger and Demi Moore, thoroughly renovated the Upper West Side co-op, her Manhattan home base in the ensuing years. As the New York Times reports, she also owns a home in the West Village as well as a family home in Rhinebeck, NY.
Get a closer look

Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza to close after seven-year run

Photos courtesy of Bronx Night Market

October 16, 2023

Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza to close after seven-year run

By Michelle Cohen

October 28 will be the last day you'll be able to sample the food, crafts, and other local wares at the Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza. The borough's beloved foodie fest is closing down for good after a farewell fling. After seven years, the team behind the ground-breaking seasonal event has made the tough decision to close after safety concerns rose and sponsorships fell short.
find out more

This three-story modern townhouse with a yard in Fort Greene asks $2.75M

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

October 13, 2023

This three-story modern townhouse with a yard in Fort Greene asks $2.75M

By Michelle Cohen

As part of the Navy Green development in the northern part of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, in the Navy Yard and Wallabout neighborhoods, this single-family townhouse belongs to a unique community. The LEED-certified development is made up of townhouses and condos, with a 30,000-square-foot park at its center. The home at 19 Clermont Avenue, asking $2,750,000, offers four floors (finished basement included) of modern-design living space and contemporary comforts.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Dine and dance on the private rooftop of this $6.4M Flatiron penthouse loft

Photo credit: MW Studios for Sotheby’s International Realty

October 12, 2023

Dine and dance on the private rooftop of this $6.4M Flatiron penthouse loft

By Michelle Cohen

Situated between Broadway and Fifth Avenue in one of Manhattan's most vibrant neighborhoods, the home atop 22 East 18th Street in Flatiron offers 3,300 square feet of freshly renovated loft living with three bedrooms, 11-foot ceilings, and massive skylights. The best part of this stunning co-op apartment, asking $6,350,000, may just be the 1,800-square-foot private roof deck, complete with a wet bar, built-in lighting, and irrigation–and panoramic views of the surrounding city.
take the elevator to the rooftop

Distinctive Homes

Behind a historic facade, this $14M Upper West Side mansion is all about the 21st-century amenities

Photo credit: DDreps

October 11, 2023

Behind a historic facade, this $14M Upper West Side mansion is all about the 21st-century amenities

By Michelle Cohen

In the heart of the Upper West Side among the coveted neighborhood's historic townhomes and steps from Central Park, this newly-renovated mansion at 137 West 77th Street packs just about every modern perk into four stories (plus a rooftop terrace). Asking $13,995,000, the 7,000-square-foot 1890s home is semi-detached, with three exposures and fronted by a restored facade. Within, every convenience and comfort is present in the context of aesthetic perfection, from the private elevator, sauna, and spa to a full menu of home automation tools.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Your guide to the West Village: New York City’s downtown heart of cultural history

Southward view of Gay Street via Wiki Commons

October 10, 2023

Your guide to the West Village: New York City’s downtown heart of cultural history

By Michelle Cohen

It may seem challenging to navigate the winding, narrow streets in one of the few Manhattan neighborhoods not arranged on a sensible grid. Fortunately, it’s also hard to make a wrong turn no matter where you end up in the West Village. And there’s so much to see and do in this iconic and charming neighborhood, that you may find it even harder to leave.
discover the west village, old and new

For $2.5M, this compact Harlem carriage house has a backyard, garage, and room to expand

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 4, 2023

For $2.5M, this compact Harlem carriage house has a backyard, garage, and room to expand

By Michelle Cohen

Located on the bustling west side of Harlem near Columbia University and just a few blocks from Central Park, this two-story brick carriage house at 158 West 118th Street represents an opportunity for Manhattan living with perks like a garage, a leafy backyard, and room to grow. With 2,905 interior square feet, the 18-foot-wide home may not be a mansion, but it's a two-family property with over 6,000 square feet of unused Floor Area Ratio (FAR), adding flexibility to its value at $2,495,000. Historic details, a detached garage, and lots of outdoor space make this unique dwelling more than a condo alternative.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

MoMA curator lists chic Gramercy pre-war co-op for $1.7M

Photo credit: VHT for The Corcoran Group

October 3, 2023

MoMA curator lists chic Gramercy pre-war co-op for $1.7M

By Michelle Cohen

Stylish and bright, this two-bedroom corner co-op at 242 East 19th Street offers both a prime Manhattan location and a creative pedigree. Asking $1,700,000, the two-bedroom Gramercy apartment has been home to Martino Stierli, Chief Curator of Architecture and Design for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), for over six years.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

This $8.75M mansion designed by Robert A.M. Stern is the most expensive listing in the Bronx

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

September 29, 2023

This $8.75M mansion designed by Robert A.M. Stern is the most expensive listing in the Bronx

By Michelle Cohen

This 11,135-square-foot four-story home at 421 West 250th Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx has the distinction of being the borough's record-holding big-ticket residential listing, according to Mansion Global. Designed by prolific New York City firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects in 2005, the gingerbread-esque mansion sits on just over a half-acre in the private Villanova Heights subdivision. A pitched roof with a trio of whimsical dormers and delphinium blue window shutters provide a rustic air to its architectural simplicity. Within, an elevator makes travel between living, sleeping, and recreation floors convenient to all residents. Previously, the borough's highest-price listing was a $7 million neo-Georgian brick home in Fieldston.
Riverdale townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

$3.75M Prospect Heights townhouse has laid-back charm, three big apartments, and extra-long backyard

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

September 28, 2023

$3.75M Prospect Heights townhouse has laid-back charm, three big apartments, and extra-long backyard

By Michelle Cohen

The feature that will undoubtedly impress visitors the most about this four-story brownstone at 307 Park Place in pretty Prospect Heights is its seemingly endless backyard. It's one of a fortunate handful of homes in the neighborhood to be blessed with a 131-foot lot. Within, the three-family 1910 townhouse may come up short on original architectural details, but there's still plenty of warmth and charm within its brick-accented walls. Asking $3,750,000, the property offers flexibility in the form of three large apartments that can be combined–or left as-is to maximize rental income.
tour every level

Distinctive Homes

The Refinery at Domino unveils office space and grand glass atrium at historic Williamsburg sugar factory

Photos by Max Touhey

September 27, 2023

The Refinery at Domino unveils office space and grand glass atrium at historic Williamsburg sugar factory

By Michelle Cohen

The Refinery at Domino, a 460,000-square-foot all-electric office building, is now open at the former Domino Sugar Factory plant on the Williamsburg, Brooklyn waterfront. As the latest addition by Domino Park developer Two Trees Management, the new adaptive reuse project saw the conversion of the former 19th-century factory site of what was once the largest sugar producer in the world into a net zero carbon office space. The Refinery is the newest building to open in the 11-acre, mixed-use development north of the Williamsburg Bridge.
Find out more

New Developments

This $2.8M Upper West Side co-op was designed to be a timeless home

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 26, 2023

This $2.8M Upper West Side co-op was designed to be a timeless home

By Michelle Cohen

On a classic Upper West Side block surrounded by historic townhouses and pre-war apartment buildings, this gracious eight-room co-op at 801 West End Avenue has plenty of living space and Riverside Park for a backyard. Asking $2,795,000, this family-sized home is configured for flexibility, with four bedrooms and room for more. Edwardian-era architectural details and renovated interiors add up to timeless style.
Home on the upper west side, this way

Distinctive Homes

$2.6M Cobble Hill condo is on three flexible floors of a converted 19th-century church

Photo credit: DDREPs for The Corcoran Group

September 21, 2023

$2.6M Cobble Hill condo is on three flexible floors of a converted 19th-century church

By Michelle Cohen

This unique Cobble Hill home will instantly get the attention of history buffs. Built within a converted Romanesque Revival church constructed in the 1880s, this three-bedroom home at The Landmark at 58 Strong Place was designed by top local architecture firm Baxt Ingui Architects. Asking $2,600,000, the 1,855-square-foot triplex takes full advantage of the building's unusual layout, creating loft-like spaces for privacy and ease of living.
interior blessings, this way

Distinctive Homes

7
8
9
10
11