6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

The polished, Italianate rowhouse at 354 10th Street in Park Slope sold for $2.3 million, according to city records filed yesterday evening. The listing was held by Corcoran Group. Built in 1899, the two-family home has a modest façade with carved window lintels and an intact cornice. One in a row of three similar houses, it's basement level is brownstone and the upper two stories are brick. Inside, the refined details continue with decorative picture moldings and original tin ceilings.
rowhouse eye candy this way

Real Estate Trends

May 7, 2014

Will Brooklyn Be Home to a New Ace Hotel?

Considering GFI Capital Resources' recent acquisition of several Bond Street parcels at the corner of Schermerhorn Street, downtown Brooklyn continues to be ripe for development in the vicinity of the Barclays Center. According to sources close to the deal, hotel developer Allen Gross, president and CEO of GFI, may be looking to bring Ace Hotel’s unique brand of lodging to the location, joining a growing list of hotels already planned for the area.
Read on for possible plans for the site

Events & Things To Do

May 7, 2014

Artist’s Dream Space on Water Street Sells for $1.8 Million

If breathtaking views are the best muse then someone just landed the perfect pad. Noted photojournalist James Nachtwey has just sold his beautiful loft at 265 Water Street for $1.8 million dollars. Now the new owner can sit at her breakfast table and gaze placidly at the Brooklyn Bridge. Sounds like heaven, right? The 1,650 square-foot loft, resting atop a historic 19th century landmark building, is situated on one of New York’s charming cobblestone streets in the Financial District. This full floor penthouse suite is the perfect artist’s hideaway, with Artisan woodwork throughout, a wood beamed ceiling and a private studio — or second bedroom if she prefers.
Take a glimpse into this charming penthouse loft here

May 6, 2014

Geek Out with Fabio Novembre’s Cyborg-Shaped ROBOX Shelf

By Patty Lee

Geek culture has steadily been on the rise, with television shows like The Big Bang Theory and high-profile remakes of Star Trek stealing the pop culture limelight. Now, sci-fi lovers can deck out their homes with the ROBOX, a cyborg-shaped shelf designed by Fabio Novembre.
Read more on the design here

May 6, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: DiCaprio’s Vitamin C Showers; Most Expensive US Homes

DiCaprio’s New Pad Has Vitamin C Showers: The “Wolf of Wall Street” actor just purchased a $10 million pad in a green building with purified air and water, posture-supportive floors and other features that will make your head spin. Major Bathroom Makeover: This bathroom’s transformation from terrifying to terrific is worth checking out. Is the Pierhouse […]

Uncategorized

May 6, 2014

Ultra Hip Tribeca Loft at 137 Duane Street Sells for $2 Million

According to public records, unit 2D at 137 Duane Street in Tribeca was recently sold by photographer Sebastiano Tomada for $1,995,000 via Douglas Elliman. Located in the Tribeca South Historic District, the spacious apartment has a long, narrow floor plan, perfect for open-layout lovers or someone looking for a live/work space. 14-foot ceilings, natural oak floors, and entryways on both Duane and Thomas Streets are just a few of the other selling points. Is it worth its price tag? Find out more about the space ahead, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
photos and design details this way

Real Estate Trends

May 6, 2014

Sales Officially Open at Ralph Walker’s Stella Tower – Will It be the ‘Star’ of Hell’s Kitchen?

Whether a reference to the Latin word meaning “star” or the lesser-known rare gold coin of the late 19th century, Stella Tower is aptly named. JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Starwood Capital Group (the trio behind Chelsea’s Walker Tower) officially opened sales at Ralph Walker’s iconic Art Deco building, although a few sales have already moved forward quietly over the last few weeks.
See what all the fuss is about

May 6, 2014

UES Penthouse with East River Views in Every Room Sells for $14.9 Million to Former Presidential Hopeful

Who knew bloggers could afford $14.9 million apartments? David Alan Stockman, of David Stockman's Contra Corner (and other things discussed after the break), and his wife Jennifer, an art collector and the current president of the Guggenheim Foundation’s board of trustees, have just purchased a 5BR/6.5BA penthouse at 170 East End Avenue through brokers Andrea Wohl Lucas and Bruce Lucas of Corcoran. Though the building itself isn't much to look at, this 4,902-square-foot penthouse makes up for its stark, stacked exterior with a well-thought-out floor plan designed to make the most of the location's natural light and sweeping views of the East River, neighboring Carl Schurz Park, and the cityscape.
Have a look inside

Distinctive Homes

A world traveler's Catskills haven is now a $2M mountaintop home

Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi lists Chelsea condo for $5.9M

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

This $3.75M Lefferts Manor townhouse has well-preserved historic details and every modern luxury

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

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

For $3M, this two-family Crown Heights townhouse fills every available inch of space with great style

Watch the seasons of Central Park change from this $3.4M top-floor Upper West Side co-op

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

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

VIEW ALL

May 6, 2014

Gorgeous Pre-War Upper East Side Apartment Sold

Apartment 7C, a palatial apartment at 911 Park Avenue has been sold. Marsh CEO Peter Zaffino purchased the astounding pre-war pad for $6.75 million. This Upper East Side beauty, represented by brokers Debra LaChance and Denise LaChance, has 10 rooms, with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and marble floors and hardwoods throughout. The high-rise also features a private landing, a library and a great room with a wood-burning fireplace for those cozy nights by the fire. It also contains an enviably large eat-in kitchen and the increasingly elusive formal dining room. The library features wall-to-wall built-ins and the entire apartment boasts coffered ceilings.
Take a look inside this astonishing apartment here

Real Estate Trends

May 6, 2014

Unique East Village Apartment with Retractable Facade Sells for $2.4 Million

Oh, architects and their creativity. One such inventive architect Bill Peterson had a flash of “ahead of our time” genius when he decided to convert the front wall of his East Village apartment into a garage-style retractable facade after purchasing the pad in 2008. We suppose some people actually have too much privacy in New York City and would prefer to connect with the outside world (and terrify people with acrophobia simultaneously?).
Check out the inside of this unique beauty here

May 6, 2014

The Beresford: Old World Charm Meets Modern Day Living in Apartment #2G

What do comedian Jerry Seinfeld, singer Diana Ross, tennis player John McEnroe, actor Tony Randall and publisher Helen Gurley Brown have in common? They have all called 211 Central Park West — better known as The Beresford — home. But The Beresford’s claim to fame isn’t its host of famous residents but rather its three majestic towers, whose design limits the number of apartments on each floor to only two or three. Opened in 1929, architect Emery Roth’s spectacular residential fortress boasts spacious rooms, soaring ceilings, a charming interior courtyard containing a fountain and a garden, and incredible views of Central Park.
Take a sneak peek inside Apartment 2G, listed at $10 Million

Distinctive Homes

May 5, 2014

Brilliant Space-saving Sada Bike Folds Up Into Size of an Umbrella

By Patty Lee

An Italian designer may have invented the ultimate commuter bicycle. The Sada Bike — named after its creator Gianluca Sada — folds up to the size of an umbrella, making it easy to stow away in a backpack.
See the clever bike in action

May 5, 2014

Links We Love: Happy Birthday to the World’s Oldest Man; Is Graffiti the New Must-Have for Luxury Buildings?

Remembering Architect Frederic Schwartz: The Observer remembers the designer of many 9/11 memorials after he lost his battle to cancer this past week. The New Must-Have For Luxury Buildings: Graffiti: The New Yorker questions this new trend. Real estate apps may lead to segregation: Teke Wiggin asks whether increased knowledge of neighborhood demographics will encourage segregation. Google […]

Uncategorized

May 5, 2014

Irony in Carroll Gardens (Alanis Morissette Style)

By Andrew Cotto

David Foster Wallace is credited with predicting way back in the mid-90s that excessive irony would lead to the ruin of our culture. Around that same time, Alanis Morissette had her own far less erudite and flawed take on irony, which went a little something like this: “It’s like rain on your wedding day A free ride when you already paid Some good advice that you just didn’t take...” With all due respect to the prescience of DFW, life for me — at least these days in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens — far more resembles Alanis Morissette’s screwy version of irony. 6sqft’s Andrew Cotto — an author of two novels and a journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Men’s Journal, and Salon.com — will be sharing his experiences as he makes his way around New York City. This week, he describes life in Carroll Gardens.
Carroll Gardens. Isn't it Ironic?

City Living

May 5, 2014

35XV: Chelsea’s New High-Tech Condo Tower by FXFOWLE Nears Completion

By Carter B. Horsley

East Chelsea's stunning new landmark, the 35XV, is almost complete! We recently stopped by the site to survey the work that's been done over the past few months, and by the looks of things, 35 West 15th Street is just waiting for an outer-skin for its podium. Given the rapid progress that's been made so far, we think it's safe to say that we'll be seeing the transformation very soon.
More photos of the progress that's been made

May 5, 2014

This Gorgeous Apartment at the Mandarin Oriental Gives New Meaning to “Movin’ On Up”

Wouldn't it be nice to live on top of the world? Well, somebody is in luck because a spacious 3BR/3BA apartment just opened up at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental. This luxurious Columbus Circle pad rests on the 71st floor, with gigantic windows that overlook Central Park, as well as both the East River and the Hudson. The 3,168-square-foot apartment has ebonized oak floors and black granite accents. It also features a large eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a sub-zero refrigerator, and a wine cave. Whoever purchases this impressive, recently renovated home will not only have bragging rights, but access to all of the amenities of the Mandarin Hotel. So yeah, this person will basically be living in a hotel. Jealous yet?
See photos of the lavish pad here

Distinctive Homes

May 5, 2014

Out-of-This-World Hotel Set for Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg

For some longtime Williamsburg residents, the neighborhood already exhibits twilight-zone-like traits—the massive gentrification, glass waterfront towers, and skyrocketing rents—but the new Level Hotel planned for 55 Wythe Avenue is a literal translation of these possible feelings with its space-ship-looking design.
More photos this way

Archilier Architecture’s “Chinese Lantern” Inspired Design to Light Up 470 Eleventh Avenue

Rising 720 feet tall from the corner of 11th Avenue and 38th Street, Archilier Architecture's new, unconventional mixed-use tower from developer Black House will bring 51 luxury apartments and 419 hotel rooms across the street from the newly-renovated Jacob K. Javits Center. While the ultra high-end skyscraper is one of many new construction projects in the city, it promises to be unlike anything we’ve seen before on the streets of Manhattan.
-See more of Archilier's beautiful design

Architecture And Design

May 5, 2014

Your Art and Design Events Agenda, Week of May 5, 2014

By Lori Zimmer

Looking for something to do in this great city now that the weather has warmed up? We've rounded up some of this week's best art, design and architecture events to kick off the month of May. Get your art fix in Times Square for Midnight Moment or head to Randalls Island for the third rendition of Frieze Art Fair, browse the latest in cutting edge design at Collective Design Fair, explore Jersey City with Mana Contemporary's massive open house or get outside and check out the latest installation at Socrates Sculpture Park. It's going to be a great week!
All the best events here

May 5, 2014

Reed Krakoff Pays $28 Million for an Opulent UES Townhome

It’s a great market for townhomes. 54 East 64th Street has been sold to designer Reed Krakoff and his wife Delphine for $28 million. This news is especially remarkable considering the townhouse’s history. Formerly a Kips Bay Decorator Show House and a one-time home of the New York Observer, this Upper East Side gem was transformed into a luxurious home when it was purchased by real estate investor David Quinlan for $18.74 million back in 2005. After failing to turn the hefty profit he was hoping for, Quinlan sold the townhouse for $20 million in 2011. Last year it was placed back on the market for $20 million; however, broker Dolly Lenz changed that, upping the asking price to $28 million. They don’t call her a superbroker for nothing.
Check out more photos of the townhouse here

Real Estate Trends

May 5, 2014

Wake Up to Stunning 180 Degree Views of the City That Never Sleeps

One look and you may never want to leave this exquisite sun-drenched and spacious home, part of The Residences, a gorgeous new Gwathmey Siegel designed masterpiece developed by Bizzi & Partners. Sitting 60 stories above one of the most desired streets in Manhattan, this 2BR/2.5 bath residence at 400 Fifth Avenue bestows breathtaking panoramic views from just about every room. Every detail, from the hardwood black oak flooring throughout to the ample closet space, ensures no matter where you are in this gracious home, life is better simply by being there. In fact, the residences at 500 Fifth are so beautiful the building even has its own coffee table book, 500 Fifth Avenue: A New Gwathmey Siegel Landmark, coming out this fall!
Take a peek inside this gorgeous residence

May 2, 2014

Coming Soon Summer 2015: The Beekman Hotel

After years of failed attempts by developers, GFI Capital Resources Group is accomplishing what some thought was impossible: They are converting 5 Beekman Street – along with its empty next-door neighbor 115 Nassau Street – into a hotel and condo. The landmark building was one of New York’s original skyscrapers, once towering nine stories. Its distinctive architecture boasts the famous Temple Court, an interior atrium punctuated by a skylight in the shape of a pyramid. It is surrounding this very feature that 287 hotel rooms will be constructed.
Read on for more details here

May 2, 2014

Amoeba-Shaped Transportation Hub Proposed for Queens

Amoeba, organ, extraterrestrial creature — take your pick; this transportation hub dubbed the Urban Alloy Towers is quite interestingly shaped. The creation of Chad Kellogg and Matt Bowles of AMLGM, the structure is proposed for the area around where the LIRR station in Woodside, Queens links to the 7 train. The idea came from the notion that large-scale housing development is most successful when located near transportation. So, Kellog and Bowles figured they'd put their development "directly on the intersections between surface and elevated train lines," utilizing the remnant spaces surrounding the train infrastructure. Included in this multi-use structure would be live/work spaces, retail, small offices, both market-rate and luxury residential units, SROs, and a central atrium.
Read more about the design here

May 2, 2014

Director Ken Burns Scoops Up a Condo in Richard Meier’s Prospect Heights Tower

It looks like documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is moving his family into Pritzker Prize winning architect Richard Meier’s On Prospect Park. The Burns family dropped $2.75 million on the home, which is located in one of Brooklyn's most beautiful (and active) corners — just steps away from Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and the incredible Brooklyn Museum and Public Library. It's reported that the Mamma and Papa Burns spend most their time in New Hampshire, so it's likely that the 2,107-square-foot, 3BR/2.5BA modern abode will become the love nest of his daughter Lily (who was also listed on city records) and her fiance Tony Hernandez, both of whom are producers.
A look inside the on prospect park apartment here

May 2, 2014

Al Franken Sells His UWS Co-op for Just Over $4 Million

By Jon Dioffa

US senator Alan Stuart "Al" Franken, and his wife Franni, have just sold their 2,600-square-foot co-op at 90 Riverside Drive for $4.05 million. According to the listing held by Warburg Realty, the home features four bedrooms, hardwood floors, three dishwashers, and sunny southern exposures in a turn-of-the-century landmarked town home. From pictures, it looks quite quaint and charming, despite its multi-million dollar locale. City records show that the politico and former SNL star handed the keys to his UWS digs over to James Stone, a managing director at New Mountain Finance, and Lisa Kiell, international director at Jones Lang La Salle.
Peek inside the former Franken pad here

Real Estate Trends

May 2, 2014

Fashion Designer Derek Lam’s Soho Loft Sells for $5.25 Million

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

After a long stint on the market, designer Derek Lam and his partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann are officially parting ways with their Soho loft. The pair put the two-story, 2,117 square-foot space on the market for $6 million last year, and they came in just a little short of their ask. The loft comes complete with a second story devoted entirely to the master suite, huge windows, and translucent panels that allow the home's inhabitants to reconfigure the kitchen and living room spaces as need be. They purchased the 3 BR/3 BA Mercer Greene apartment back in 2011 for $4.65 million. Another fun fact: Rihanna also once lived in the building.
Take a look inside the loft here

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May 1, 2014

NYC Condos Designed by Pritzker Prize Winners

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is architecture’s most acclaimed honor. Since 1979, the award has been given away annually to honor one living architect whose built work demonstrates consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment. New York City is home to structures built by 12 of the 36 past winners — ranging from Philip Johnson to I.M. Pei to this year's winner, Shigeru Ban — and currently holds 14 residential examples of their work. One other fascinating tidbit is that condos designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects are selling on average a whopping 44% higher (price/square foot) than those their respective neighborhoods, and 47.5% higher than the Manhattan market average. But are they worth the money? Learn more about them all ahead.
Are these Pritzker Laureate-designed condos worth their markup?

Architecture And Design

April 30, 2014

Modern Dance Legend Joan Miller’s Soho Loft Studio Sells for $1.5 Million

The late modern dance choreographer Joan Miller's Soho loft was just purchased for $1.5 million by film director Chiara Clemente and her partner Tyler John Thompson. The spacious, sun-filled loft is situated in a boutique, prewar, six-story co-op at the corner of Crosby and Grand Streets. The hip locale perfectly suits Clemente and Thompson's M.O. — the duo have been featured in all the coolest mags and sites, from Purple to W magazine to Opening Ceremony. Clemente has even worked with legendary photographer Bruce Weber.
Take a peek inside this stunning studio

Real Estate Trends

April 30, 2014

White Glove Park Avenue Co-op Sells for $6.5 Million

By Jon Dioffa

Vestar Capital founder and co-president Robert Rosner and his interior designer wife have snapped up a 14th floor condo at 1095 Park Avenue. The couple was previously in the former Stanhope Hotel, a 1926 Rosario Candela jewel box at 995 Fifth Avenue opposite the Metropolitan Museum of Art, that was converted into luxury condos. Their new abode features the same modern, streamlined aesthetic of their previous space — a style which Mrs. Rosner has once described as “a chic and sleek downtown sensibility in an iconic uptown setting.” Do you agree?
Get a closer look inside here

Real Estate Trends

April 30, 2014

Tishman-Speyer Pays $438 Million for Multiple Hudson Yards Parcels

Manhattan-based owner/developer Sherwood Equities has sold multiple Hudson Yards parcels to Tishman-Speyer for $200 million, reports Jeffrey Katz, Sherwood president, in a press release today. The sites are situated at the southeast corner of West 34th Street and Hudson Yards Boulevard, and at West 35th Street and Tenth Avenue, and neighbors another parcel purchased by […]

Real Estate Trends

April 29, 2014

Stunning 19th Century Washington Heights Townhouse Sells for $2.2 Million

Society pianist Peter Mintun, has just sold his stunning Washington Heights townhouse to Columbia Artists Music mogul Jean-Jacques Cesbron and his wife, for $2.2 million. The beautiful four-story, 5BR/3BA home was designed by Henri Fouchaux and constructed in 1896. Located at 436 West 162 Street in the Jumel Terrace Historic District, it is considered one of the best preserved buildings of its type. Original wood and details like speaking tubes, skylights, pocket doors, a working dumb waiter, and seven tiled fireplaces are just some of the incredible features that can be found within. The home has even appeared in the scenes of several movies and documentaries, and is often highlighted on neighborhood tours.
See more photos of the interior

April 29, 2014

Park Avenue Historic District Approved with Major Modifications, Extell’s New Tower May Soon Rise as a Result

By Carter B. Horsley

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has just approved the creation of the Park Avenue Historic District, but with major modifications that could mean big changes for the neighborhood. The boundaries of the district were proposed to run from 79th to 96th Street, but the final version passed today excludes the blocks north of 94th Street, which encompasses the Morris Ketchum Jr.-designed Hunter College School as well as The Loyola Grammar School at 48 East 84th Street. More importantly, today's ruling would appear to give Extell Development the green light to replace a Park Avenue church rectory with a condominium tower.
Park Ave will soon be afoot with change

April 29, 2014

Christian de Portzamparc Unveils New Renderings of Riverside Center

Famed French architect, and Pritzker Prize winner, Christian de Portzamparc is causing quite a stir. Take a glance at his website and you’ll be met with a rendering of the new Riverside Center that would inspire hope in the most pessimistic NIMBY. After a disappointing official rendering of the first building cast some serious doubt on the fate of the much-anticipated development, de Portzamparc has unveiled a new vision, and fingers are crossed that it will be realized.
More on de Portzamparc's design here

April 29, 2014

Anon Pairot’s Stunning Zatellite Lamp is Handwoven with Steel

No, that's not a typo, though this futuristic lamp does have a satellite-like design form. A creation of the Anon Pairot Design Studio, it is constructed using spot welding and hundreds of woven 0.5 millimeter steel rods. The copper-colored, geometric orb is one of many Anon Pairot designs that feature a pattern reminiscent of traditional Thai textiles.
More about the design here

April 29, 2014

Explore the Homes of Brooklyn’s Most Interesting Residents on This Year’s Fort Greene House Tour

Fort Greene is easily one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of Brooklyn. With tree-lined streets and plenty of historic homes and churches throughout, just strolling its blocks will usually send you into a state of architectural splendor. This weekend is your chance to take a look inside these incredible spaces. Sponsored by the Fort Greene Association, this ambitious self-guided walking tour offers unique insights into the neighborhood's thriving new cultural district, as well as its coveted homes. See an assortment of townhouses and private residences, including a quirky brownstone featured in an episode of HBO’s hit series Girls!
Find out where to get tickets here

Events & Things To Do

April 29, 2014

Demolition Begins at 43 East 22nd to Make Way for Bruce Eichner’s New Supertall Condo

By Ondel Hylton

A new 80-unit condominium tower at 45 East 22nd street will bring the distance between New York’s two preeminent skylines a bit closer. Ian Bruce Eichner’s, Continuum Company has plans to build the loftiest skyscraper between the Empire State Building (1,250 feet) in Midtown and the Woolworth Building (792 feet) in the Financial District. The project designed by the high-rise pros of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, stretches skyward 60 floors — a whopping 778 feet from an unassuming 50-foot wide lot currently occupied by two row-homes. We recently stopped by the site to see how things are coming along, and it looks like demolition has just started. Check out our survey and snaps of the project ahead.
More photos and renderings here

Architecture And Design

April 28, 2014

Hilarious Infographic of Manhattan Stereotypes is Spot-On

Every NYC neighborhood has its archetype, and this infographic by Apartment List perfectly depicts every Manhattan nabe to a tee. While you'll of course find the obvious characterizations like the Goldman Sachs associate who galavants around the Upper East Side, hilarious insights like what Chelsea residents do for fun ("People watching at the High Line, eating a popsicle") will give you a giggle. The infographic also provides useful info like the average cost of one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as how much cash you can save by sharing — all in terms any New Yorker can understand (ex. in Tribeca you can pocket $1,548/month; a.k.a. 19 pairs of Lullemon pants). And though Apartment List's creation just depicts Manhattan 'hoods right now, given the easy target that lies just across the East River, we're keeping our eyes peeled for their take on Brooklyn.
Check out the full-size version here

Where I Work

April 28, 2014

George Stephanopoulos Snags Another Apartment in His Lennox Hill Co-op for $2.2 Million

According to property records filed with the city in Friday, it appears that George Stephanopoulos is moving on up in his 30 East 72nd Street co-op! The Good Morning America co-anchor and his comedian wife, Alexandra “Ali” Wentworth, purchased a sizeable 2BR/2BA apartment located on the 10th floor of their current building for $2.2 million. The pair already own a 3,300-square-foot, ninth-floor apartment at the same property, purchased for $6.5 million in 2010. Word is that the couple will merge the two apartments into one luxurious home.
More on the deal here

April 25, 2014

Eyeing the Drake: The Macklowe Construction Brings a “Patriotic” Burst of Color to Park Ave

By Carter B. Horsley

One of the city’s noblest professions is “sidewalk superintendent.” These intrepid pedestrians love to peer through holes in the wall to watch large equipment playing the construction game. The more sophisticated of these curiosity-seekers also look for holes in the city’s facades to glimpse the progress of larger-than-normal, future skyline stars. You can imagine the astonishment, therefore, when I noticed, a couple of days ago, that 432 Park Avenue had adopted a “patriotic” stance, and that its fenestration grid now is highlighted, from top down, in red, blue and white, the colors of the American flag, and also the French flag — a stark divergence from the pristine, streamlined design set out by the building's architect, Rafael Vinoly.
For sidewalk superintendents, the former Drake is startlingly colorful

April 25, 2014

Everyday Foods Re-Branded as Luxury Products by Tiffany, Gucci and More

By Jon Dioffa

If Gucci was to start canning pickles, would that make eating them more appetizing? A new series by artist Paddy Mergui is re-imagining everyday foods as luxury products. The collection, titled "Wheat is Wheat is Wheat", wraps over a dozen common foods in designer patterns and well-recognized packagings, playing on our susceptibility to big names and brand recognition. "[Design is] so under the radar that people think it's nice and that it's giving them self esteem," Mergui tells The Verge. "Actually, be aware that you're being manipulated by the visual aspects of packaging." From Apple's iMilk to Burberry ramen to Cartier coffee to a dozen Versace eggs, see all the products ahead.
More Images of the re-branded food ahead

April 25, 2014

Combine Work Time and Playtime with CATable

By Katrina Otuonye

Cats are fickle. They need attention only when they want it, and that’s usually when you’re working. Hao Ruan of LYCS Architecture has an answer for those moments when your cat leaps onto your computer while you’re working and one little paw happens to stomp on the ‘Delete’ button. Hand carved for a seamless touch, the CATable allows for fun and play for both you and Kitty. As your cat meanders through the maze-like tunnels and crannies in the desk, you can work happily on the tabletop.
More details on the design here

April 24, 2014

Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy Scoop Up Painter David Deutsch’s Turtle Bay Townhome for $13.5 Million

After nearly nine months on the market, painter David Deutsch's Turtle Bay Gardens townhouse has been sold. Property records filed today show that Mary-Kate Olsen and her beau, Olivier Sarkozy, are the lucky buyers to scoop up Deutsch's beauty, paying $13.5 million for the home located at 226-228 East 49th Street. Deutsch's offer came in $3 million short of his $16.5 million ask, but it's worth mentioning that he bought the townhouse for just $2.45 million in 1997.
See more photos here

April 24, 2014

Wall Street Bigwig Purchases Park Ave Co-op for $22 Million

Society couple Pamela Farkas and Andrew Paul have finally found a buyer for their co-op at 820 Park Avenue. The duo placed their property on the market last September, and it looks like Wall Street exec Matthew Cherwin, who was recently named co-head of JPMorgan’s Global Credit, Securitized Products and Public Finance, and his wife, Wendy Cherwin, handed over $22 million for the digs. The interiors of the duplex are definitively Upper East Side, and the residence boasts five bedrooms and 180-feet of Park Avenue frontage.
A look Inside the luxury home here

April 24, 2014

Artist Kara Walker’s Provocative New Exhibit Will Allow You to Tour the Domino Sugar Factory

Prolific artist, and Banksy-homage payee, Kara Walker will be kicking off her new show at the Domino Sugar refinery on Saturday, May 10th. Walker, who is best known for creating room-size tableaux of black cut-paper silhouettes that explore everything from race, gender, sexuality, and violence, will take over the 90,000-square-foot space for what’s to be her first large-scale public installation. […]

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April 24, 2014

Bruce Eichner’s New 777-Foot Supertall Tower Will Dwarf the Flatiron

New York YIMBY has given us our first look of developer Bruce Eichner‘s tower planned for 41 East 22nd Street. The 777-foot skyscraper, designed by Kohn Pederson Fox and Goldstein Hill & West, will boast 60 stories hosting 81 residential units. Though the easiest way to characterize the new development is crazy tall (it’s set to trump […]

April 23, 2014

Get Cozy With These Compact Luxury NYC Hotel Rooms

By Jason Carpenter

In New York, time is money, and so is square footage. As a result, hotel rooms are some of the most expensive in the country, out of the reach of many. But a number of NYC hotels have begun to pack luxury design into tiny quarters, lowering the cost and making for some beautiful rooms. At the forefront of this small space sensation? The YOTEL, located right in the heart of NYC, and hip kids' haven, The Jane.
See more interior photos here

April 22, 2014

383 West Broadway Penthouse Sale Almost Breaks Real Estate Record

The Soho penthouse of artist Charles Ross closed for $25.58 million, falling just short of breaking the record for most expensive sale of a downtown co-op (the current record holder is 141 Prince Street's penthouse, which sold for $27.5 million in April 2011). Located in a former cast-iron manufacturing building, the space originally went on the market in November 2013, listed for $32 million. The 7,500-square-foot duplex unit includes four bedrooms and five full bathrooms. It also boasts a wine cellar that can hold 1,500 bottles, a media room, a massage room, original cast-iron columns, and a 4,200-square-foot roof terrace that has an outdoor kitchen and shower, a covered patio, and a manicured lawn.
Take a Look inside. Is it worthy of its hefty price tag?

Real Estate Trends

April 22, 2014

Yoko Ono’s Greenwich Village Condo Sells for $8.3 Million

We’re not sure if the new owners will be staging any sit-ins, but they’ll certainly have plenty of room to do so in this 5,700-square-foot Greenwich penthouse that they purchased for $8.3 million from Yoko Ono. Ono bought the condo at 49 Downing Street in 1995 for her son Sean Lennon, but it’s sat empty since the first few years when he lived there (Ono famously still lives in the Dakota apartment she once shared with John Lennon). The home originally hit the market in July 2013, but was taken off shortly thereafter while Ono battled her co-op board in court, citing that they interfered with her plans to sell. It was listed again in November 2013 for $6.5 million, and earlier this month public records listed the final selling price at $8.3 million.
A closer look inside here

April 21, 2014

Condos at the Shigeru Ban-Designed Cast Iron House Now Up for Sale!