Duplexes

Finding a place to rent in New York City can be a headache at best. But you can save some money on aspirin if you're interested in this two-bedroom Upper West Side duplex that is now available to rent for $6,925/month. Located at 313 West 75th Street, this charming, well-preserved, pre-war home boasts many of its original details, the most striking of which is its wealth of historic moldings, including crown and picture moldings throughout. You'll also find dentil moldings in the living room, and ornate floral moldings around the mirror. The decorated marble fireplaces aren't too shabby either.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

November 24, 2014

Opulent Pad in Building Where Barbara Walters Once Lived Drops Price to $12.5M

A renovated duplex maisonette in the same building Barbara Walters once called home has been struggling on the market since it was listed earlier this year. Now, after eight months and a few price drops, the price has landed at $12.5 million. The opulent space has four bedrooms, parquet de Versailles floors, and imported French First Empire fireplaces, all just steps from the iconic Central Park.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 20, 2014

Light and Airy Penthouse Fuses Modern Luxury with Classic Upper West Side Charm

Easy breezy is the perfect description for this duplex penthouse that recently popped up on the market for $3,850,000. Located at 329 West 108th street on the Upper West Side, this beautiful three-bedroom home includes a dramatic corner living room and ample outdoor space–both perfect for entertaining. The living room also features an elegant angular skylight, so whether you're inside or out, you and your guests will be able to enjoy beautiful views of the New York City skyline.
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Distinctive Homes

November 20, 2014

You’ll Be Drawn to This Duplex Rental’s Four Fireplaces Like Moths to a Flame

Renters looking to enjoy a peaceful haven in the middle of the vitality of the East Village are certain to be drawn to this two-bedroom duplex at 102 East 10th Street, asking $7,500 per month. The parlor duplex with an English basement is located in a historic townhome designed by Peter Gerard Stuyvesant (the great, great grandchild of Peter Stuyvesant) and is situated less than a block from the Renwick Triangle. Original details and a private terrace make the charming home much more of a pleasant retreat than you'd imagine would be found in such a convenient location.
More photos inside

Distinctive Homes

November 19, 2014

$2.7M Duplex Invokes the Historic Hipness of the East Village

From beats like Allen Ginsberg to '80s artists like Keith Haring, the East Village was once home to the city's hippest New York icons (and, some may argue, still is). But since its heyday, the neighborhood has become an extremely sought after part of the city, and this East Village pad that was recently put on the market is fully stacked in the hipness department. The four-bedroom unit is located at 211 East 2nd Street and is currently listed for $2,695,000. From the Carriage House condominium's unique exterior to the edgy, rustic interior, this home is sure to make you the coolest kid on the block.
Tour this East Village beauty here

Distinctive Homes

November 17, 2014

$1 Million Fort Greene Penthouse Boasts Two Terraces and Skyline Views

A duplex penthouse apartment at the historic Roanoke Condominiums in Fort Greene is currently available for $999,000. The beautiful unit offers 1,075 square feet of space, natural light flooding in from exposures on three sides, two terraces, and beautiful views of both Williamsburg and Manhattan.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 11, 2014

$14M Greene Street Penthouse Features Fun Furniture and Fantastic Views

Don’t be fooled by this penthouse’s carefree appearance. The 3,510-square-foot duplex is one of the last units standing in the meticulous conversion at 53 Greene Street, and it’s commanding quite a premium at $14.05 million, a whopping $4,000 per square foot.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 6, 2014

Carmelo and LaLa Anthony Step Up Penthouse Search and Tour a $48M Tribeca Duplex

By Annie Doge

If you were impressed by the $15 million Chelsea penthouse that Carmelo and LaLa Anthony toured last month, you're definitely going to think their latest real estate interest is a slam dunk. The couple recently toured a $48 million duplex penthouse in Tribeca's Sky Lofts at 145 Hudson Street. James Carpenter, the same architect responsible for 7 World Trade Center, designed the four-bedroom glass house atop an historic Art Deco loft building. And with 7,500 square feet of interior space as well as a 4,500-square-foot wrap-around terrace, the home set a record for highest-priced Manhattan apartment south of Columbus Circle when it was originally purchased for $30 million in 2009 (a record later broken by the $50.9 million sale of the Walker Tower penthouse).
Tour what may be the future house of Carmelo

November 5, 2014

Andrew Franz Transforms an Old Soap Factory into a Tranquil Tribeca Oasis

Architect Andrew Franz is known for his nature-inspired designs, and he has successfully infused his signature aesthetic into the tranquil interior of this Tribeca home. Franz transformed a 19th century Manhattan soap factory into what is now a gorgeous example of adaptive reuse. The designer's goal for this project was to create the feeling of being outdoors when inside the walls of the Romanesque Revival building, while also maintaining as much of the original structure as possible. By combining modern clean lines and open spaces with rustic wooden columns and raw brick walls, Franz creates a visual narrative celebrating the preservation of something old in the creation of something new and beautiful.
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Dennis Mehiel Re-Lists Carhart Mansion Condo Asking $35 Million

Dennis Mehiel, corrugated cardboard magnate who ran against Gov. Cuomo in a 2002 election for lieutenant governor, has put his sprawling 10,350-square-foot duplex at the Carhart Mansion on the market, asking $35.9 million. This, after attempting to claim $35 million for it back in 2008, just a few years after he purchased the pad for only $15 million in 2005--"only" being a relative term, of course. The award-winning condo has a two-story master, an 1,100-square-foot grand salon, and the potential for six more private chambers..
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

Will Bill Ackman Be Able to Pull off a $90M Condo Flip at One57?

One57 and the view from the $90 million penthouse

October 28, 2014

Will Bill Ackman Be Able to Pull off a $90M Condo Flip at One57?

It's true that One57′s first flip saw a $3.5 million profit in just five months, but that unit sold for $34 million the second time around. A selling price of more than $90 million is a different story--and that's exactly what hedge fund manager William (Bill) Ackman is hoping to achieve. In a profile in the Times on Sunday, Ackman was revealed as the buyer of the $90 million penthouse at the luxury building, which is sure to see its share of flips. But he also shared that he has no intention of ever living in the apartment. He'll stay with his wife and daughters at their current home in the Beresford and use the penthouse as a "fun" investment opportunity for himself and some good friends, perhaps hosting a few parties there in the meantime.
More on the planned flip here

Real Estate Trends

October 24, 2014

Billionaire Real Estate Developer Leonard Stern Sells Soho Penthouse for $15M

Leonard Stern, billionaire businessman and real estate developer and namesake of NYU's Stern School of Business, has sold his "ultimate Soho penthouse" for $14,650,000 according to city records released today. In April 2014, a year after Stern originally listed the apartment, New York Magazine released a video tour of the 4,315-square-foot, four-bedroom duplex, revealing everything from a zen solarium to a restaurant-caliber kitchen. Stern bought the penthouse of 459 West Broadway in 2010 for $14,250,000, but the small profit likely won't affect him too much since his net worth is estimated at $3.8 billion.
Check out the billionaire digs and watch the video tour

October 23, 2014

Carmelo and LaLa Anthony Check Out a $15M Chelsea Penthouse

By Annie Doge

Things must be looking up for Knicks hoopster Carmelo Anthony and his wife LaLa, because they were reportedly seen checking out a $15 million duplex penthouse at the Chelsea Enclave, 177 Ninth Avenue. The sometimes-troubled couple was last seen touring a $29,000 a month rental at 1212 Fifth Avenue, but it seems now they'd prefer to buy. Located on the transparent top two floors of the Chelsea Enclave, their latest real estate contender has four bedrooms, 3,452 square feet of indoor space, and 2,640 square feet of outdoor space spread across two terraces.
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October 22, 2014

J.Lo Buys $22M NoMad Penthouse with Celeb Neighbors

By Annie Doge

Though she was recently spotted eying a $14 million Tribeca loft, it's rumored that J.Lo has inked a deal on a $22 million duplex penthouse in NoMad's Whitman Building at 21 East 26th Street. She may have decided to up her budget thanks to a two-year, $26.3 million residency deal in Las Vegas. Or perhaps it was the Whitman's A-list roster of residents that swayed her; her neighbors will include Chelsea Clinton and NASCAR's Jeff Gordon. Lopez's new digs feature four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and 3,000-square-feet of outdoor space spread over four terraces with views of Madison Square Park.
Take a look inside Jenny from the Block's new home

October 17, 2014

Renovated Chelsea Home Greets with a Bi-Level Garden Framed by a Two-Story Glass Wall

By Stephanie Hoina

The minute you walk into this gorgeously renovated three-bedroom apartment at 442 West 23rd Street in Chelsea you are greeted with the most unexpected of views: a breathtaking bi-level garden. Beautifully framed by a two-story Portella-designed architectural steel door and window combination, the 1,000-plus square feet of landscaped perfection is the focal point of this exquisite home.
See why this apartment will take your breath away

Distinctive Homes

August 22, 2014

Gramercy Duplex by Slade Architecture is a Healthy and Eco-Friendly Home

Oftentimes when environmentally friendly homes are designed the client wants to keep a low carbon footprint or be sensitive to the surrounding landscape. But there's another very important reason to go green in residential design, which is personal health. And that's exactly why Slade Architecture was asked to take an eco-friendly approach when creating this contemporary Gramercy Duplex. The renovation combined two existing one-bedroom duplex units into a single two-bedroom duplex. All materials were specified as low VOC, including recycled denim insulation, recycled paper countertops, Low-e windows, and Eco Spec paint.
Take a look at how Slade created a functional space with a green mentality

July 22, 2014

Renovated Grand Duplex Maisonette Provides Prewar Character with 21st Century Touch

When you think of the Upper East Side, you can’t help but imagine the old Edith Wharton novels and early 20th century “polite society”. This $7,250,000 parlor apartment at 830 Park Avenue manages to embody that very spirit, while throwing in a bit of 21st century flair.
Take a look inside this prewar stunner here

Distinctive Homes

June 25, 2014

This East Village Duplex Has a Secret That Will Be Like Music to Your Ears

We’re going to take a quick detour from our mega-expensive, extravagant homes, and spotlight a pad that we think demonstrates the heart of New York City. New York is artsy and quirky and marches to the beat of its own drum. People walk the streets in all types of personal style, restaurants like S’mac and Peanut Butter & Co that are dedicated to one food attract patrons from all over. This city is one of a kind. So, we’re going to show you a one-of-a-kind apartment in a little neighborhood we like to call the East Village.
See what this duplex has in store here

Distinctive Homes

May 30, 2014

This Upper East Side Duplex is So Big You Might Need a GPS

By Stephanie Hoina

Bigger is better so the saying goes, and you’ll get no argument from this nearly 8,000-square-foot duplex at 28 East 70th Street. Luckily, you have us to navigate the way through the 20+ rooms that make this home a truly remarkable residence. The most difficult part of our journey? Where to start! So grab your key (for the elevator) and step right into this stunning condo’s marble-floored reception foyer and spacious entry gallery, ensuring complete privacy for the rest of the home’s wings. Yes, wing is a totally appropriate description to use with a residence of this size.
Enter your destination and away we go

Distinctive Homes

May 16, 2014

Contemporary West Houston Street Duplex Loft Finds a Buyer