Townhouses

May 19, 2015

The High and Low: Sweet Bohemian Cottage with Dreamy Private Garden

Spring has finally arrived, and our spring fever has been replaced by a yearning to dine al fresco, savor morning coffee in the sunshine and—for the gardening-inclined—start hitting the dirt. For lucky city folk with private garden space, there's a just-right element: You get to enjoy the flowers but you don't have to mow the grass. These new-to-market charmers have all the boxes checked when it comes to the European-style cottage vibe with whitewashed walls and loads of DIY potential. They've also got enchanted gardens you won't want to step out of 'til the snow starts falling. The first, in south Park Slope, a block from the park, is a three-story townhouse with income potential and plenty of vintage details, listed for $1,800,000. The second, a two-bedroom garden duplex co-op in Clinton Hill for $895k, is as adorable as it is unusual inside and out, and the garden looks to be pure magic.
Read on for these two springtime finds
May 15, 2015

‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Firehouse in Cobble Hill Sells for $6.25M

The 19th century Cobble Hill carriage house featured in the Julia Roberts movie version of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love" has just sold for $6.25 million, according to the Observer. We’re reminded of the boho-fabulous Park Slope townhouse featured in Noah Baumbach’s "The Squid and the Whale," which changed hands for its ask of $3.45 million back in 2012, so this may be a testament to how much the market has shifted since then–or one could compare indie film cred with Julia Roberts-grade mainstream appeal. Either way, this charming 1840s former firehouse at 172 Pacific Street on a pretty, shade-dappled Cobble Hill block has cinematic qualities on its own. The home, which had been on the market for nearly a year, is unique even on this block of quaint 19th century houses.
Take a look inside here
May 13, 2015

The Light Is Guiding You to This Chelsea Townhome Owned by an Emmy Winner

It's good to have options. Take this former "Guiding Light" actress's 4,000 square-foot early Greek revival townhouse on James Phelan Row, for instance. It can either be delivered to you as three separate apartments with a potential rental income of $20,000 per month, or you can convert it into one giant dream home. Either way you've got three large outdoor spaces waiting for you during the warmer months, and eight wood-burning fireplaces ready to warm you during New York's fierce winters. And all these options can be right at your feet for $9.5 million.
More pics inside
May 12, 2015

19th Century Bed-Stuy Townhouse on ‘Doctors Row’ Is Swimming in Wood Details

When you're lucky enough to come across a gorgeous older home that has been lovingly restored like this eight-bedroom home at 126 Hancock Street, you grab your broker and run like the wind to claim it. And you just might do so after you've had a look at this brownstone. This stunning home was originally built in 1883 by architect Isaac D. Reynolds and has been carefully restored to its original glory by a team of interior designers from Pure Interior Design of New York. After this group was finished shining this baby up like a brand-new penny, we were left with a stunning home with all the modern updates, asking $3.195 million.
More pics inside
May 6, 2015

Billionaire Carlos Slim Looks to Break Record for Priciest Townhouse Ever Sold with $80M Ask

Carlos Slim, Mexican business magnate and former world's richest person, is looking to break the record for most expensive townhouse ever sold in NYC. As the Daily News first reported, he's listed his Upper East Side Beaux Arts mansion at 1009 Fifth Avenue for $80 million, after buying it for only $44 million five years ago from Russian oil mogul Tamir Sapir. Built in 1901, the limestone-and-red-brick home is known as the Duke-Semans Mansion and is one of the last remaining private homes on Fifth Avenue. It's located directly across from the Met, rises eight stories, and encompasses a whopping 20,000 square feet. According to the listing, the French Renaissance interiors "feature soaring ceilings, hand-carved wood paneling, lovely trompe l'oeil accents, gold-leaf trimmed fixtures and intricate plaster friezes."
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May 5, 2015

The Former Upper West Side Mansion of Charles Schwab Is Asking $20 Million

It doesn't get any grander than this 11,500-square-foot, six-story mansion on the Upper West Side. Located at 323 West 74th Street, this home has an interesting history, to say the least: It was designed by the famous architect C. P. H. Gilbert as part of a larger row of residences off Riverside Drive to rival the mansions of Fifth Avenue. The infamous moneyman and steel magnate Charles Schwab lived here from 1914 to 1917, then, according to Daytonian in Manhttan, it was used as the "scandalous love nest" for the mistress of industrialist George Gould. Today, it's been configured as an owner's triplex with an apartment below. The asking price comes in at $19.995 million.
See more interior photos here
May 1, 2015

West Village Rowhouse Once Home to Photographer Diane Arbus Lists for $13.5M

If you've ever seen the work of legendary photographer Diane Arbus, you know her style is a little offbeat. Born into a rich NYC family in 1923, Arbus became famous for capturing "deviant and marginal people," those who would otherwise seem ugly to most, with her camera. Unfortunately, she's also remembered for taking her own life at the age of 48 while living at the Westbeth Artists Community. But before moving to the well-known artists' complex, Arbus lived in an appropriately "secret world," a West Village back house that was once a stable, hidden behind its classic, Federal-style rowhouse at 131 Charles Street. She moved into the rear carriage house in 1959 after separating from her husband Allan Arbus and lived there until around 1968. As the Wall Street Journal reports, both the front and back houses are now on the market for $13.5 million.
Look inside this magnificent, historic home
May 1, 2015

Live in Eleanor Roosevelt’s Historic Townhouse for $18M

Yes, one of history's favorite First Ladies once called this Upper East Side place home. In fact, she wrote about her apartment in a column she had, called "My Day," referring to it as her "new little apartment." Today the building, part of the landmarked Treadwell Farm Historic District, is a single-family townhouse owned by investor Charles Ueng. He purchased it for about $9 million in 2011, spent $2 million renovating it, and now has it on the market for $18 million.
Take a look around Eleanor Roosevelt's former home
April 30, 2015

$2.5M Clinton Hill Townhouse Is Dripping with Historic Details

This beautiful Brooklyn townhouse, located at 181 St. James Place, is right in the heart of the Clinton Hill Historic District. The single-family property itself is historic inside and out–all three buildings were designed by the prominent Brooklyn architect William Tubby. No. 181 is the centerpiece, a combo of both Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles with an oeil-de-boeuf (bulls-eye) with four keystones at the center of the gable. The interior is decked out with incredibly restored historic details... a carved wooden staircase, fireplaces, stained glass windows, even a claw foot tub. To live in this piece of Brooklyn history, it's going to cost you $2.545 million.
Tour the interior right here
April 29, 2015

This Cozy Brooklyn ‘Slot House’ Fits a Bed in the Kitchen

Who says small spaces can't be designed luxuriously? In fact, this compact home in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn looks downright gorgeous—even if there is a bed lofted above a refrigerator. Noroof Architects designed the home in the early 2000s, and nicknamed the project "Slot House." The exterior "slot" was inspired by the existing maple tree on site, which the owners did not want to remove. The slot allows the tree to be seen from the inside, and this clever slotted design gesture was carried to the interior.
See the impressive result here
April 24, 2015

Imagine the Possibilities in This $2.5M Central Park West Triplex with Verdant Garden

It's build-your-own-dream-home time! Here's a look at a completely gutted brownstone triplex right off  Central Park. This 2,100-square-foot pad provides the perfect excuse to grab your interior designer and unleash your imagination. The space includes the parlor, garden level, and basement of a prewar co-op, with a 750-square-foot backyard. And it can be yours for $2.495 million.
More pics inside
April 21, 2015

Asking Double Its 2012 Price, Brooding West Village Townhouse Features a Two-Story Wall of Glass

Every now and then a Cool Listing comes along that is so spectacular we find ourselves at a loss for words. Well, not today. That’s because there’s so much to share about this incredibly sumptuous home at 75 Bedford Street in the West Village we’re afraid we’ll run out of room! Let’s start with those responsible for our enthusiasm–namely,  M.N. Ahari, architect for the recent renovation, and interior designer Fernando Santangelo, the genius behind one of Hollywood’s havens for the rich-and-famous, the Chateau Marmont, who transformed this historic townhouse from an all-white Zen oasis into a brooding bachelor pad for his friend James Oakley, a filmmaker who originally hails from Tennessee. Oakley, whose stepfather owns the Cleveland Browns, bought the home in 2012 for $5.8 million, but after the extensive renovation he's now looking to unload the residence for $12.5 million.
See why there's so much to talk about
April 20, 2015

Famed Author Peter Straub’s UWS Townhouse on the Market for First Time in Thirty Years

With accolades like the Bram Stoker Award, the World Fantasy Award, and the International Horror Guild Award to his name, one might proceed with caution when entering the home of American author and poet Peter Straub. But we can assure you that his literary penchant for things dark and mysterious doesn’t extend to the distinguished Queen Anne-style townhouse that he’s lived in for thirty years. The single-family residence at 53 West 85th Street on the Upper West Side is one of a series of three similar brick townhouses built in the late 1880s along 85th between Central Park West and Columbus, and it's now available for $8.2 million.
See inside the author's home
April 17, 2015

Own a Verdant Garden Oasis in Park Slope for $2.5M–and a Gorgeous Home,Too

As our hundreds of prior Cool Listings can attest, there is no shortage of stunning multi-million dollar homes in New York City. Day after day we marvel at interiors filled with exquisite details–and this single-family brownstone at 722A Union Street in Park Slope is no exception–well, at least as far as the inside is concerned.
See why this home is perfect inside and out
April 17, 2015

This Creative $15K/Month Murray Hill Townhome Will Pique Your Interest

If you're a New Yorker you know how precious space is. So we probably don't have to do much to convince you that this three-bedroom townhouse at 115 East 37th Street in Murray Hill is worth a look. But beyond its parquet floors, oversized windows, fireplaces, and prewar detail, this place has even more to offer, like some of the most intriguing design elements we've come across. And it's on the market for $15,000 a month.
More pics inside
April 15, 2015

Boerum Hill Home with Tetris-Like Facade and Unusual Dining Table Now for Sale

What’s more fun than writing about a National Registry home with a tetris-like facade? Living in it! At the beginning of the year we got a peek into this Dean/Wolf Architects designed townhouse located at 300 State Street in Boerum Hill and we have to admit we were envious of the lucky occupants. And while we aren’t quite ready to plunk down the $5.65 million asking price, it’s likely this stunning one-family residence won’t be on the market for long.
See more of the award-winning design
April 10, 2015

Renovated Bespoke Bed Stuy Townhouse Sells for $2M

"Every surface, space and system has been carefully considered, restored and renovated with an artist's eye and artisan's craftsmanship," says the listing for this restored brick townhouse in Bed Stuy. Located at 109 Clifton Place, the wonderfully bespoke home has sold for $2,050,000, according to city records released today. The artistic quality of the home makes sense, as the previous owners were Darren Foote, an artist specializing in mixed media and woodworking, and Kristen Dodge, founder of the Lower East Side's DODGE Gallery. The couple cleverly redesigned their home, mixing classic historic details, artsy personal touches, and rustic features that would fit right in at Brooklyn's newest artisanal restaurant.
Tour the Brooklyn beauty here
April 10, 2015

Meticulously Renovated Jones Wood Garden Townhouse Looks to Nearly Double Its Price

How would you like to have a secret garden right outside your door? Wouldn’t it be nice to just step out of your dining room, onto your private brick terrace, and walk straight into a field of lush greenness so exclusive it makes Gramercy Park look like a public playground? We’re talking about this stunning five-story townhouse at 160 East 66th Street, right on Jones Wood Garden. Not only does this $11.9 million Upper East Side beauty have a stunning exterior, but the owners, who purchased it in 2008 for just $6.85 million, clearly left no stone unturned during the meticulous renovation.
More pics inside
April 9, 2015

Live in One of the First Buildings Constructed in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens’ Historic District

How would you like to brag to your friends that you live in one of the first buildings ever in what is now the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Historic District? This four-story townhouse at 51 Midwood Street was built in 1898 by William A.A. Brown and designed by William M. Miller. Among its offerings are striking tiger oak millwork, a grand center stair and coffered ceilings, with some head-turning renovations, all for $2.325 million.
More pics inside
April 3, 2015

Mad for Modern: NYC Homes That Are Cooler Than Don Draper’s Park Avenue Pad

We admit it: We’re a bit obsessed with mid-20th century modern design–its architecturally and socially advanced concepts so often result in a perfect mix of aesthetic appeal and livability. Sometimes met with suspicion and derision in its earlier days, modernist architecture has endured the test of time and is having an enormous resurgence in popularity and appreciation. How else could you explain fans' obsession with the award-winning and pitch-perfect mid-mod sets on Matthew Weiner’s “Mad Men.” It’s often said that the best ideas in home design are the ones that make the home a great place to live; the origins of modernist design had that idea at their heart. We've rounded up a few of the city’s mid-century architectural treasures and a handful of homes that embody modernist style.
More on the 'Mad Men'sets and NYC's Mid-Century Modern gems this way
April 3, 2015

$2.5M Hamilton Heights Musée Maison Mixes Historic Charm with a Myriad of Curious Artwork

Portuguese-born architect/artist Luis Da Cruz bought the run-down brownstone at 532 West 148th Street in 2006 for $995,000. He then embarked on a complete renovation, turning the three-family home into his own personal playground. Cruz beautifully restored original features of the 1920 house like carved wood stairways and railings, gorgeous moldings, five fireplaces, beamed ceilings, and exposed brick walls. But on that historic canvas he overlaid his signature art pieces made with repurposed objects and decorated the space in an industrial/Victorian mash up. Luis also used the townhouse, dubbed Musée Maison (aptly, Museum House), as his studio and workshop and often hosted art shows there (including trapeze shows in which he participated) where all of the work was for sale. He's now put the 3,500-square-foot Hamilton Heights house on the market, asking $2.5 million.
See the rest of this one-of-a-kind home
April 3, 2015

$7.25M Historic Alphabet City Townhouse Has Five Outdoor Spaces with a Few Surprises

Who would've thought there was a backyard like this hiding in Alphabet City? Built in the 1880s, this historic $7.25 million townhouse at 263 East 7th Street was masterfully redesigned by one of the architects behind the DIA Beacon Museum, and it comes with two layouts. The current floorplan is an owner's duplex, an income suite, and separate guest quarters. Option two is one giant, 4,900-square-foot single-family home with 2,400 square feet of exterior space. Plus, it's located on one of the most charming blocks in the neighborhood.
More pics inside
April 1, 2015

West Village Townhouse is Formal and Fun with a Bold Palette, Eclectic Furnishings – and Penguins

New York City is rich with buildings from another time, each offering a unique blend of period details, classic lines, and historical features. As a result, the homes within, as beautiful as they are, can sometimes seem a little, well, stuffy. Faced with the challenge of bringing a more modern aesthetic to their client’s West Village townhouse while respecting the home’s time-honored elegance, Brooklyn-based design firm The New Design Project incorporated a bold palette, eclectic furnishings, and a whimsical family of penguins to instill a fun atmosphere and give the space a younger feel.
Those penguins and more this way