Townhouses

An exclusive four-story townhome on one of Manhattan’s most attractive blocks has just popped up on the market, asking literally $5 less than $7 million. The Renaissance Revival home was built in 1890 by McDowell & Henry and still retains its unique Eastlake style details with four original fireplaces, historic wood shutters, and a stained glass skylight over the stairs. And that’s just the beginning.
Take a closer look here

December 1, 2014

Chelsea Townhouse Gets an Upgrade with a 550-Square-Foot Glass and Steel Garden Extension

The renovation of this beautiful West Side property was made possible by the design team from Chelsea's very own respected architecture firm, Archi-Tectonics. This project included the addition of a garden extension, two floors, and a rooftop terrace. The client, who is a fashion designer, wanted the home to reflect a "textured" or layered approach in its design, and the cool, narrative style does just that. The contemporary renovation was completed in 2011, when the original 3,400-square-foot brownstone–also a New York City landmark–was extended by 550 feet with the addition of the new garden space to create a residence that was light and airy.
Take a look at the rest of the house

December 1, 2014

You May Have to Pry This $3.5M Dream Home from an Oscar Nominee’s Hands

Shopping for the holidays can get complicated. How do you pick just the right gift for someone? In a perfect world we could buy our loved ones gifts they could turn into whatever they wanted. Well, we’re not going to be doing your Christmas shopping this year, but we do have a listing that’s ready for its new owner to add his or her own personal stamp. We’re talking a fully gutted townhome in Murray Hill with all the renovation plans and permits already set and approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Department of Buildings. So all you have to do is sit back and let your imagination do the rest.
Take a look at the possibilities, here

Distinctive Homes

On Sale Now: An Unofficial Black Friday Bargain Hunt!

135 West 70th Street Penthouse BC; Listing photo Douglas Elliman.

November 28, 2014

On Sale Now: An Unofficial Black Friday Bargain Hunt!

Late November can be an anxious time for both buyers and sellers; unpleasant weather, family events and just plain seasonal shutdown mode can reduce the traffic at open houses to a trickle and get properties pulled off the market until after New Year’s Day or even springtime. Sellers may panic and prices get cut in the hopes of getting the deal done before year’s end; it’s a good time for intrepid buyers to stay in the game, though, because the competition factor is at a minimum. After reading about Leo DiCaprio who, like Macy’s, Wal-Mart and Kohl’s, jumped the gun on the traditional discount day by price-chopping his haute-holistic Delos Living penthouse, we rounded up some stellar dwellings that received significant markdowns just in time for the popular post-Thanksgiving Day shop-a-thon. So if you’re on the hunt–or you’ve got a two-bed-two-bath-with-killer-views-sized stocking to fill–check out our list of sale merch of the real estate persuasion that–we hope–won't require you to queue up at the crack of dawn.
10 more discounted deals that are better than lords a-leaping

November 26, 2014

HS2 Architecture’s Grandiose Upper West Side Townhouse Renovation

We're back again with another "well worth the wait" renovation story; this chapter takes us to an Upper West Side townhouse that was recently revamped by HS2 Architecture. The facade of this five-floor home is magnificent on its own, boasting ornate concrete detailing, elaborate windows and a grand front doorway. The overall approach to this renovation was to create more free-flowing spaces that reflect the more contemporary lifestyle of the family.
READ MORE

November 25, 2014

Andrew Franz’s Signature Style Makes a Mark with This Elegant Townhouse in the East Village

The East Village is one of NYC's most sought-after neighborhoods, and this beautiful townhouse located in its landmark district speaks to the area's down-to-earth yet sophisticated and modern appeal. The four-level home recently underwent a massive renovation led by the design team from Andrew Franz Architect. Andrew Franz is known for their seamless integration of outdoor and structural elements, and with many of their projects it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. With their signature style running rampant throughout the space, this stately home is no exception.
Check out the interiors here

Distinctive Homes

November 25, 2014

Live Amongst Priceless Artwork and Furnishings for $65K a Month

Back in March, the owners of this remarkable townhouse listed it, along with such extravagant furnishings as a gold-plated sofa and an oil painting by Frank Sinatra, asking $27 million. We don’t know if prospective buyers were turned off by the lavish furnishings, or if the sellers turned to each other and said, “Wait… we’re selling a gold-plated couch?!” Either way there’s been a change of heart. Now, you can enjoy the five-story home and admire the artwork of Ol’ Blue Eyes for a mere $65 thousand per month, or you can purchase the home outright, unfurnished, for $22 million.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 24, 2014

Renovation of Brooklyn Heights Gothic Revival Townhouse Will Make You Want to Say Hallelujah!

People are constantly moving back and forth from New York City to different cities on the West Coast like Los Angeles and San Francisco; with everything these great cities have to offer, who can blame them? This was the case for one family who moved back to New York after a five-year stint in San Francisco. Their plan of action was simple: Buy a townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, do moderate remodeling, and be chillaxing at home in a year's time, max. However, as many of these stories go, that wasn't the case, and in the end it took them three years to find the right property for purchase and another three years to complete the remodel. With 1100 Architect at the helm, what they lost in time was made up in style and elegance. This five-story Brooklyn Heights Gothic Revival will make you want to say "Hallelujah! That's some good design!"
Have a tour inside here

Breathtaking Upper East Side Townhouse Boasts Four-Year Renovation Well Worth the Wait

Great architecture, whether it's here in New York or elsewhere, is fully realized when the physical shape of the building, the interior design, and the surrounding landscape are brought together through great design, and this amazing Upper East Side townhouse is an impeccable example of this magical combination. Led by Steven Harris Architects and interior designer Rees Roberts + Partners, the house recently underwent a four-year renovation and re-decoration, and the results were clearly well worth the wait. The property boasts over eight stories and 8,500 square feet of living space, and it includes a bedrock basement pool, wine cellar, gym, and workshop.
You've got to see the rest of this home

Architecture And Design

November 18, 2014

Minetta Street Townhouse with Yo-Yo Sales History Goes for $5.7M

By Dana Schulz

Sure, we all love a good flip story, but this is more like a flip flop. This lovely townhouse at 17 Minetta Street in Greenwich Village sold for the first time as a single-family home in 2010 for $5.1 million; it then sold again in 2013 for $5.8 million (after asking $7.5); now it's sold for $5,676,000, above the $5.35 asking price, according to city records. We're not quite sure why the landmarked home keeps getting tossed around for little to no profit. The 19th century Federal townhouse got a modern renovation in 2008 by architects and designers Zhenya Merkulova and Alan Tanksley; it's accessed through a gated mews that leads to a private garden.
Tour 17 Minetta Street here

November 13, 2014

Twilight Star Robert Pattinson Eyeing a $3.5M Vinegar Hill Townhouse

By Annie Doge

Brooklyn's roster of A-list celebs could soon be growing. According to the NYP, Robert Pattinson was recently spotted touring this DUMBO-adjacent Brooklyn pad at 69 Gold Street in Vinegar Hill. The historic townhouse is quite the stunner, recently gut renovated by its current owner. The four-story home comes with four bedrooms, a 2-3 car garage, a private terrace, and lots of character.
Take a look inside here

November 11, 2014

Beautiful Upper East Side Fairytale Mansion Now $2M Less

The fairy tale of New York City is constantly unfolding, and this one-of-a-kind Upper East Side townhouse will surely set the scene for a romantic urban happily ever after. This home, originally built in 1893 by A. B. Ogden and Son, is located at 5 East 93rd Street, a stone's throw away from 5th Avenue and Central Park. Within the last few years the entire property was completely restored, and the elaborate detailing that went into the design of this home is immaculate. The listing price for this property is $17.95 million—and yep, if you’ve been following, it's dropped almost $2 million from its February listing price.
READ MORE

November 10, 2014

‘Orange is the New Black’ Actress Alysia Reiner Renovates Historic Harlem Townhouse

By Alyssa Alimurung

This Harlem townhouse on 128th Street may look like a sunny respite now, but back in 2007 when actress Alysia Reiner and her husband David Alan Basche bought it, the building was nothing but an abandoned space with some dusty (but beautiful) brick walls. Armed with MontesBuild Green Street Construction and their vision to turn it into […]

November 6, 2014

Lenox Hill Townhouse Near Andy Warhol’s Last Residence Asks $14.5M

Superstar broker Ryan Serhant has just listed a five-story townhouse at 56 East 66th Street, asking $14.49 million. This multi-family home has a lot going for it with a prime gold coast location, beautiful original details, and the potential to become a colossal 8,032-square-foot single-family conversion. So grab your architect and a little imagination because this prewar pad is just waiting to become somebody’s dream home.
See what else this mega-home has to offer

Distinctive Homes

October 29, 2014

Greenwich Village Townhouse Boasts Cool Rooftop Office and Personal Secret Garden

Simply put, this historic Greenwich Village property, designed by BW Architects, is amazing. A sophisticated balance of design elements that blend the old with the new are incorporated throughout the 4000-square-foot home. And not only is it beautiful, but the 1840s townhome underwent an extensive reconstruction project, completed in 2012, that made it the first townhouse in downtown Manhattan to earn a LEED for Homes Gold rating. And have we mentioned its incredible rooftop office?
Check out the home

October 22, 2014

Industrial Chic Loft-Like Townhome in Williamsburg Asks $3.5M

What if we told you that you could have a one-of-a-kind, industrial loft-style triplex townhouse in one of Brooklyn’s hottest neighborhoods, just one subway stop from the city? Even better, what if we told you this converted warehouse came with a courtyard, a roof deck, and the ability to build even more square footage? Well, before you start running to 311 South 4th Street, take a second to look around at this fantastic $3.5 million home.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

October 20, 2014

Extraordinary Dwellings: These Amazing Homes Are Hidden in Plain Sight

It isn’t unusual to see old warehouses, churches and banks converted into luxury multi-unit condos and apartments. But far more rare, and often shrouded in myth and mystery, are one-of-a-kind buildings that had former lives as banks, schools, a synagogue, a public bath house, a Con Ed substation, even a public restroom and a hillside cave–and have more recently served as home and workspace for a lucky handful of bohemian dreamers (and hard-working homeowners).
Find out who lives behind the gates of those those cavernous, mysterious buildings

Architecture And Design

October 20, 2014

NYC’s First Certified “Passive House” by FABRICA 718 is Lean, Mean and Incredibly Green

By Stephanie Hoina

When this Park Slope brownstone was first built in 1899 we’re pretty sure energy efficient design wasn’t a guiding factor in its construction. But over 100 years later an award-winning Passive House retrofit by FABRICA 718 has turned this classic residence into one that consumes approximately 90% less heat energy than the average home and 75% less energy overall.
See what consuming 90% less heat energy looks like

October 15, 2014

Landmark Limestone Townhouse in Park Slope Returns for $4M

One of Park Slope’s landmark limestone townhouses has just returned to the market. The 5,100-square-foot, Frederick Tyrrell-designed home was built in 1901 at the height of the neo-classical style’s popularity. With a well-maintained original four-story building, along with a new extension, original details, and a private gated driveway, this $3.995 million home is definitely worth a look.
Take a closer look, here

October 14, 2014

Renovation Diary Part II: Choosing the Right Architect for the Job

Our Renovation Diary series follows 6sqft writer Michelle Cohen as she takes on the challenge of transforming her historic Clinton Hill townhouse into a site-sensitive modern home. In Part I she shared her experience of defining a plan of action and getting started and this week she takes on the all important task of choosing an architect. One of the first steps in our renovation project was to hire an architect. The house is in a historic district, so we have to submit all alteration plans to the Landmarks Preservation Commission; we wanted to find someone who was very familiar with that process. We also wanted to find someone who was familiar with working on renovating old brownstones, and someone whose style we liked. Someone who comes with lots of good recommendations. And, not least of all, someone we could even close to afford. In our case he or she would be our main point person on the project, and, ostensibly, our advocate in any dispute that would occur later on.
Find out how to choose the right architect for your project and your budget.

<b>Renovation Diary: Defining a Dream, Assembling a Team</b>

The one that didn’t get away.

October 8, 2014

Renovation Diary: Defining a Dream, Assembling a Team