We’re kicking off the week with a stunning space and latest post from contributor Ali Hartwell! I knew I’d convince that girl to love modern decor someday!
As a whole, I tend to avoid modern design. While I appreciate elements of it, I often find that the full-blown modern look comes off as cold, unwelcoming and even pretentious. No one should ever feel judged by their own living room for their Netflix binge-watching and ratty t-shirt wearing tendencies—amiright?!
That being said, when I came across this Brooklyn home tour, all of my preconceived notions around modern decor were rattled to the core. What was it about this particular take on modern that didn’t send me running for the hills of my tried and true California Eclectic style??
Could it have been black and color palate? The mixture of hard lines juxtaposed by organic, textured accessories? The perfectly balanced incorporation of brass accents?? Yes, yes, and yes! At the end of the day, the perfect mix of all these things bring charm and warmth to this primarily minimalist look (and let’s be honest, a touch of herringbone floors never hurt).
Here are a few pieces I’ve rounded up to help you recreate this look:
SHOP THE LOOK:
> 1. Arc Sofa > 2. Fish Catcher Pendant > 3. Cara Oval Coffee Table > 4. Mirror > 5. Cog Candle Holder > 6. Hans Pedestal Side Table > 7. Fan Dining Chair > 8. Mongolian Lamb Pillow > 9. Sweater-weave Basket > 10. Dora Maar Urn
I don’t know about you, but I’m totally rethinking my hesitation towards modern decor with this type of approach. What are your thoughts on all things modern? Love it? Hate it? Scared of it? Do share!
A massive 17,602-square-foot home that sits on Highland Beach’s largest oceanfront lot has recently hit the market in Palm Beach County, Florida and has the potential to set a new real estate record.
The trophy property delivers over 150 feet of private manicured beachfront on nearly 2 acres in the ”Estate Section” of Byrd Beach, minutes away from Atlantic Avenue and Boca Raton.
It also sports a price tag worthy of its countless attributes: the mansion is listed for $59.9 million, making it the most expensive home for sale in Highland Beach and the priciest listing in the greater Boca Raton area.
If it sells anywhere near its asking price, the Ocean Blvd. property will become the most expensive home ever sold in the area.
RELATED: Florida’s most expensive house ever: Larry Ellison’s $173 million Gemini estate
“This estate is one of the nicest houses in Highland Beach,” says Coldwell Banker Realty agent Jonathan Postma, who holds the listing. “It’s a trophy property that is becoming increasingly hard to find in Florida, especially with two acres and 150 feet of private ocean frontage.”
Interestingly enough, the previous record holder is this very property. The same Ocean Blvd. home sold in April 2022 for a whopping $45 million, a deal that marked the highest sale in the Highland Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Gulf Stream, and Ocean Ridge area, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The owner, identified by The Real Deal as an Omaha businessman, bought the property in 2022 in an off-market deal, and has since done extensive maintenance/repairs, while also revamping the interiors of the massive 17,602-square-foot mansion.
Featuring modern French-Eclectic architecture, transitional interiors by Marc-Michaels, and fortress-like construction by Mark Timothy Luxury Homes, the $59.9 million Ocean Blvd. house is the epitome of luxury.
SEE ALSO: Serena Williams’ house in Florida has many unique features, but no living room
With 8 bedrooms, 10 full baths and 3 partial baths, the mansion has intricate details throughout, creatively blending an atmosphere of grand-scale entertaining and comfortable beach living.
Inside, some of the standout features of the privately gated estate include a gourmet kitchen with a large center island, double ovens and pantry; an oversized master bedroom with en suite and massive walk-in closet; a home theatre; and a fitness area, among others.
Adding to its beach living appeal, the Ocean Blvd. estate also features a heated pool/spa area with a cabana, outdoor shower, built-in grill, and summer kitchen.
Ultra-high-end real estate in Boca Raton, Florida is on a stratospheric rise, breaking record sale prices every year for five consecutive years. According to a CNBC report, mansions in the Boca Raton area are commanding Miami Beach prices, with the price per square foot of the area’s top-end homes now on par with Miami Beach pricing.
“People tend to think of Miami when the subject turns to high-end South Florida real estate,” Douglas Elliman real estate agent Senada Adzem told CNBC, “But Boca Raton is, without question, one of the region’s premier luxury residential markets.” And the spectacular $59.9 million Highland Beach mansion we covered today is clear proof of that.
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Evelyn Arceo holds down a full-time job as a baker at Universal Studios Hollywood, earning $19 an hour. But even when she gets a few hours of overtime at the theme park, the single mother of four can barely afford the rent of her one-bedroom apartment in Panorama City.
On her salary, buying a home is out of the question.
Already, her monthly rent of $1,300 is “just too expensive at this point,” Arceo said, with late fees of $40 to $50 compounding her financial plight. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on time on my rent.”
Arceo’s situation is common in California, which is among the nation’s leaders in renter-occupied housing. In the Golden State, 45.5% of housing units were occupied by renters in 2020, a small increase from the 44% rate in 2010, according to newly released data by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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California was second only to New York, where 49.7% of the housing units are renter occupied. The District of Columbia was an outlier, at 61.7%.
Nationwide, the rate of renter-occupied housing units — 36.9% — is at its highest point since 1970.
“The growth of renter-occupied units continues to outpace the growth of owner-occupied units,” the Census Bureau said in a statement.
The states with the lowest renter rate — and therefore the highest owner-occupied rates — were West Virginia, at 27.4%, and Maine, at 28.9%.
Hans Johnson, a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California, said the new data were “not shocking.” California’s high rate of renters can be attributed mostly to “the high cost of housing,” Johnson said.
The annual income needed to buy a home in Los Angeles rose last year beyond $220,000, according to a study by the residential real estate firm Redfin. With higher mortgage interest rates and inflation cutting into household incomes, the ability to own a home is increasingly out of reach for residents in Los Angeles, where the median annual household income in 2020 was just over $65,000.
High housing costs are also a factor in putting California near the bottom in another category: the rate of single-occupancy households.
New data from the Census Bureau show that more than a quarter of all households in America — 27.6% — had just one occupant in 2020. The rate of solo occupancy is more than three times the recorded level in 1940, 7.7%.
A Times analysis found that California ranked 49th of the 50 states in the rate of single-occupant dwellings, with 23% of households occupied by just one person — a rate that has remained steady for about 20 years. Only Utah had a lower rate, at 20%.
North Dakota had the highest rate of single occupancy, 32.8%. The District of Columbia’s rate was an astronomical 43.7%.
In states other than California, “where rents are much lower or the opportunity to buy a house is better, it’s not as difficult for a single worker” to live alone, Johnson said.
Another factor is California having a “larger immigrant population than in the rest of the U.S.,” according to Johnson. “It is more common for immigrant families to live in multigenerational households,” he said.
Utah has the lowest rate of single-occupant homes because the state has a high marriage rate and an uncommonly high number of children per household, Johnson said. He attributed those trends partially to Mormon residents, who make up well over half of the state’s population.
The increase in people living alone coincides with higher social isolation, a worrying trend outlined by U.S. Surgeon Gen. Dr. Vivek Murthy in a recent report.
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight — one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled and more productive lives,” Murthy said.
Such isolation increases the risk of premature death by more than 60% and includes higher risks of heart disease, stroke and dementia, according to the report.
To counter the increased isolation, “communities must design environments that promote connection,” the report said, and “invest in institutions that bring people together.”
While more Americans are living alone, Arceo, 32, worries about providing her children a home where they can enjoy some space for themselves.
With a 14-year-old son in the throes of adolescence and a 12-year-old son entering that stage, “they need their privacy,” she said.
“It’s insane to say that I work for this company and can’t afford to give my kids a proper living,” Arceo said.
She has worked as a baker for the theme park for eight years, but Arceo notes that “I was homeless for the first year working at Universal,” when she was forced to live with her then-three children in hotels, friends’ homes, wherever they could.
With the bakery short-staffed, she has recently picked up “at least an hour of overtime a day,” but it hasn’t been enough, forcing her “to choose whether I pay my car insurance or my rent,” she said.
Johnson, the demographer, pointed to possible hope on the horizon. He noted that California has reported a steady decline in population since 2020 — starting at the beginning of the pandemic. The drop has coincided with the construction of more housing, primarily in the state’s suburbs and exurbs.
“If California continues to lose people and build housing, at some point it should make a dent in the housing deficit.”
A construction surge is not likely to make enough of a difference to change the conditions for low-wage workers like Arceo.
Looking to the future, she doesn’t see many options.
As the clock continues to tick on the renovation of our San Francisco Victorian we picked paint colors over the weekend!, it’s all beginning to feel real. Really really real. That’s why I’m loving our Designer’s Take series even more. Now that the progress has come this far, I can really envision what some of our rooms could look like in the end. This week we’ve got another gorgeous concept for our living room. Here’s an update on what it’s looking like right now!
This picture is looking from our kitchen-to-be into the living room and the dining room beyond. We took out a wall to create an open concept living space. The room is connected to the entry hall, the dining room, a TV room and kitchen. The final living room will feature a seating area around a fireplace as our focal point. But I’m also loving the original arches and the 145 year old pocket doors!
The latest updates include the dry wall going up and the walls being primed. We also chose oak hardwood for the floors – they’ve been going in over the last few weeks. The smell in there is SO good right now. I wish that picture was scratch and sniff! The floors’ natural color is so pretty I’m going to be hard pressed to stain them in the end. Needless to say, I’m VERY excited to begin to see actual rooms take shape. The living room concept from Casework below has me envisioning quiet evenings in our living room cuddled up with a glass of wine and a good book home decor magazine!
Over here at Casework we’re super excited to see Erin’s new Victorian fixer upper in San Francisco transition to Apartment 34 standards. We know how daunting an entire home remodel can be, especially living through the process but know the Apartment 34 team and Erin will create a unique and thoughtful space and track the progress all the way!
When we were asked, “how would Casework redo a room?”, we jumped at the chance. Victorian bones with modern sensibilities are right up our alley. We love a mix of traditional details like crown molding and wood floors with more modern pieces like bright white walls, brass light fixtures and mid century tables. That blend of old and new is the perfect balance. And to make it all work, it’s really all about keeping things neutral and focusing on textures, materials and playing with scale. We also like to layer tones of gray with the classic black and white to soften the starkness and create warmth without needing warm colors.
> Sofa
> Chandelier
> Planet Light Fixture
> Marble Coffee Table
> Kartel Gold Componibili
> “Brazil Cliffs” Art
> Mid-Century Planter
> Chairs
> Brass Mirror
> Tabriz Rug
I’m definitely crushing on this chic, sophisticated take on the living room. Catching up on our epic remodel project? You can check out kitchen ideas HERE, living room ideas HERE and bedroom ideas HERE. More updates on our progress will be coming to the blog again soon but I’m also sharing more improptu tours on Snapchat and on Periscope! You can find me @apartment34!!
Room by Casey Keasler for Casework
Image 1 via Daniellla Witte // 2 via Space Copenhagen // 3 via Lark & Linen // 4 via Citizen Atelier // 5 via Nordic Design
Slickdeals and conducted by OnePoll, the study found 85% believe their home is in “dire need” of some updating, and 78% already have plans for home improvement projects this year.
These home improvers are planning to renovate or redecorate an average of three rooms in the next six months, putting their focus on the living room (49%), primary bedroom (48%) and kitchen (47%).
The results also suggest that the average homeowner plans to spend at least $1,753 on their upcoming projects.
However, 81% are trying to keep their projects as close to their budget as possible. Nine percent of respondents even claimed they could do it for under $500.
“Changing your home to reflect your style can be done even with a smaller budget,” said Vitaly Pecharsky, head of deals for Slickdeals. “This can start with something as simple as decluttering your home to larger changes such as bathroom vanities and appliances. Tapping into seasonal sales can also help you save.”
The most popular aesthetics people currently stick to in their homes are modern (29%), bohemian (12%) and rustic (7%).
When it comes to inspiration, many turn to the classics: decor/architecture magazines (55%), home improvement apps (54%) and TV shows (50%).
According to those polled, the best, most aesthetically-impactful “small” home improvement changes are simple ones like painting walls (46%), decorating with trinkets and tchotchkes (46%), buying new throw pillows (45%) and hanging art (44%).
Over half (52%) have considered changing their home’s aesthetic because of something they found and bought on sale.
Seventy-three percent are willing to purchase something for their home if it’s on sale, even if it doesn’t fit in with their home’s aesthetic.
Pecharsky added, “Finding a sale doesn’t have to mean sacrificing on your home’s aesthetic. By checking back regularly with a deal site like ours, you can find the best products at the best prices.”
The “Wave House” — one of the most iconic homes on the California coast — just hit the market for $49.5 million. It’s the first time the architectural gem has surfaced for sale in 36 years.
Deriving its name from the cresting rooflines that mimic the wavespitching on the beach just below, the striking structure was built in 1957 by Harry Gesner, the late architect known for designing one-of-a-kind residences along the coast and the mountains above it. Gesner died last year in Sandcastle, another iconic home he designed for himself that sits right next to the Wave House.
He built the idiosyncratic abode for his friend and fellow surfer Gerry Cooper. In 2016, Gesner told Curbed that he drew up the design for the home on a surfboard using a grease pencil.
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“I wanted the house to have the look of a giant wave at the peak of its strength,” Gesner said in Lisa Germany’s book, “Houses of the Sundown Sea: The Architectural Vision of Harry Gesner.”
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The living room. (Simon Berlyn)
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The entry. (Simon Berlyn)
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The dining room. (Simon Berlyn)
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The deck. (Simon Berlyn)
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The deck at night. (Simon Berlyn)
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The exterior. (Simon Berlyn)
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The beach. (Simon Berlyn)
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The coastal home. (Simon Berlyn)
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Aerial view of the property. (Simon Berlyn)
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The ocean. (Simon Berlyn)
Pop star Rod Stewart bought the home in the 1970s and sold it in 1987 to record executive Mo Ostin, the Warner Bros. mogul who worked with artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Nicks. Ostin also died last year, and his family trust is handling the sale.
The home is a Modernist masterpiece, a reflection of the seaside setting that surrounds it. Drawing inspiration from natural forms, it boasts eccentric archways, rounded decks and walls of glass overlooking the ocean. Inside, a sunken conversation pit is anchored by a floor-to-ceiling fireplace under whitewashed beams.
Real estate records show the home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms across 6,208 square feet. Other highlights include a landscaped entryway and stone courtyard.
Ostin made a few changes during his stay, brightening the living spaces with shades of blue, turquoise and white to match the seaside setting. He also swapped the pebble roof for copper shingles, which have since taken on a natural patina that matches the coastal color palette.
“The space takes your breath away, but at the same time, you feel relaxed,” said Dena Luciano of Douglas Elliman, who shares the listing on the property. “It’s stunning.”
She added that in its prime, the home served as a gathering place for big names in the music industry. More recently, it appeared in the 2019 film “Yesterday.”
Luciano holds the listing with Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates and Compass agents Chris Cortazzo and Harry Gesner’s son, Zen Gesner.
If it sells, it’ll be the latest recent blockbuster deal in Malibu. In May, Jay-Z and Beyoncé dropped $200 million on a compound eight miles up the coast, setting the all-time price record in the state of California.
Here at the Koke-Long house we’re in the market for some furniture. Our living room is currently semi-furnished with a comfortable but deteriorating Ikea couch and some leftover dining chairs; we’d like a nice armchair or two and some tables.
I’ve mostly gone for Ikea ‘cheap and new’ furniture in the past, but I’ve been disappointed by its (understatement alert!) lack of durability. This time I’d like to try buying used but higher-quality. As I began to look around, though, I realized that I knew very little about what makes for a strong, long-lasting piece of furniture.
Anyone can identify a rip, scratch, or stain, or decide whether they like a certain color, without special knowledge. But judging whether a piece is likely to last two years or twenty — just by looking at it — is harder stuff. Time to research! Here’s an overview of what I learned, with a checklist at the end.
Wood Furniture — Composition
I used to think hardwoods were hard and softwoods were soft. Silly me! Actually, hardwood just means ‘from a deciduous tree’ and softwood means ‘from a coniferous tree’, and some hardwoods (like aspen) are softer than some softwoods. What you want on exposed surfaces is a wood that’s reasonably scratch-resistant. You can test this easily enough by attempting to draw a thin line with your fingernail across the wood; if it makes a visible dent (use a flashlight here if necessary) you know it won’t stand up to much use.
Structurally, any kind of solid wood or sturdy plywood will do the trick. If plywood, look for at least nine layers. Check the wood for knots, even on unexposed pieces; all knots are susceptible to cracks. Some woods, like pine, are ‘knottier’ than others, and therefore less desirable. Avoid particleboard, pressed wood, or fiberboard.
Veneers — a thin piece of premium wood covering a lower-quality piece of wood — are often used even in very high-quality furniture. As long as the base piece is solid wood or plywood, the only drawback to veneer is that it limits the number of times an item can be refinished.
Wood Furniture — Construction
Joint construction is the main determinant of quality furniture. Anything held together with staples or nails is shoddy construction. Ditto if it’s glued and you can see the glue. Dowels (wooden pegs slotted into two opposing holes) are good, as are screws. The best joints are either dovetail (interlocking squarish ‘teeth’ — see photo) or mortise-and-tenon (narrowed end of one piece inserted into a hole in the other). Corners should have a reinforcing block attached at an angle.
Look for thin sheets of wood between drawers in a chest of drawers or desk. While not necessary, these ‘dust panels’ improve structural strength as well as protect drawer contents. Drawers should run smoothly on glides and have stops to prevent accidentally pulling them all the way out. The best drawers have bottoms that are not affixed to the sides but ‘float’ in a groove, allowing for minor expansion and contraction caused by changes in humidity and providing extra strength.
Lift the piece at one corner — it should not twist or squeak. Check that all legs are touching the floor. Press on various corners to see if the piece rocks or wobbles.
Upholstered Furniture — Composition
For a sofa or chair with removable cushions, unzip a seat cover and have a look inside. You should see a block of foam wrapped with dacron, cotton, or (for very high-end cushions) down, preferably with a protective inner cover (usually muslin). Foam-only cushions are both less durable and less comfortable. If you’re buying new furniture, inquire after the density rating of the seat foam: you’re looking for 1.8 pounds or higher.
Removable back cushions may have foam as well but are more often loose fill. In the latter case, multiple internal compartments are preferred as they prevent the fill from settling.
If there’s a tag or label, look for a cleaning code: ‘W’ means water-based cleaners, ‘S’ means solvent-based cleaners (‘dry cleaning’), ‘X’ means no liquid (vacuum only).
Upholstered Furniture — Construction
According to Consumer Reports, the oft-touted “eight-way hand-tied coil springs” don’t have a corner on comfort; coil, cone, sinuous, and grid springs can all work well. Best just to test the feel of the specific piece by sitting in various spots to see whether you tip or sink. If the cushions are removable, lift and press down on the deck underneath: you should feel even spacing and resistance to pressure.
Squeeze the arms and back: ideally you should not be able to feel the frame through the padding. Lined skirts and ones with weights will hold their shape better over the long run.
Are the cushions reversible? You’ll get twice the wear if they are. Flip them around and make sure any upholstery patterns match up both ways.
Tip:Consumer Reports has a nice diagram to help you assess upholstered furniture construction.
Quick Furniture Checklist
That’s a lot of information. If you’re like me, you might find it difficult to remember all of these factors while you’re actually shopping at the furniture store. To make things easier, I’ve created a basic furniture shopping checklist. You may download the 35kb PDF or simply print the list below:
Armed with this information, I feel much more confident about approaching future furniture purchases, both new and used. I hope you find it helpful too. Happy hunting!
A paint job that doesn’t require the peskiness of taping off? Need we say more?? This weekend’s task of meticulously applying blue tape to every edge, corner and cranny of a room that just needs a simple fresh coat of paint- is poof, gone. Because if you’re as adventurous as we hope you are, you’ll love this super fun, super edgy – we’re not going to lie – avant garde paint idea!
Go bold this fall in a media room, guest room or any room that you’re looking to add a “wow” factor by painting a wall a little less than 3/4 of the way up and leaving it “unfinished”. The confident and gutsy lines of the paint brush or roller bring a whole new meaning to an accent wall – and we are so in love with the look.
What do you think? Would you pass or play? For more Ideas to Steal, you’ll want to check out our backlog of brilliant inspirations.
It looks like Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Billy Joel isn’t in such a New York state of mind these days.
The New York native recently listed his trophy property on the very posh Oyster Bay Harbor for a hefty $49 million.
The 26-acre estate, known as Middlesea, comprises the original 14-acre property the musician bought for $22.5 million in 2002 and the adjoining parcels he’s picked up over the years, according to the Wall Street Journal. It comes with more than 2,000 feet of frontage on Centre Island.
The highlight of the estate is an elegant, 20,000-square-foot main house with spectacular water views.
There are five bedrooms, six full baths, two half-baths, a playroom, a spa and hair salon, a bowling alley, and a wine cellar. There’s also an indoor pool, which Joel has covered up so he could use the space as a music room, because of its excellent acoustics, according to listing agent Bonnie Williamson, of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty.
Parts of the main house are being renovated and are expected to be completed within the next several months.
The estate also features a three-bedroom beach house, a three-bedroom guest apartment, and a four-bedroom gatehouse.
Other luxe amenities include a floating dock and boat ramp, two outdoor pools, and a helicopter pad.
You might be wondering why, after spending more than 20 years developing this trophy property so close to his hometown of Hicksville, also on Oyster Bay, the musician would let it go. The Journal reports that Joel, wife Alexis Roderick, and their two young children are spending more time in Florida.
Joel purchased a $22 million Florida estate in 2015 and reportedly owns a Sag Harbor, NY, property. So it appears the music titan will not be moving out of New York completely.
Joel, 74, is a multiple-Grammy winner and one of the world’s bestselling artists of all time.
A historic Manhattan townhouse that was among the very first to showcase the works of some of the most notable artists of the 20th century (including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Cy Twombly) is now up for grabs in New York City.
Recently listed for $25 million, the massive property at 4 East 77th Street — whose first two floors currently host the Michael Werner gallery — was also home to prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Maurice Kanbar, who famously invented Skyy Vodka while living here.
Now, the century-old residence is ready to add a new chapter to its storied history.
Compass agents Stacey Kanbar, Julie Kopel, and Leonard Steinberg have been enlisted to find the right buyer for this unique property, which is currently configured for mixed use (with commercial zoning on the first two floors) and has the potential to become one of the most significant single-family residences in all of New York City.
With a highly desirable address (it’s the first house off of Fifth Avenue), plenty of space (11,695 square feet, including the full-height cellar), and countless architectural details, the historic townhouse offers endless possibilities for reconfiguration.
The first two floors, currently housing the Michael Werner gallery, feature exquisite bowed windows that capture light from both the east and west sides, while the upper levels host four vacant residential units on floors 3 through 5.
The third floor hosts a luxurious full-floor apartment with north-facing Juliette balconies and a charming terrace on the east side. Two one-bedroom apartments adorn the fourth floor, while the fifth floor boasts a single floor-through apartment with a stunning 15′ x 19′ south-facing setback terrace, offering magnificent downtown views.
Future owners can choose to either keep the lower-level tenants and earn passive income, or turn the entire townhome into a massive single-family home again, as it was when originally built over a century ago. Renderings that accompany the listing show the many possibilities to transform this grand residence.
The storied history of 4 East 77th Street
4 East 77th Street was built near the end of America’s “Gilded Age,” an era of explosive economic growth and migration. It started at the end of Southern Reconstruction (1877) and lasted two decades. New York experienced an almost exponential population boom during this time, with numerous construction projects popping up all over the city.
SEE ALSO: Here’s the Estate that Served as Inspiration for “The Great Gatsby’s” Opulent House
In 1895, acclaimed developers Robert McCafferty and Richard W. Buckley added another project to the boom with this magnificent, five-story residence.
The 11,695-square-foot property still boasts its original marble façade and includes a full-height cellar.
Just west of the building, where East 77th opens onto Fifth Avenue, lies Manhattan’s Gold Coast district. This seven-block stretch of Fifth Avenue lies between 14th Street and Washington Square Park and is made up of several opulent historical buildings, including many hotels and mansions once belonging to some of New York’s wealthiest, most influential residents.
The buildings here have been impeccably maintained, and the owner of 4 East 77th will be just a walk or bike ride away from this elegantly preserved piece of New York history.
4 East 77th Street’s first owner, Benjamin J. Knower, bought it in 1897. Knower and his wife Mary Constance Allen were active members of New York’s “high society” and had close ties to Caroline Astor, the foremost New York socialite of the era.
It later housed the Leo Castelli gallery
By 1942, 4 East 77th Street had been converted into a multi-family townhouse.
This is when Leo Castelli, a prominent art dealer and a refugee from Nazi-occupied France, bought an apartment on the fourth floor.
You might not know Castelli’s name, but you’ve likely heard of the major 20th-century artists whose careers he helped launch or develop.
Those names include Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Claes Oldenberg, Cy Twombly, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Robert Morris, James Rosenquist, Bruce Nauman, Richard Serra, Joseph Kosuth, Lawrence Weiner, Salvatore Scarpitta, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.
In 1957, in the living room of his fourth-floor apartment at 4 East 77th Street, Castelli opened the Leo Castelli Gallery. Castelli paid his artists using a stipend system that was groundbreaking for its time. It guaranteed the artists an income whether he used their work or not. This system allowed him to attract, discover and retain a vast stable of young, visionary talents.
Many of the gallery’s artists would get their first one-person shows right there on the fourth-floor living room at 4 East 77th Street.
SEE ALSO: Neil Patrick Harris’ impeccably restored house in Harlem sells for $6.99M, sets new record for the neighborhood
Castelli’s gallery helped shape America’s 20th-century tastes in art. Pop art, minimalism, and conceptual art largely owe their success to his gallery. Castelli also used his success at 4 East 77th Street to help initiate the contemporary art gallery system as it exists today.
The townhouse was also home to Skyy Vodka inventor Maurice Kanbar
Maurice Kanbar, a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has owned the property since 1964.
During his residency at 77th Street, Kanbar invented Skyy Vodka, revolutionizing the spirits industry. But the popular drink is by no means his only creation; Kanbar’s numerous inventions also include a safety sheath for hypodermic needles and a cryogenic cataract remover.
Additionally, Kanbar (who passed away in 2022 at age 93) opened the Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village, the first multiplex cinema on the East Coast and the second in the United States. He furthered his impact on the arts by endowing the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at NYU.
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