Sneak a Peek of The Faux Apartment of Your Faux SATC Friends

Because the editors of Elle Decor know that most people will see the new SATC movie simply because they want to peek at the enviable real estate, they've gone and made our lives easier by piecing together a slide show of all of the film's notable interior design. Consider this the best $12.50 you never had to spend.

And if this slideshow doesn't cut it, have a look at one of our past posts, which takes you inside the townhouse used as the 5th Ave penthouse in the last flick.

Meanwhile, does anybody else find that half 'his' half 'hers' closet kind of stupid?

Stylish Interiors from Sex and the City 2, ED
Inside the 'Fifth Ave PH' from Sex and the City, UES

Apartment #9S at 995 Fifth Ave Asks $7.995M

While it might not have a $28.5 million asking price, apartment #9S at the old Stanhope Hotel does have a lot of other stuff. And by 'other stuff,' we really just mean parquet floors. They've been hypnotizing us since the property hit the market yesterday--but we're not complaining.

995 Fifth Ave, Corcoran

Salient Auctions: 127 Madison Avenue

Development firm Cardinal Real Estate Investments will hold an auction for several unsold units in its pet-project, 127 Madison Avenue, in June.

The developer says of the auction: “There’s going to be some discount for this transpiring in an auction format ... But the upside for us is that it happens quickly.”

Perhaps this project's unfortunate situation will discourage future developers from using those hellish slanted windows. Just sayin'.


Madison Avenue Condos Hit Auction Block, NYT

East Hampton's Gardiner Estate Hits Market for $29M

A few years back, East Hampton's own 'White House'--the all white colonial on the corner of Woods Lane and Main Street--hit the market for $50 million. Despite its iconic status, the house failed to convince even the looniest of purchasers that an in-town location warranted such a high price. We don't know if it ever sold.

Now, the Gardiner Estate is looking to do just what the White House couldn't: Trade for an obscene amount of money in spite of its Main Street address. So is there a shot that this thing closes for anywhere near its $29 million asking? It's possible. After all, the Gardiner Estate's 5-acre spread affords more privacy than the lesser parcel on which the White House stands. And if that doesn't cut it, Hamptonites usually jump at the opportunity to make headlines with their real estate purchases.

Does anybody know who owns this thing?

Gardiner Estate, Corcoran

CPW Apartment Trades Above Asking Price

A classic six apartment at 101 Central Park West just closed for $2.5 million. Though normal in itself, the eventual closing price was actually $100k above the asking price.

And it closed in just three months. Is that normal these days?

via StreetEasy
101 Central Park West, Warburg

Oliver Sarkozy Lists Townhouse for $11.95M

Oliver Sarkozy of UBS Investment Bank has listed his east 75th street townhouse for $11.95 million with Michael Bolla. The property boasts 16 rooms, six bedrooms, and some sleek outdoor space.

In addition to his long list of successful advisory gigs, Sarkozy also happens to be the half-brother of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Perhaps Oliver Sarkozy's international lifestyle explains the townhouse's European influences.

407 East 75th Street, Michael Bolla

Bird Watching

Well that's not fair. This family of sparrows found a home on the Upper West Side well before we did. And their story has generated far more tweets than anything we've ever done. (Ha!)

Regardless, it's fun to see that our sparrows purchase real estate much like we do: aggressively. Says one expert: "They are fierce nest competitors ... They are able to evict other birds, even native species. They are survivors."

File this under oddly empowering role models.

via the NYPost

Peculiar $19M Duplex at 721 Fifth Pretends Otherwise

The $19 million duplex apartment shown above has a pretty peculiar floorplan. The space, which was created by  adjoining two stacked apartments, unfortunately allocates its first floor to bedrooms and its second floor to  its principal rooms. Not only that, it also hides the staircase off in a corner where nobody can see it. But maybe these oddities aren't so bad? Says the broker:

When presented with the task of duplexing two separate 2500 square foot residences, architect Joel Jevis rose to the occasion. Creatively, Mr. Jevis designed this masterful residence with entertaining and living space on one level and sleeping quarters discreetly located on the lower. The curvature staircase that separates the two floors has been carefully positioned as not to intrude upon the living space.

Yeah, we're not buying it. Since when do staircases really intrude on the living space rather than add to its interest? Seems like an excuse for a lazy duplexing scheme.

721 Fifth Ave Condominium, BHS

Dear Readers,

Please excuse us for the upcoming week. We'll be a little tied up, and thus, unable to post. Sorry for this #fail.

TTFN!

Park Ave Guest House Downgrades Relationship

Park Avenue's First Guest House has officially downgraded its relationship with Corcoran; the Group now shares the co-exclusive with Sotheby's. 

We're okay with this since Park Avenue's First Guest House deserves only the best treatment.

830 Park Ave Penthouse, Sotheby's

Maisonette Watch

For some reason, we've decided to become the self-appointed keeper of the maisonette. Check out this slightly more modest $4.350 Carnegie Hill maisonette, which calls 1220 Park Ave home. Maisonettes - like people - sure do come in all different shapes and sizes. Wow that sounded lame.

1220 Park Ave, Corcoran

And the award goes to...

Interior designer Barbara Moore! That kitchen's an epic win. See the rest of her apartment and read a quick interview over at the New York Social Diary.

When Big Things Happen to Tiny Bedrooms

If you have multiple bedrooms with few people to fill them, then you also have the opportunity to stuff multiple obscene amenities into your apartment. Behold the Park Ave apartment of a late couple that we haven't heard of. In lieu of the apartments empty bedrooms, the owners decided to convert some rooms into some pretty awesome spaces. Exhibit A is shown above: it's a tiny bedroom that now serves as a huge closet. Exhibit B is shown underneath: it's yet another reasonably sized bedroom that now serves as the reincarnation of the late couple's favorite 1930s bar, El Morocco. Not bad, not bad at all.

via the WSJ; Peep a shot of the Bar after the jump.

One Beekman Place: Because Good Things Come in Twos

Hot off the heels of the newly-listed Fifth Ave maisonette, an equally lovely maisonette at the enviable One Beekman Place has also hit the market for an equally staggering $13 million. So how do the two listings stack up? Pretty equally, we say. Except that the Beekman Place's outdoor space puts it ahead of the Fifth Ave one, even if just by a little.

Beekman Place, Corcoran

178 East 64th Street: Welcome!

Everybody, stop what you're doing and say hello to the market's newest $15.250 million townhouse. Overall,  it seems pretty generic, which, by the way, isn't such a bad thing on the UES. Records indicate that the townhouse was most recently tied to Bill and Gloria Lawrence.

Nothing perks us up like a nice townhouse, right?

Beautiful Home on a Storied Block, Halstead

3 East 84th Street: Maternity Wear Designer's Old Home Enters, Stays In Contract

Fashion designer to the pregnant type, Liz Lange, and her husband Jeff, secured a contract on their $5 million third floor apartment at 3 East 84th street about a year ago. The ride was bumpy: Originally listed for $6.195 million, the price subsequently dropped to $5.495 - and what they ended up selling it for remains a mystery. What's more mysterious, however, is that the apartment remains in limbo - no new deeds, no nothing. And since the couple moved on from the place years ago (see their new place here), we find it strange that this deal isn't officially wrapped up. Upper east confusion, Indeedidin't.

Have a look at the old apartment, which is listed as 'in contract' with BHS, here.

840 Park Ave: K, Bye!

The three bedroom, ninth-floor unit at 840 Park Avenue has sold for $3.150 million. It hit the market in mid-January for $3.650 and went into contract in March. A quick - and rather successful - sale.

via StreetEasy
image via The City Review

33 East 70th Street: Baldwin Bicycles

In perhaps our favorite excerpt from today's news ('Alec Baldwin was spotted arriving for an apartment tour on his bicycle. He visited an $8.5 million, three-bedroom, four-bathroom co-op at 33 E. 70th St.'), we learned that Baldwin likes to ride bicycles, Michele Kleier of GHK is one step closer to another Birkin, and 70th street might become our new favorite thoroughfare. Regardless, one real question remains: Did he let a helmet get in the way of that hair?

Via the New York Post, of course.
33 East 70th Street, BHS & GHK

2 East 70th Street: Holy Maisonette

Sure, duplexes are great and townhouses even better, but why settle when you can have both?

Consider this newly-listed Fifth Ave maisonette: it'll set you back $15 million, but not without catapulting you fifty steps forward. You'll get two floors of park-front space, ten rooms, two staircases, three separate entrances, and three fireplaces. And a personal Fifth Ave street address. Like, who wouldn't want his or her own private street entrance into one of the world's most hoity-toity co-ops?

Drool over the interior shots here.

Mind you, with real estate like this, the President could be listed as the principal owner and we wouldn't care. Just let us look at the floorplan!

655 Park Ave: Shoebox Apartment

Some might refer to this 655 Park Ave duplex as a 'shoebox apartment,' not because it's lacking in size, but because its current owner, Mr. Ferragamo, happens to make a killer Italian loafer. That being said, shouldn't there be, like, 50 +/- leather chairs in this place? We counted two. Lame.

Big Deal, the NYT

The Pierre's 2E Still 'Dead-Feeling'

The new and improved Pierre has a lot going for it (location, style, history), but the one thing it seems to lack - namely, a 'scene' - sticks out the most. On a Saturday night, for example, the crowd at Le Caprice, the stateside outpost of 'London's most fashionable restaurant,' seemed nondescript. And at its new lobby bar, 2 East, the crowd was, as the WSJ put it in January, 'a little dead-feeling' (i.e., nobody was there). Sure, these things take time, but weird that a social spot in one of Manhattan's most exclusive areas isn't really that exclusive. Not yet, at least.  

image via. The Pierre, New York

The Times' Real Estate Section Seems Extra Loopy Today

Not that we don't like to spice up our own blog posts with nifty one-liners or wordplays, but these tools seemed a little overused in the Times' Real Estate section this weekend. Take its story about Lance Bass' decision to close on an apartment in the Chelsea Mercantile, which included gems like 'N'Sync member says hi, hi, hi to New Condo' and Lance Bass 'has decided to buy, buy, buy a condo.' Either Bass has a secret stutter or someone had a little too much fun on Cinco de Mayo. Probably the latter.

Big Deal, NYT

830 Park Ave: ...Guest House?

Might this $8.9 million Park Ave penthouse be one of the first to possess its own guest house? It sort of looks that way.

A quick inspection of the property's floorplan indicates that the only way to get to a significant portion of the apartment is to head outside to the 'west' terrace (because yes, there are also 'east' and 'north' terraces) and then waddle on over to what we have dubbed Park Ave's only guest house. The space not only looks like a guest house, but it also acts like one: the current owners use the space as a gym and a studio. And if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Granted, either we or the floorplan might be missing something (like a door), but let's hope that's not the case. Make your own analysis with the floorplan after the jump.

830 Park Ave, Corcoran

New Listing at the San Remo Commands $17.5M, Our Attention

It has a $17.5 million price tag, a 50-foot park-front terrace, and enough space to encompass the entire 19th floor of one of the San Remo's towers. It might also just be our new favorite listing. Please let new photos and a floorplan come our way within the next few hours; we're dizzy with curiosity!

And for the nosey types, it appears the apartment is tied to the Chairman and CEO of the Cendant Corporation's real estate division (i.e., a job that pays the bills).


Update: Swoon! the floorplan is here! And after the jump. By the by, that gallery is the end-all of galleries.

The San Remo - South Tower, BHS
image via the City Review

Behind the Glossy Website...

You know when Toto exposes the Wizard of Oz as a normal person? Well, seeing what Corcoran's executive offices really look like is kind of like that. Call us dreamers, but we kind of expected the brokers to frolic around in a lofty prewar space, each with his or her own marble bathroom and walk-in closet. In spite of this letdown, we still posit Corcoran at the top of our list.

image via Corcoran's twitter

32 East 74th Street: Second Chances

Welcome back, mid-blocker. The stylized, yet sort of tired-looking townhouse at 32 East 74th street is going to give that whole 'for sale' thing another try. Once listed for $13.5 million in '07, the townhouse now asks $14 million, which likely compensates for its freshly-renovated kitchen and master bathroom. New kitchens, new pricing, new beginnings!

32 East 74th Street, Warburg

Inside the Apartment of Movie Producer Joe Roth

Movie producer Joe Roth's 3,800 square foot condominium at One Beacon Court is in contract, says the New York Times. The $21.7 million apartment, which was listed with Corcoran, was purchased in 2005 for $13 million. How can he even watch his movies with all of that glare? More shots after the jump.

Movie Producer Sells Penthouse, NYT

170 East 77th Street: Religious Experience

You know how Jesus' face kept popping up on burnt cheese sandwiches and old rust stains? Well, add this throw pillow to that long list of divine inanimate objects. Only this time, we see more Madonna and less Jesus. The 'Material Mom' operates in mysterious ways, as they say.

170 East 77th Street, Prudential Elliman

Sutton Square Townhouse: Still Perfect

This Sutton Square river-view terrace always lightens our mood, much like the drinks you party animals will consume during tomorrow's Cinco de Mayo celebrations. File this under the Upper East Sigh's twisted version of a pregame.

3 Riverview Terrace, Sotheby's

Official Met Costume Gala Post

An official post from uncertified spectators. What people noticed: The Donald was more than happy to wave to pedestrians; P. Diddy was de-linted by an assistant before entering; Katie Couric and Graydon Carter were latecomers.

The Frick Collection: It Has A Bowling Alley

We knew the Frick had nice paintings and exhibits, but we didn't know it had a bowling alley. And not that bowling alleys are necessarily the first amenity we'd throw into our Fifth Ave mansion, but Mr. Frick lived in different times, simpler times, so we approve of this. And we also approve of things that take the edge off of this obscene Bridgehampton estate. Have a look at the video from which these screen caps came right here.

via the New York Times

15 Central Park West: For Sale By Owner

Is this even allowed? The owners of a 2,200 sf apartment at 15 Central Park West have decided to list their second-floor spread without the help of a broker. Obviously, the 'listed by owner' bit on StreetEasy tipped us off, but there are a few other ways to pick up on this nuance. First, the pictures aren't perfect (enter that miscellaneous man in the background of Living Room Picture 1). Second, the description contains phraseology like 'Live Where the Stars Live!' And last, the owners decided to price it at $8.5 million, or about $1.5 million more than its April list price. An unorthodox move for sure, but in 15 CPW, anything goes!

15 CPW #2D, StreetEasy

170 East 78th Street

We usually just laugh every time a listing says 'just bring your toothbrush' because the last time we checked, toothbrushes can't refinish floors (or can they?). But had this duplex at 170 east 78th street instructed us to do so, we actually would've listened. We pretty much like everything this apartment has to offer, from the street-level views, to the double-height ceilings, to the classic layout. We wonder if this shameless plug will earn us a discount on this otherwise $3.5 million pad. Regardless, this one earns a huge sigh of envy.

170 E 78th Street, Corcoran

Do you smell something?

If so, it's probably just the illustrious essence of the Plaza's new 'signature body perfume.' New York Times Blog In Transit claims the folks at the Plaza wanted to "create a modern fragrance that appeals to the senses and characteristics that the Plaza Hotel embodies." In other words, it might just smell like poor construction, foreign investors, and hamburgers.

This bottle of stuff, which will set you back $95, is probably as close as we'll ever get to owning a piece of the Plaza. That being said, we'll take five.

The Plaza Hotel Gets Its Own Perfume, In Transit

Duck Hunt on the UES

This warms our heart in so many ways. And you know that dog is having a 'what the duck?' moment, which is also fantastic.

via The Post.

New and Noteworthy: 69 E 82nd Street for $13M

Take a look at this $13 million townhouse on east 82nd street. The townhouse boasts 6,400 sf, a deep garden, and a painlessly (or painfully - it depends!) close commute to nearby PS 6.

69 East 82nd Street, Stribling
image via Google Maps

Things Are Lookin' Up on the UES

Literally, that is. Two recent filings with the Landmarks Preservation Commission show that the only way to go is up. Want some proof? Kgood. Up first is the 'as is' townhouse at 12 East 78th Street (shown on right). The townhouse traded for $9.75 million in 2009 with pre-approved plans for some serious expansion, including a glossy rooftop addition (rendering shown in middle). Unfortunately, it looks like those plans have expired or changed, as the current owners are scheduled to have yet another hearing in mid-May for a similar expansion.

Up next is the 1921 Fred French-designed Co-op at 21 East 66th Street, whose penthouse owners are greedily seeking a rooftop addition. More is more, as they say.

via Sotheby's and CityRealty

Outrageous Amenities in Matinecock, LI

Short of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, no house should be able list ice cream parlors, log cabins, personal tap rooms, and play houses with waterfalls that 'cascade into four separate ponds' as amenities.

Something tells us that whoever grew up in this $4.5 million gold coast estate is having some real problems hearing the word 'no.'

Matinecock Estate, Daniel Gale

What's in a name?

This little story about naming a Co-op really tickled our hearts. It also reaffirmed that Co-ops are by far the most thrilling source of debauchery the city has to offer, second only to the little warriors who try and sell them.

So what would we have named that Co-op - or any building for that matter? Good question. Let's run through some candidates, after the jump.

52 Lily Pond Lane: Martha's Dilemma

Brace yourselves, Hamptonites. It looks like the builder's acre next to Martha Stewart's Lily Pond Lane estate did in fact come on the market. And if Martha's previous track-record is to be any indication, we can safely expect the shrub line between Martha's pad and this new property to become the most volatile fault line south of the Sound.

The acre in question is listed for $7.5 million with Prudential. The listing says the parcel, which currently houses a converted carriage house, can support a 5,100 square foot main house, a pool, and a detached garage.

About a decade ago, Martha famously - and successfully - accused her old Georgica Pond neighbor of illegally "suburbanizing the area with inappropriate dark greenery." And those were just bushes. A 5,100 square foot McMansion? Oh hell no.

The humanitarian in us says Martha should just buy the property and be done with it. The blogger in us, however, wants to see what happens the first time her new Yuppie neighbors show up asking for sugar.

Image via Bing Maps; via The Real Deal
52 Lily Pond Lane, Prudential Elliman

10 Gracie Square: Unsurprisingly Nice

The apartment of the Cottages & Gardens magazines founder is every bit as nice as we assumed it would be.

That's all.

10 Gracie Square, Corcoran

610 Park Ave: Life's Not Chair

On paper (er, on StreetEasy), the new $15 million listing at 610 Park Ave gives chills: 4,400 SF, prewar condo, 27 windows?! On BHS, however, not so much. First, since when do you need eight chairs in a bedroom? Hint: When your bedroom is 25' too long. Second, since when do $15 million kitchens look like that? And why no chairs here? And last, why use phrases like 'discerning gourmand'? We don't like pulling up Dictionary.com just to get through a listing. (Mind you, this gem translates to 'a discriminating nondiscriminating eater' - 'eater' for short). File this under listings that leave us listless.

610 Park Ave, BHS

You Live in A Bachelor Pad When...

Take a look at this $6.495 million Soho loft. Like many other lofts, unit 7AB at 561 Broadway has all of the trappings of a typical bachelor pad. The television projector, the pool table, the sparse decor - it's nothing new. But that basketball hoop definitely puts this one over the edge and onto the bachelor pad hall of fame. Ironically, the owner isn't actually a bachelor.

The owners of apartment 6AB could not be reached for comment. But that's probably because they didn't hear the phone ring. File this under noisy neighbors we'd never want to have.

561 Broadway, Corcoran

13 East 94th Street: That's Morbid

The limestone townhouse at 13 East 94th Street has had a pretty notable history. In 2003, its $11.25 million selling price shattered Carnegie Hill's price per square foot record, which was previously held by Woody Allen and his 92nd street townhouse. In 2005, it traded at a loss for $10.8 million. Thereafter, it casually glided onto and off of the market for prices of up to $18.5 million. And now, its back on the market for $15.5 million. The current owners, Maren Properties LLC, also own property on South Main Street in Southampton.

While all of that's great, we're far more interested in the decor's symbolism. Exhibit A is shown above. The juxtaposition of the wild game and the animal skulls intrigues us. It's kinda morbid. And that decorative ladder off to the left: We guess you use that if you need a hand. Get it?

13 East 94th Street, Sotheby's

Duplex in One Beekman Gets Around

Everybody has that friend who gets around a little too much. And if apartments have friends (which they might, who knows) then unit 3/4C in One Beekman is that friend. The unit just came on with the Corcoran Group for $8.250 million. Normal enough. But before that, it had tumultuous stints with the now defunct Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy and Sotheby's. We hope this listing settles down - and sells! - with Corcoran. Also, just looking at photographs of those red walls helped us wake up this morning. (Nifty amenity for sure.)

Beekman Place, Corcoran
via StreetEasy

The Apartment of Duane Hampton

Because who doesn't want to look around the Park Avenue apartment of a society fixture? Also, needless to say, living with famed designer Mark Hampton (no relation to the villages thereof) had its perks. Several more shots after the jump.

Courtesy of the New York Times, Home & Garden.

219 East 67th Street: Worst Two-for-One Special, Ever

If we are going to take a serious, full-floor load off of the shoulders of not one, but two Loft 67 sellers, then we expect a discount. Will we get it? No. Enter the new $13.370 million listing in Loft 67, which now includes floors two and three - or the combination of a $6.875 million listing and a $6.495 million listing, respectively. We aren't math types, but we do know that this arrangement wouldn't save us a penny. But such is life, right? 

219 East 67th Street, Prudential

205 East 85th Street: The Brompton

Not that we have Robert A.M. Stern on the line, but we sort of feel compelled to give our two cents on The Brompton, or at least on the new $10 million unit that's listed in The Brompton with Corcoran.

What we like: fireplaces; Juliet balconies; built-ins (rarer than all get-out). What we don't like: no crown molding.

3-1, The Brompton.

205 East 85th Street, Corcoran

Let's Weigh in on Staging (And Green Apples Too)

The recent piece in the Observer about apartment staging left us dying to create a list of items that prospective buyers can expect to see - without fail - in any staged apartment. Needless to say, we've satisfied that urge. For some added interest, we decided to separate these items into highbrow and lowbrow categories.

See the list, add to the list...

Yet Another Awe-Inspiring Gold Coast Listing

Shocking! Another Gold Coast-era estate is now at least available for the taking. (It's reasonably priced - but 'free for the taking' would be an exaggeration, right?) The listing in question is a 31-acre estate in Brookville, NY. It's a fantastic stone manor house by architect Roger Bullar. The estate includes an impressive gate house, auxillary structures, pool/tennis, etc. It's listed for a compelling $12.9 million with Piping Rock Real Estate as of today.

We just don't know what to make of this behavior. Over the past several weeks, a little under 130 acres worth of Gold Coast estate land has come onto the market. Is there something in that blue-blooded, jaw-locked water? Regardless, we're enjoying the constant one-upmanship between Manhattan and Long Island.

Magnificent 1929 Manor House, Piping Rock Real Estate

Russian Exec Lists at Mandarin for $5M Above '07 Purchase Price

Russian Executive Oleg Baibakov has listed his apartment at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for $18.5 million. He purchased the unit in 2007 for $13.5 million after offering $500K above the asking price. This deal also came after Baibakov 'turned up his nose at a penthouse at the Plaza' because the developer, 'in an effort to maintain a sense of mystery, did not allow an inspection of the raw space.' Yeah, well we all know how that mystery turned out. 

Anyways, before the 2007 sale, the apartment was purchased in 2005 for $9.4 million. Looks like things are only looking up for the residences at the Mandarin. Have a peak at the floorplan after the jump.

80 Columbus Circle, Brown Harris Stevens; Soft Market? What Soft Market?

Image via NY Guide to Hotels