Real Estate and Charity Collide at the Kips Bay Show House

The 44th annual Decorator Show House is underway, showcasing work from top interior designers. The townhouse at the Carlton House has been completely transformed, and all for a good cause, namely the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. All proceeds from the events will go to the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club which provides after school enrichment programs to more than 10,000 youth in the Bronx. 

History

In 1950, The New York Times announced "Astors to Build Hotel Apartment." The Astor Estates interests has ties to hotel properties in the city since 1848. They purchased 13 consecutive properties to make room for the new building which would become the Carlton House. 

The Carlton House got its name from the then to be demolished Ritz-Carlton, with the new building accommodating displaced tenants with penthouse and luxury hotel-service apartments. In 2010, Extell Development and Angelo, Gordon & Co purchased the property from the estate of the late Leona Helmsley. Now in 2016, the house is designated as part of the Upper East Side Historic, and is one of the largest newly constructed townhomes on the Upper East Side. It is 35 feet wide with approximately 10,000 square feet of living space with an additional 5,000 square feet of outdoor space. 

The Townhouse is currently on the market for $49,500,000.

This townhouse presents a rare opportunity to experience amenity living rarely seen with other New York residences. Residents enjoy perks from being neighbors to Barneys New York such as food delivery from Fred's. Additionally, the townhouse resident has access to the full range of amenities offered by the Carlton House including 24-hour doorman, concierge, 65-foot indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and private storage. Entry can be made directly from 61st street or through a private entrance within the Carlton House lobby.

Decorator Show House

The expansive townhouse residence has become a showcase of work from renowned interior designers that have donated their time and skill to create the beautiful spaces. The interior features 5 floors of living space which have been transformed into sumptuous space from a Napoleon inspired sitting room with rich, dark tones to a Clive Christian kitchen complete with Lalique panels. 

The interior designers have spared no attention to detail throughout the home, sourcing their decor from the likes of Hermes, Sotheby's, Bergdorf Goodman, and Roche Bobois to name a few.

Take a look at a few of the beautifully curated rooms in this year's Decorator Show House:

Salon by Alex Papachristidis Interiors

Kitchen by Clive Christian Interiors

"Salle a Manger Glamour" Alex Papachristidis Interiors

Library by David Kleinberg Design Associates

"An American Dream" by Victoria Hagan

Sitting Room by Garrow Kedigian Interior Design

"The Art of Modern Living" by Eve Robinson Associates

Victoria Shtainer in the "Lady Lair" by Phillip Thomas Inc

"Urban Oasis on the Roof" by Hollander Design

The Show House will be running May 12 - June 9 2016.

19 East 61st Street
Monday-Saturday: 11-5pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 11-8pm
Sunday: 12-5pm

Tickets can purchased online in advance by visting Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Remember, all ticket proceeds benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.

70 Vestry Street Unveiled in TriBeCa

A new Robert A.M. Stern designed building is coming to the Hudson River skyline in TriBeCa. Last week, Related Properties hosted an exclusive unveiling of the newest building coming to the Triangle Below Canal. 

The building, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, embodies his belief in the harmony of grace, symmetry, and proportion. The project is positioned to work into the Hudson River shoreline, drawing on classical architecture principals, yet fits harmoniously into existing downtown aesthetics thanks to its stone facade and decorative metal work that is reminiscent of old warehouses. 

The exterior of the building is created from Beaumaniere Limestone, coming from a quarry on the banks of the Seine, 250km south of Paris. Speaking of the exterior, Mr. Stern says,

“Limestone works more beautifully in the sunshine than any other material. With the western and southern light, the building and river will glow.”

70 Vestry comes with a full array of amenities that we come to expect from a luxury building of this caliber. The amenities start on the exterior, with a private courtyard featuring lush landscaping and a serene waterfall that evoke a glamorous sense of arrival. Other amenities include a library, café with private resident lockers, billiard room, lounge, and wellness level with fitness by The Wright Fit and a pool. 

The interiors are quite inviting, the result of a combination of modern materials and the special touch of interior designer Daniel Romualdez who collaborated on the project. Finishes include hand-sawn oak, bronze, and marble. Kitchens are outfitted with a full suite of Miele appliances.

Guests were able to experience the new building at the sales offices while enjoying champagne and hors d'oeuvres. At the time of the unveiling, an available 2 bedroom residence was in contract, with available residences starting at $7.25M for a 3 bedroom home. Additionally, 70 Vestry offers unique terraced residences starting at $19M. The majority of this building faces the Hudson River, affording it spectacular river views.

Wes Holland, Gabriel Zapata

Should you be interested in previewing 70 Vestry, please contact us

Photos: The Victoria Shtainer Team, Patrick McMullan

4 Places to Take Mom this Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday, and if it slipped through the cracks of your busy schedule, The Victoria Shtainer Team has 3 recommendations for you to take Mom to this weekend. Forget breaking the ban on a typical, boring lunch or dinner, these events are cultural and will add some interest and surprise to your Mom's special day. 

America's Cup : The iconic event will return to lower Manhattan for the first time since 1920! The cup, presented by Louis Vuitton, is a preliminary competition among six countries for the 35th America's Cup next June. Head to the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza for the best experience and viewing. Brookfield Place Waterfront will be transformed into an event village featuring a gear shop where you can purchase event t-shirts and apparel, and, most notably, a Moet Champagne bar. No tickets necessary, and races will take place from 2-3:30pm both Saturday and Sunday. The event village will be open both days from 12-6pm so you can enjoy some champagne!

Looking for something to enjoy afterwards? Head to Grand Banks at Pier 25 to enjoy an oyster bar al fresco. The restaurant is on the historic wooden schooner, Sherman Zwicker. The setting is reminiscent of the oyster barges that were seen on the Manhattan waterfront in the 18th and 19th centuries. Great cocktails, rose, and beer on tap are also available. 

New York Botanical Garden Weekend Garden Party: Enjoy the spring time blooms and fragrant air at the New York Botanical Garden. The garden has restored and renovated some areas to have it looking the best this year. The weekend party will feature live music, dancers, games, food trucks, and casual picnicking. Tickets: $20 adults, $8 children. Saturday and Sunday from 10-6pm.

Frieze New York: Looking to give Mom a little dose of culture? In addition to all the art offerings the city has on a daily basis, the Frieze Art Fair is taking place May 5-8th on Randall's Island.  There will be a large array of art with more than 200 galleries showing. There will be food trucks and other beloved New York eateries on site such as Frankies Spuntino and Roberta's and Cosme. Tickets start at $49 and we recommend taking the East River Ferry to get to the island.  

CONTEXT New York: In conjunction with Art New York, CONTEXT New York is launching is inaugural New York edition with a fair running from May 3-8th. It is based of its successful counterpart, CONTEXT Miami. Art New York and CONTEXT create a welcoming atmosphere for both experienced and new art collectors. 60+ emerging and established galleries will be participating. The event will be held at Pier 94 located on the Hudson River at 12th Avenue and 55th Street. One Day passes are $40 and valid for both CONTEXT and Art New York.

We hope you can get out and enjoy the weekend with Mom. Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother's Day!

Victoria Shtainer with her Mother

Photos via: America's Cup, NYBG, Frieze , Art New York

Top Spots to Enjoy Cinco de Mayo in NYC

The spring day filled with celebrations is almost upon us. Cinco de Mayo, the Fifth of May celebrates the Mexican victory over the French army in 1862. An unlikely defeat, the win was a huge boost to Mexican morale, becoming a symbol of unity and pride. The best way to celebrate is to grab your friends and some tequila at these hotspots around town. 

Dos Caminos: Dos Caminos is bringing back their "Cinco de Cinco" which is comprised of 5 days of specials (starting May 1) leading up to Cinco de Mayo. Specials that caught our eyes include $5 Coronas and $5 Churros y Chocolate. Check out all the specials here.

Gansevoort Park: The trendy hotel will be hosting Cinco activities on their roof. Enjoy some great views in the sleek atmosphere on their rooftop. Specials for the celebration include $10 house margaritas, $6 drafts, and $13 tacos. 

Rosa Mexicano: Rosa has established itself as an upscale Mexican option with multiple locations in the city as well as elsewhere in the country. Rosa will be offering up a pre-fixe menu for $40. Selections vary by location, with menus being available here. We always recommend the pomegranate margarita! 

Anejo TriBeCa: The downtown restaurant and tequila bar is gearing up for their annual all-day Cinco de Mayo party. It is quite popular, and even Guest of a Guest is talking about it. The annual party goes from 11am until midnight with notable menu items including fried guacamole with tequila and mezcal specials.

Blockheads: An easy go-to with various locations around the city having served up over 6,000 margaritas last Cinco! Specials for the celebration include $5 frozen and $8 shaken margaritas. Free chips and salsa included with any order...count us in!

5 Tips for Making a Home Office

With all the technology it is no surprise that 'telecommuting' or working from home is on the rise as it can provide more work-life balance. Additionally, many run their business from their homes full time. A home office can be a valuable and productive space when done correctly, whether you are sitting down to pay the occasionally bill or running an empire from your home. Here are five things to consider when designing your home office.

Location: Consider what space within your home you are thinking about transforming into a home office. Consider spaces with large windows and light. Your surroundings can highly impact your work ethic and attitude, so if you are going to be spending a large amount of time in your office it is important to ensure it is positioned correctly. Have you given thought to separating your work space from your spouse's? Our 166 Perry Street listing incorporates an office for him as well as a "woman cave" for her which can be a functional work space.

Functionality: Having a balance between design and function is important when it comes to an office since the ultimate goal is to get work done. Of course we all want our spaces to be aesthetically pleasing, but keep functionality in mind when shopping for furniture, accessories, and decor. 

Organization: Make your space organized! It will eliminate clutter and allow for a more efficient work environment. Consider using your space wisely, as many home offices are on the smaller side. Shelves are a great way to use vertical space above a desk. There are some great desks that have a shelf system as part of the desk which is great for storage and organization. We love the amount of storage this Restoration Hardware desk offers.

Color: Paint the wall a color by which you will love to be surrounded. Different colors have different effects on mood and the feelings they evoke. The psychology of color certainly affects each one differently, however, blue is generally said to be the most productive color.

Equipment: Just like functionality vs. design, strike a balance between equipment and accessories/decor. It can be easy to spend on accessories to add to the space, however, it is important to ensure you have the proper equipment first so you can get work done. Invest in a good desk chair such as this one by Herman Miller.

Newest New York Luxury Hotels Bring Style and Design

It goes without saying that the New York hotel market is quite crowded with hundreds of hotels throughout the city. Luxury hotels have made their mark on the city by serving not only as hotel for guests, but trendy destinations for city goers alike by offering restaurants from renowned chefs and top-notch nightlife. The new wave of stylish hotels opening in New York is bringing not only big news in hospitality, but they are also being designed by big names in the architecture and design world such as Philippe Starck.

New luxury hotels are popping up around town from Park Avenue to SoHo. Take a look at what will, perhaps, become the new "it" places in the city:

SLS Park Avenue- The trendy hotel brand, SLS, by SBE will finally be coming to New York. The new hotel is slated to open this coming fall and is situated at Park Avenue at 30th Street. The property is designed by world famous architect Philippe Starck as his first New York hotel design since the Hudson Hotel in 2000. Not many details have emerged about the specifics of the restaurant and nightlife, however, SLS does say it will bringing vibrant new restaurant and nightlife concepts- that we can be sure of from the trendy hotel group!

11 Howard- This new spot in SoHo is now open and brings a fresh, minimalist design to the area. The hotels concept was designed by SPACE Copenhagen as they infused their minimalist Danish roots into the space. The property features custom finishes, bespoke furniture, as well as an inviting bar and library. 

The Beekman- Thompson hotels is bring some luxury to downtown with its new property at 123 Nassau Street. The hotel is situated in a downtown landmark building that is known for its nine-story atrium and pyramidal skylight. The design is being overseen by Martin Brudnizki who has designed SoHo Houses around the globe. In addition to the hotel, the The Beekman offers luxurious residences and culinary options be chef Tom Colicchio.

Photos: SLS Hotels, 11 Howard, Thompson Hotels

Spring Refresh: Home Fragrances

Spring is a great time to freshen up your space. You can freshen up your home or apartment without doing a complete overhaul of your decor. Sometimes, something as simple as the fragrance in the room can change the mood. Scent is one of the most powerful mood setters when it comes to decorating. This spring, consider updating your home fragrances with ones that uplifting and fresh like the season. Switch out spicy and woody fragrances more attuned with fall and winter for citrus and floral notes that are perfect for spring and summer. Below our some of our favorite scents for freshening up our spaces.

NEST Corsica Classic: Bring the French Island of Corsica into your space with this limited edition scent from NEST. A blend of Mediterranean fig leaves, olivewood, and a touch of lemon zest, this fragrance would be perfect for a beach home. $75 NEST

Malin + Goetz Mojito: Bring fresh notes of lime into your space with this candle inspired by the classic mojito cocktail. Notes of lime, rum, mint leaves, and basil will fill the air, creating a cool, fresh environment. $52 Barneys 

Diptyque Figuier Diffuser: This diffuser's design is as good as the fragrance that it exudes. The iconic scent from Diptyque fills the room with an aroma of sun soaked fig trees. Notes of warm bark and fresh leaves come together to create an inviting environment. $150 Diptyque Paris

Cire Trudon Prolétaire: Cire Trudon's history is as impressive as its fragrances. The house dates back to 1643 on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. For floral lovers, Prolétaire features a fresh, green floral fragrance with hints of Lily. A great light, fresh aroma for the spring season. $95 Barneys

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Diffuser: A signature from the Jo Malone line of fragrances, this diffuser will create an aroma reminiscent of a Caribbean breeze with notes of basil, white thyme, and lime. $85 Jo Malone