Join host Sara Gore for a tour of 5 exquisite homes in New York and California in this full episode of NBC’s Open House.
First up: 823 Park Avenue, Apt. 5. Maria Manuche of The Manuche Team shows viewers around fa quintessential pre-war apartment located on the Upper East Side. Spanning over 4100 sq ft on the fifth floor of a Park Avenue condominium, this classic abode boasts distinctive architectural details and luxurious amenities, including: a double-sized living room; coffered ceilings; mahogany windows; a private elevator vestibule; an eat-in kitchen with a cozy breakfast nook; an intimate corner library with a gas-burning fireplace framed by a marble mantle; a great room that is the epitome of understated elegance; and several exposures with beautiful garden views, as well as the tree-lined NYC cityscape right outside.
Next: Peek into a classic townhouse in Bed-Stuy that has been reimagined into a modern dream home that honors the architectural integrity while also infusing a fresh personal perspective — complete with fluted details, soft textures, and a specific color palette of pale oak and London fog. Architects Jess Hinshaw and Andrea Fisk, principals of Shapeless Studio, walk us through this beautiful Brooklyn home that features a blend of historic woodwork with clean, contemporary details and functional design throughout (such as the arched doorways that are referential to the rounded chairs in the kitchen and the custom cabinetry with the hidden integrated handles). Between embracing highlights like the original staircase that greets you upon stepping through the main entryway and implementing some unique touches of their own (including a low-profile marble coffee table and golden sofa that faces the focal fireplace in the living room, and a skylight installed directly over the shower to help flood the primary bathroom with ample sun) — this talented design duo created a space that’s warm, contemporary, inviting, and conducive to socializing and hosting family dinners.
After that, we zip over to the West Coast where real estate partners (and siblings) Samantha and Claire O’Connor take viewers on a tour of 12221 Benmore Terrace — a serene luxury estate in Brentwood, California that was originally designed by renowned architect A. Quincy Jones and spans nearly 1 acre of land. Nestled within a private gated compound, this gorgeous 6-bedroom residence teems with clean lines and natural light; and seamlessly blends a relaxing bucolic aesthetic (which includes an outdoor sauna, lush greenery, and your very own cascading 40ft waterfall) with contemporary L.A. style and midcentury architecture.
We then return to NYC where architect Valerie Schweitzer invites us into her apartment located on the Upper West Side that centers on three design principles: daylighting, contrast, and sensuality. This updated pre-war residence celebrates her love of literature, multi-layered textiles, and pops of color as is showcased in the art that adorns each room. Additionally, this lovely home features a mix of furniture that ranges from contemporary streamlined pieces to mid-century modern to antiques that she and her mother would search for in the Cotswolds of England. From the ebony white-veined marble and metal iron works that exude a historical 16th century Italian vibe to the intimate dining room with its rich cobalt palette that envelops you in a medley of colors, and industrial white oak table that juxtaposes the soft organic pale green curtains — and from the functional office with its floating bamboo shelves & resilient cork floors to the Jane Eyre-themed kitchen with its glass cabinets and checkered black-and-white marble floor — this Riverside Drive live/work residence is a playful symphony of personal design, fun twists, and unique touches meant to inspire conversation and intrigue.
We top off the episode by talking height and light with Cullen Washington Jr. takes us on a tour of his sky-high Long Island City apartment, which is a reflection of his life’s work and features 12-ft ceilings, show-stopping furniture, and stunning design details — as well as ample spaces to create. As an artist and educator, his abstract art impacts the way he styles and personalizes his modern home. To Washington, art influences the atmosphere and charges the environment, which is evident through every inch of his residence which not only showcases his transcendent large and mid-scaled creations but also a curated book collection, muted color palette, clean lines, leather pieces with African accents, and a midcentury modern aesthetic.
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