Tantalizing Townhouses
in Manhattan and Brooklyn
by INHABIT EDITORS
These swoon-worthy listings are the stuff big city dreams are made of.
Let’s face it: In New York City, there’s nothing like having a home that’s a house. Whether it’s the privacy, the outdoor space, or simply having a stoop to call your own, our noble brownstones, handsome Federal-style row houses, and their sleek modern derivatives continue to encapsulate a timeless urban living idyll.
Because it’s one we can, in fact, put a price on, here’s an assortment of current Corcoran townhouse listings:
Manhattan
Every aspect of this fully-furnished Murray Hill home allows you to enjoy a luxurious life that connects generations of New York City. D&J Jardine—architect brothers quite prolific in the city during the 19th century—completed this Second Empire-style building in 1869. Inside, however, things have been keenly reimagined with a chic eye. That old-world charm still abounds but is now met with new-age features. These range from the aesthetic (marble baths and open-tread staircases), to the technological (remotely controlled lighting, thermostats, and shades), to the plain convenient (automated outdoor plant irrigation).
The finished lower level forms an inviting space well-suited for everything from entertaining numerous guests to a party of one. It boasts a wine cellar, games area, and a family room outfitted with a 65-inch smart TV and a surround sound system. At the home’s other vertical end is a landscaped roof terrace, complete with Midtown skyline views that include the iconic Empire State and Chrysler buildings.
This Upper West Side property has stood on Manhattan Avenue for over 130 years, only claiming four owners over that span. It’s part of a historic row constructed in 1886, sitting mere minutes from Central Park’s tranquil upper reaches—Great Hill, North Woods, etc. Original elements include stained glass, sprawling hardwood, and a fleet of tiled fireplaces. Meanwhile, renovations have helped lovingly lead the townhouse into the 21st century via contemporary appliances and conveniences.
All four bedrooms—concentrated on the two upper floors—offer cozy nooks for private relaxation, as the garden and lower levels are supreme for all modes of socializing. Alongside the previously mentioned 19th-century details, the home can’t help but have a warm sense of comfort draped in a curtain of stately elegance. Honestly, who wouldn’t want to be the fifth owner?
Every last detail feels deeply considered across this Upper East Side four-bed. Soaring ceilings extend from one end of the parlor floor to the other—linking two floor-to-ceiling marble wood-burning fireplaces—lending an art gallery-like scale to the entire space. Up one level sits a modern kitchen, but it’s the breakfast nook beyond it continually breathing new life into the home thanks to a skylit setting and a wall enveloped in a hydroponic fern.
A delightfully intimate primary suite encompasses the third floor, a home away from home within the home where two sets of oversized windows bathe everything in natural light. Head to the top-level library/office to find a good book among the wraparound shelving before opening glass doors onto a roof terrace—an ideal locale for a bit of open-air reading among the cityscape.
Classic in front, modern out back, eclectic everywhere in between. Ascend a quintessential NYC townhouse stoop and unveil a Hamilton Heights home that will leave hearts in your eyes. Five stories of glass flood the interior with natural light that unfurls across the mahogany inlaid floors. Entertain gatherings of all sizes across the open plan parlor with the option to spread out toward the marble pond and serene aura of the back garden. A stainless steel spiral staircase connects the distinct areas.
The garden level can serve as a rental income-generating unit, sporting its own bed, bath, kitchen, and living and dining rooms. A top-floor artist’s studio looks like a submarine emerging from the depths, its porthole windows peering out onto a sizeable roof deck that adds further dimensions to the home.
Brooklyn
Nestled near the Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy border, this meticulously restored Neo-Grec isn’t just at the center of it all: it also has it all. Four levels and 3,760 square feet of brilliant interiors are complemented by 1,400 square feet of alfresco square footage, which include a spacious kitchen deck, a fully-outfitted rooftop, and an 800-square-foot backyard—a swoon-worthy case study in outdoor space with a gas firepit and fully-loaded outdoor kitchen, designed by the Manscapers from Bravo’s “Backyard Envy.” If that wasn’t enviable enough, it also appeared in the book Take It Outside: A Guide to Designing Beautiful Spaces Just Beyond Your Door.
But the inside is just as grand. A double-leafed entrance into the parlor level reveals chevron wood floors and a grand staircase, which extends upstairs to three bedrooms. The primary suite, on the top floor, boasts a 120-square-foot walk-in closet, and one of the two secondary bedrooms boasts a garden-facing balcony. Downstairs, there’s a separate garden-level apartment.
This Park Slope four-bedroom was built right after the turn of the 20th century, and it shows in all the best ways. It boasts handsome details, including plaster ceiling moldings and medallions, an arched entryway, and inlaid parquet flooring—all the beloved Brooklyn townhouse touches you’d hope to find. Signature creations by celebrated lighting designer Lindsey Adelman illuminate every inch of the home. However, natural light is a beacon to the darling living room, perfectly appointed with a marble mantle fireplace, a wall of built-ins, and views over the picturesque yard.
Speaking of the yard, it’s more of a glorious garden, spanning 90-feet deep and blossoming with hydrangeas, honeysuckle, lilies, and much more flora. If you don’t feel like fine-tuning your green thumb, become an amateur pit master instead—the yard’s front end has a grill that’s ready to fire up for summer barbecue season.
There’s no testimonial like longevity, and that certainly holds true here. This 22-foot-wide brick Federalist in Brooklyn Heights last sold over 60 years ago and, furthermore, dates back to 1843, giving “pre-war” an entirely different meaning. Multiple generations of the same family have lovingly maintained this home in pristine condition. It’s surrounded by a lush garden and a towering grove of evergreens, layering yet another veil of privacy over an already-tranquil setting.
Upon entering this six-bedroom, four-bath residence, you might even feel closer to the country than the city, harkening to the days when ferries were the only way to Manhattan, Long Island Rail Road trains rolled towards Greenport in the lost tunnel under Atlantic Avenue, and the bard Walt Whitman walked the streets of a neighborhood dubbed “America’s first suburb.” The double parlor boasts pristine details that include oak floors, full-height casement windows, and period moldings.
Enter on the garden level of this Crown Heights townhouse and step into a gloriously refined world. There’s a sense of openness as the living room’s wide plank white oak floors become that of the dining room and kitchen. Even more open is the backyard waiting behind floor-to-ceiling glass doors. This expansive outdoor space allows you to escape it all, whether lounging on the stone patio or sitting atop the shed’s sun deck. Yes, you get a shed, too—who doesn’t love extra storage in this city?
Location isn’t always everything, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. This home is right in the buzzing heart of Crown Heights, walking distance from numerous neighborhood hotspots for dinner and drinks. Borough must-sees such as Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Museum are also incredibly close, while anything that isn’t is easily accessible by multiple subway lines.