102 W 75TH Street #52

In 1891, noted architect Gilbert A. Schellinger's Romanesque Revival vision at the corner of West 75th Street & Columbus Avenue - The Del Monte - was realized. With its voluminous lobby, its ornamental brownstone and ironwork, and its grand window-lit halls, Schellinger's creation was known for its impressive scale, its newly prime location in the bourgeoning Upper Westside, and its graciously grand layouts. This four bedroom home is a prime testament to that creation. Supremely renovated, keenly planned, and built for a big life, this beautiful residence with a flexible layout (see alternate plan) boasts all the best hallmarks of an impressive 19th Century home - high ceilings, lovely moldings, 2 fireplaces (with "practical" inserts), solid cherry doors with classic hardware, and reclaimed antique heart pine floors -- but with all the practical niceties for a graceful 21st Century life - 3-zoned central ac, new windows, Bang & Olufsen AV system, new plumbing, upgraded electric, inset lighting, clever built-ins, custom designed kitchen and baths, washer/dryer, 15 custom designed closets, and so much more. The practical foyer spills elegantly into the gracious lving and dining rooms - bright, well-proportioned and well-positioned rooms ideal for entertaining and lounging - boasting four large windows, two fireplaces and perfectly practical proximity to the trophy cook's kitchen with dining counter. Chef Emeril Lagasse cooked in this very kitchen for a Good Morning America TV segment - impressed with its ample stone counters, its handsome custom cabinetry, its two big windows, and its top-tier appliances (including wine fridge and dual ovens) by Subzero, Wolf, and Fisher & Paykel. Two bedroom wings gracefully flow off of the foyer. The guest room/den (bedroom 4) is a flexible chamber with a custom built-in, and is currently configured as a very sweet nursery. The other two guest bedrooms are also easy to live and easy to love, with their quiet exposures and easy access to the designer windowed, classically appointed guest bath. The master bedroom suite is quite separate from the other bedrooms, and comfortably suited for a king sized bed. With its walls of closets and its en suite designer, windowed, marble bath with step-in shower and dual sinks, this stupendous suite is a tranquil retreat. The Del Monte is pet friendly, boasts a restored lobby and halls, and conveniently offers storage/bike/laundry rooms, two entrances (one with ramp), and a beloved live-in superintendent (who takes all packages). One block from Central Park, and mere moments away from Riverside Park, Barneys, Zabars, Fairway, Beacon Theatre, and a plethora of transportation and destination shopping and dining options, this rare 1891 home -- smartly renovated and reimagined for 2015 -- has never looked better.