Inside a Modern Manhattan Townhouse

manhattan townhouse
Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

In Manhattan, it feels like space is a commodity more precious than gold. With an average price per square foot of $1645, according to a report from Douglas Elliman Real Estate, one can only dream of owning a four-bedroom house with an outdoor area in the heart of the city. So when we caught wind of development for brand-new five-story townhouses in the heart of the West Village, we had to find out more.

By Manhattan standards, this 4236-square-foot townhouse is a sprawling mansion. Part of the Printing House development, a former industrial building in the West Village transformed into luxury condominiums in 2013, this new phase involved the ground-up design of two townhouses and three maisonettes located in the landscaped stables behind the main building.

We chatted with Andrew Kotchen, principal at Workshop APD, who oversaw the entire development, to find out every last detail of this impressive undertaking. Find out what $13 million will get you in Manhattan's most star-studded and coveted neighborhood—the Printing House townhouses are a lesson in luxury design.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

"The space was designed with a young urban family in mind, featuring a mix of entertaining spaces and private retreats," explains Kotchen. "The style blends a modern aesthetic on the interior with an exterior that is reflective of the property's industrial roots and traditional neighborhood style of the West Village."

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

"The goal was to design modern, shared spaces with balance and flexibility of purpose," says Kotchen. "We call it 'contextual design' because our ideas are rooted in the property's surroundings." This is obvious from the first moment you walk in the door, where an entryway bench is framed by storage that transitions into the kitchen. On the left, an open space with dining and living spaces provides plenty of room to entertain or spend time as a family.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

Kotchen's favorite part of the home? "The pair of Widdicomb-style slat-back lounge chairs in the living room from Eric Appel was a great find," he says. "Our interiors are often a mix of high and low, due to use and durability, but these chairs were a splurge that we thought really tied the room together." Another interesting finish in the home is the fireplace, which includes a reclaimed wood beam sourced from Brooklyn and accented with hand-oiled blackened steel.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

The main floor's living area was designed to be able to host everything from dinner parties to children's playdates, and it features floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors, and plenty of space. "Because this home was furnished as a model unit for all of the new spaces of the mews, we wanted to keep within a neutral palette," explains the architect. "The lush landscape of the mews spoke to us, which led to the addition of green tones throughout the home."

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

In the kitchen, white-oak floor-to-ceiling cabinets anchor the space while a waterfall Calcutta marble island provides both counter space and a statement separator to the dining area.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

The second floor invites a much quieter living experience with the three bedrooms as well as multiple private baths and a laundry room. The first bedroom features an ikat-style wallpaper from Élitis and bright colorful tones throughout.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

The bedroom, large enough for a queen bed, has views on the mews outside and a colorful décor that's a departure from the neutral living spaces below.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

The children's room is styled to work as both a bedroom and playroom, with plenty of storage space and a moody wallpaper from Holly Hunt.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

Toys and blankets are arranged in woven baskets and layered on a whimsical dip-dyed ladder from Pendleton. The third room on the floor is styled as a hotel-style guest bedroom—elegant and neutral like the rest of the house.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

"The primary bedroom encompasses the whole third floor and features a large bathroom with frosted glass panel walls to bring light through the office and sitting room against the windows," says Kotchen. The desk area, which doubles as an entrance to the primary suite, is a taste of what's to come in this ultra-luxurious space.

Primary Bedroom

The term “Primary Bedroom” is now widely used to describe the largest bedroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term “Master.” Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

The primary bedroom features an extra-plush king bed from Restoration Hardware and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. "One of the challenges was working to achieve a sense of privacy when faced with urban proximity in this single-family home," says Kotchen. The families living in the maisonettes in the Printing House across the mews are a mere 28 feet away. To achieve this, automated curtains were installed—ones that still let light in but also provide complete privacy.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

The dressing room runs the entire length of the building across the room from the primary bathroom. With plenty of his-and-hers space, the walkway also features a statement dresser from Made Goods.

Primary Bathroom

The term “Primary Bathroom” is now widely used to describe the largest bathroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term “Master.” Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

"One of the biggest challenges we faced with this project was figuring out how to maximize the light that enters the building with windows on only the east-facing elevation," explains Kotchen. "We used large-scale windows and interior glass walls to move the light through the space."

For the architect, a favorite part of this home is the unique use of space. "This project gave us the opportunity to look at classic New York life and use our lens of modern living to create a multilevel home that stays true to townhouse living while providing a luxurious space not often available in the West Village."

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

On the top floor, a sunroom provides an extra entertaining space complete with an ensuite bathroom and wet bar. "The sunroom located on the penthouse level of the residence takes advantage of the large windows to maximize indoor-outdoor play space," says Kotchen. 

Donna Dotan ; ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: Workshop APD

"Contrary to the shared outdoor space on the ground floor, the roof is completely private," says Kotchen. "Large sliding doors open the space completely to the outdoor living area, while an arbor and landscaping will screen the residents." In a place like Manhattan, where space in itself is a luxury, we couldn't imagine a more premium address or a better place to spend a sunny afternoon.

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  1. Manhattan Apartment Prices Reached $1.15 Million Mark in 2015, Reports Say. The New York Times. January 5, 2016.