78 Irving

A regal limestone, granite and masonry exterior, with original 1901 ornamentation, provides a glimpse of the exquisite architectural detailing that awaits one inside this stunning building—set on the corner of tree-lined Irving Place and quiet 19th Street, affectionately known in New York City architectural circles as “Block Beautiful.”

Wired for modern conveniences and thoughtfully designed to evolve with today’s technology, each residence takes its style cues from the Gilded Age, but its operational mechanics from the Digital Age. The building even has a powerful generator to allow life to go on as usual should an emergency arise—a feature that far exceeds city requirements.

The expansive residences have highly malleable layouts with few obstructions, allowing New Yorkers to create spaces for contemporary living. Gone are the small and compartmentalized living quarters of yesteryear; in their place stand elegant rooms with generous proportions that allow residents to adapt the space as they desire—and alter it with ease.

Today, a kitchen is more than just a place for preparing meals. It is the social hub of a residence, a room for conversation, play, homework and dining. The floating island provides a table at which to sit and work, with room for stools so a convivial meal can be served. By the window, an extra prep zone doubles as an office nook, with a custom leather blotter and a stool that tucks beneath the countertop. Busy owners can toggle between work and home life in this central room that makes a strong statement about contemporary urban living.

To achieve a master suite that would dazzle discerning residents, a large bedroom embraced by a large bathroom, a walk-in closet and a generously sized hanging closet were created within the light-filled and secluded master suite.

Victorian vanities are often centerpieces in period homes, offering lovely flourishes but little storage space. Here, those same graceful bones and sculptural chrome legs are outfitted with custom cabinetry for added functionality. It’s a beautiful hybrid, a subtlety that cannot be found elsewhere.

78 Irving stands proudly as part of the Gramercy Park Historic District, a neighborhood that retains a sense of literary nobility. From the outside, this is a building that helped coin the term Block Beautiful; from the inside, it peers tree level onto the renowned architecture that surrounds it. This is New York living with an authentic sense of place and history.