The penthouse apartment is located at 50 Lispenard Street inside a building built back in 1866 that has been perfectly converted.

This 1900 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath NYC loft like apartment is listed for sale by Eklund Stockholm New York for $4.55 million dollars – I think this may be considered affordable by New York standards.  Note to self: come up with $4.55 million dollars immediately before this place is snatched up.

As you step off the elevator that opens into the two bedroom, two and a half bath duplex unit, you’ll find ceilings up to 18 ft, a floating staircase, heated 8 inch plank floors, glass paneling and a gas fireplace in the skylit living room flanked by two decked terraces, one with a Jacuzzi. The Valcucine Kitchen is fitted with a Subzero refrigerator, Viking cooktop and Kuppersbusch oven, built in Miele Nespresso machine, glass counters and cabinetry and LG Washer/Dryer. Bathrooms feature imported Italian marble and glass, Hansgrohe fittings, double steam rainshowers , deep Duravit soaking Jacuzzi tubs and custom vanities. A structural glass walkway separates the master bedroom with balcony and the guest bedroom. Channel luxurious industrial chic, defined by New York City aesthetics and style.

The 3200 s.f. Schein Loft is located on the eighth floor of the building, above the existing warehouse. The interior spaces are arranged as a series of overlapping zones rather than enclosed rooms. This open layout, in addition to the windows that are on all sides of the unit, welcomes a relationship to the outside and emphasizes views of the city.

Terraces are located on the East and West fades, one extending from the master bedroom and the other from the residence’s generous living and dining space. The latter, which overlooks the Hudson River towards the West, is accessed through the faceted glass curtain wall. Natural [west] sunlight floods the interior living spaces through this side of the building, allowing for passive solar energy to be gained by the concrete floor in the wintertime. This double-glazed fade acts not only as an impressive viewport to the city but is in fact a highly insulating element for the home. Two layers of glass with heat-absorbing low-e film on the outside layer make for a quiet internal environment and for a stable climate with little additional heating and cooling. The lighting, ceiling fans and the window shades, which react to climactic changes, are efficiently controlled by an intelligent home system.

The interior spaces are intended to be comfortable and relaxing, withdrawing the residents from the busy urban environment below. Natural materials inundate the spaces while the spine, a sculptural structure that runs through the loft, defines boundaries softly rather than rigidly and provides an aesthetic language that is casual and warm. The structure is composed of a thin black metal frame and recycled bogwood veneer, an oakwood that, after having been buried in peat bogs and preserved from decay, is naturally stained by tannins in a blond and black pattern.

As the main artery of the loft, the spine distributes the private spaces adjacent to its organic structure and moves light and air from one end of the residence to the other. It holds a freely suspended ceiling plane, which provides cooling, heating and fresh air, thanks to a built-in humidifier and air purification system. The music room, guest bathroom, master bedroom and adjacent bathroom grow from this smooth and softly lit axis.

Essentially an extension of the living quarters, the master bathroom has a spa-like and escapist quality, complete with overflow bath and steam shower. Other interior features include a 7 ft long fireplace, built from materials from local stone quarries, and art storage areas that are integrated into the anatomy of the residence, either as extensions of the bogwood structure or as spaces concealed by pivoting walls that seamlessly blend into the space.

All these elements combined – the environmental, spatial and aesthetic considerations ? make of the Schein Loft a most adequate place for finely-tuned living, a sense of balance and order permeating the whole.

The living area is perfectly designed around family, a fun area rug that’s part of the couple’s first line of accessories. Taking advantage of the lofty ceilings, they created an oversized chandelier by grouping six Copper Shade pendants by Tom Dixon at different heights.

The Novograts successfully put together a perfect mix of vintage and modern furniture, expensive and inexpensive pieces and colorful surrealist works of art, creating a timeless and glam atmosphere — a trait they’re well-known for.