135 East 79th Street

Floorplans are up for the apts. on the Corcoran website, but not yet on SE.(http://www.corcoran.com/agents/listings.aspx?Region=NYC&userid=135E79&ndevid=557) Initial thoughts and reactions? Thoughts on prices? (I liked that the plans clearly state meters squared for foreign buyers--they know their market.) These are clearly amazing apartments (floorplan porn), but a few things surprised... [more]

Floorplans are up for the apts. on the Corcoran website, but not yet on SE.(http://www.corcoran.com/agents/listings.aspx?Region=NYC&userid=135E79&ndevid=557) Initial thoughts and reactions? Thoughts on prices? (I liked that the plans clearly state meters squared for foreign buyers--they know their market.) These are clearly amazing apartments (floorplan porn), but a few things surprised me. If you're startign from scratch and charging a fortune, shouldn't every detail be right? 1. The rooms for live-in maids. I understand that apartments of this size will require full-time caretakers, but this runs counter most of the other apartments in pre-war buildings, where owners are combining maid's rooms to create extra bedrooms, larger kitchens, or MBaths. Also, wouldn't owners prefer the maids' rooms off the kitchen and not next to the family bedrooms? 2. No fireplaces. It's hard to evoke the pre-war ambience without working fireplaces as the center of the LR. Or has this been replaced by flatscreens? 3. Odd configuration of entry hall/service hall between kitchen and service elevator. How could a cook/caterer take out the trash without walking past guests in this arrangement? 4. Closet in Elevator Lobby. Shouldn't the closet be inside the apt? 5. Bar in the Penthouse. I would prefer this to be off in a hall, not in a prime area between the LR and DR. 6. Mansionette Door. Are the front doors of the mansionette really directly across from the main elevators? [less]