161 East 78th Street

> THE ARCHITECTURE: Henry Armstrong, a prominent builder at the time of the Civil War, was responsible for the row houses on East 78th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues beginning at Number 157 through 159, 161, and 163-165. > Completed in 1861, this row of vernacular row houses was inspired by the Italianate style popular in New York during the 1860s. > The tall parlour windows in all five building create an appealing row, with 161 East 78th Street beautifully centered in the middle of the group. > THE TOWNHOUSE: This exquisitely renovated townhouse is like a country oasis in the midst of the city. > Three steps down from the street level is the entry at garden level. > This delightful floor begins with a large dining room with a three-quarter height wall. > The airy entry hall has a coat closet and powder room positioned opposite the elegant stair. > Beyond the entry hall is a large chef's kitchen with a cool stone countertop for informal dining, behind which there is also ample room for a formal dining arrangement. > Built in cabinets and desk space occupy the opposite wall. > This floor is flooded with light from the double-height wall of windows and French doors opening on to the deep planted garden. > On the parlor floor, the library in the front of the house has built-in cabinets and three tall windows with tree-line views of East 78th Street framed by plantings just outside the windows. > A marble-topped wet bar off the landing leads to a large living room with views to the garden made exceptionally bright by the balustrade overlooking the dining space below. > The third floor comprises two bedroom suites. > To the front of the house is a large bedroom with a spacious closet and elegantly designed full bath. > The corridor is lined with built-in linen cabinets. > In the rear a bedroom suite has a walk-in closet with built-in cabinetry, a full bath with a large bathtub and three windows facing the rear garden. > With a large setback front terrace, the entire fourth floor is a grand master suite complete with a large walk-in closet, two additional closets, and a spacious master bath with separate bathtub and steam shower. > Spanning the width of the house, a deep Juliette balcony is outside the master bath and overlooks the gardens. The rear garden is unusually deep and beautifully designed with well-proportioned plantings. > A finished full-height basement with laundry and ample storage, security system, central air and forced air heating complete this red brick four-story townhouse. > Set back on a desirable townhouse block, this property has been thoughtfully renovated to maximize the tremendous north and south light, and beautifully blends unique entertaining spaces and private living quarters.