A turn-of-the-century townhouse, listed for $8.995 million, is turning heads on the Upper West Side for the melding of its original, classic features with some equally stunning updates. The home, which sits at 310 West 81st Street, boasts 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms within its impressive 4,600-square-foot floor plan. Most striking, however, is its eclectic, period-spanning charm.When antique homes undergo significant renovations, they run the risk of either losing their character or becoming an awkward hodgepodge of different styles and sensibilities. This address has no such issues, and its combination of old and new actually contribute significantly to its unique appeal. Dark wood is present throughout, shining most notably in the ornate carved bannisters of the grand staircase and in the gleaming hardwood floors. These rich, traditional details are offset by an abundance of natural light, brought in via a two-story wall of windows that display the private garden, and crisp, white walls.The home also retains its industrial style in places, with the original wood ceiling beams in the kitchen exposed to balance the clean aesthetic of the kitchen. Exposed brick walls in both the kitchen and living spaces are cleaned up with a coat of paint.Contemporary touches hardly hinder the residence’s grandeur, but instead elevate the depth of the design. Intricate woodwork, 10-foot ceilings, and original country house doors mingle deliciously with a brand new, custom chef’s kitchen and remarkably modern, luxe light fixtures in the formal living room. A gem of the past brought delicately into the present, this townhouse listed with Brown Harris Stevens is a special New York find.
