High atop One Beacon Court, a luxury tower at 151 East 58th Street, a swanky penthouse has just come to market. And, it’s not just any penthouse, but the home of Valentino co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti. Public records show that the fashion industry mogul, who founded the Italian fashion house with Valentino Garavani, picked up the 3,779-square-foot penthouse in 2010 for $18.5 million. He’s now seeking to part with the suave, glassy residence for $17.5 million.
Giammetti gave AD a peek into his Manhattan pad back in 2013, sharing details of the spaces he curated with designer Jacques Grange. The panoramic views catered to his infatuation with the city, which he touched on in his memoir, Private: Giancarlo Giammetti (Assouline). “New York for me is more uncharted territory. I am still a tourist here. It’s incredible how much I discover every time I approach the windows. Unless it’s bad weather—then I’m in a gray cloud.”
Though the sweeping vistas are one of the 54th-floor apartment’s biggest draws, Giammetti didn’t want a bright, sterile feeling to permanent the home. The goal from the start was to add warmth and depth. One way Grange accomplished this was by dressing floor-to-ceiling columns along the glass windows with brass and charcoal-toned mica. Dark in color and shimmery, this touch gives the home unique glamour. Of course, pieces from the homeowner’s expansive art collection also did their job. Paintings by legends like Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, dark wood furnishings, decor with Asian flair, and gold and leopard print accents in the primary suite all played a part in building the penthouse’s inviting yet bold personality.
The seasoned businessman, who retired from Valentino in 2008 but now is the brand’s Honour President, has said he often entertains in a drop-in, salon-like manner. This three-bedroom penthouse with vast living spaces, including a huge dining room and sleek kitchen, seems perfect for that.
For those who can afford the pricey Sutton Place home, Allison Bandier Koffman and Juliette Janssens of Sotheby’s International Realty and Martha Kramer of Brown Harris Stevens share the listing.
