31 W 12TH ST 5E

This stunning 3-bedroom, 2-bath prewar coop home is one of just 23 at The Ardea, a renowned and much sought after turn-of-the-century brownstone apartment building designed by John B Snook. Quietly nestled among Italianate townhouses and the leafy trees of Greenwich Village's Gold Coast, this glamorous Classic Six has been reinvented for today's discriminating purchaser.

In mint condition, this home has been lovingly restored with high-end details and finishes, including central air conditioning. Marquetry floors, richly ornamented moldings and cabinetry, substantial wood doors and hardware, and 10-foot ceilings harken back to an earlier era of gracious living. The handsome tiled fireplace (decorative) anchors a spacious and sunny south-facing living room, boasting oversized windows and a romantic Juliet balcony with a beautiful cast iron railing. You will be delighted by sweeping views of the lovely cityscape and expansive sky.

One of the home's bedrooms is now serving as a library and study connected to the main living room. A secondary full bathroom, full of design delights, is a perfect powder room for guests.

The kitchen, great room, and dining area are in an open plan space towards the center of the home's layout. This is a fun and lively hub from which to sip wine with dinner guests or to prepare and enjoy a meal with kids or friends. The large wine fridge will ensure that every bottle is stored and uncorked at just the right temperature. At the end of a long day, you can sink into your plush sofa and watch a favorite movie while your chicken is roasting in the oven!

Another bedroom is quietly tucked off this central area, away from the main bedroom suite, and is convenient to the secondary bathroom.

The main bedroom suite, featuring a stunning en suite bathroom and great closets, is privately and quietly tucked away in the rear of the apartment. The home's washer/dryer is super-convenient to the main bedroom suite and ample closets.

The Ardea, as envisioned by builder George A Hearn, was constructed in two phases. The E-line units were built in 1900 and added to the W-line units built in 1895. The two halves are architecturally aligned and seamlessly connected.

Many celebrated persons have called The Ardea home. In May 1921, Marie Curie visited and stayed with her close friend and Ardea resident Marie Meloney, where they worked together to raise money to purchase radium. Flowers accumulated outside the Ardea from admirers and delegations!

Just off elegant Fifth Avenue, close to Washington Square Park, the Union Square Farmer's Market, shopping, restaurants, The Salmagundi Club and historic churches. The Ardea is a wonderful home base in Manhattan.