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Nothing Lasts Forever

by habituallychic

02 . 08 . 09

Everyone drooled over Julie and Luke Janklow’s white townhouse when it was featured in Vogue and now it can be yours for $25 Million. The gossip on Page 6 was that the couple was divorcing and it was confirmed when the 25 foot wide 8,100 sf home was put on the market. It seems like a bargain considering how much money they put into it but buyers should beware. The townhouse seems to bring on bad luck in marriage. The Janklow’s bought it in 2004 from Andre Balazs and Katie Ford who sold it when they were divorcing.

The description from Brown Harris Stevens is fascinating and slightly amusing. “Anchored by two massive 16th-century stone fireplace mantels, the 60-foot parlour drawing room sets the tone for the residence by establishing a texture of modern lines and open space set against historic furnishings and classic architectural details.” The furniture includes 18th-century chairs and pieces by Jansen, Karl Springer, and Vladimir Kagan according to Vogue.

“The drawing room accommodates elegant entertaining in any season or invites a young child to race a bicycle across the perfect marble floor. (As long as he doesn’t fall and break his head open!) The southern half of the space converts into a movie theater with a rear projector and screen descending from the ceiling.”

Thank goodness the townhouse boasts an elevator. All those stairs look exhausting! But maybe that’s how Julie Janklow stayed so thin. I heard that they made guests take off their shoes so as not to ruin the white marble floors. Usually the rule of thumb is that if you can afford white marble floors, then you should be able to afford to them them cleaned if someone messes them up.

“The master suite contains his and hers baths, two fireplaces, and two private dressing rooms: hers, fashioned in Perspex and glass with pink silk carpeting (see below), his with a fireplace and windows with three exposures.” The periwinkle chairs weren’t featured in the Vogue shoot but complement the painting by Stephen Hannock beautifully.

I wish they had posted photos of the bathrooms. I bet they were fabulous! Instead, there are three photos of the stairs. Yawn.

I’m not sure what room this is used for since the marketing materials state that they garden can be accessed from by the twin sets of floor to ceiling French doors from the parlour level kitchen or via the garden level formal dining room. I guess it could be part of the formal dining room. I just realized that the chandelier is the same as the one in the dining room photo from Vogue but they must have styled the room differently for the shoot. Interesting.

The “well-proportioned planted rear garden of Portuguese cobblestone” was designed by Miranda Brooks and features fifties wrought-iron furniture. I wonder if the buyer will ask for any of the furnishings to be included in the sale. The chairs look really pretty in the garden.

This room is part of the kitchen and look like a breakfast area or it could have been styled that way during the Vogue shoot since it also has the same chairs as the dining room below.

The formal dining room which features mercury-mirrored walls, a Danish candelabra, and antique gold sconces.

The rear of the fourth level, has a double-height office decorated with custom hand-painted chinoiserie wallpaper by Gracie, a sleek white full bath, and a planted terrace. The desk is by Monteverde.

Her dressing room was fashioned in Perspex and glass with pink silk carpeting and was inspired by Joan Crawford’s in the movie Mommie Dearest.

“Fashioned by a young couple of unusual creativity and taste for their specific needs, this townhouse could also accommodate up to six bedrooms as it contains five extraordinary baths and a glamorous powder room.”

I just hope the next couple who buys the townhouse doesn’t get divorced after they buy it!

23 Comments
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  1. Sabina February 9, 2009 | 1:46 am

    I enjoyed these photos immensely!! Thanks so much for posting them!!

  2. tanya February 9, 2009 | 1:55 am

    wow these photos are breathtaking. The staircase alone is gorgeous!

  3. Laura February 9, 2009 | 4:26 am

    It is unbelievable…but I have to say, I think it’s just too much house and that’s what is ruining these marriages. You have to make a date to see one another in your own home, otherwise you’d never see your partner!

  4. columnist February 9, 2009 | 4:44 am

    Great photos, and although you miss any of the bathroom, the staircase is truly elegant – especially the shot from the drawing room level. Oh, OK, maybe just that one would have done!

  5. maison21 February 9, 2009 | 5:27 am

    hell, i’d risk a divorce to live there!

  6. Style Redux 2 February 9, 2009 | 2:21 pm

    I love the garden and the dressing room especially. And Perspex sounds much more expensive than plexiglas, doesn’t it? 🙂

  7. Habitually Chic February 9, 2009 | 2:27 pm

    Sabina – you’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed them!

    Tanja – I love the staircase!

    Laura – I talked about the same thing with my colleagues when were were working on an 8,000 SF Hamptons House. There were so many rooms that you didn’t have to sit with anyone else if you didn’t want too. Maybe this economic downturn will lead a return to smaller homes…at least I hope so!

    Columnist – there are so many rooms missing on the real estate website but I guess they have to leave rooms out so someone will have to call for an appointment.

    Maison21 – I wonder what happened to cause the divorce and would make them give up that beautiful home! Although, it may have been the restaurant they opened together that led to problems.

    Style Redux 2 – I love the garden. Looks like a great place to read a book!

  8. Ivy Lane February 9, 2009 | 4:47 pm

    Maybe they never saw each other in that spanse of a home! I’d try to keep the marriage together for the sake of the house!!! I too wish we could have a peek at a few of the baths…will be interesting to see who comes up with the cash to buy it!

  9. XOXO Life February 9, 2009 | 5:21 pm

    Again, another fabulous post with exquisite photos – I’d love to live in it for a Xmas season – hosting parties and taking in all of NYC. I could see a large pine tree with lights covered in snow in the garden – now that would be romantic.

    Which brings me to another thought – this house is glamorous – but it would not conger up a single sexy impulse – everything is so sleek/clean. It would appear that given the minimal coverings & marble, even sound would travel. Where’s the warmth, romance and even perhaps a bit of whimsy? Life’s way to short and our lives (esp. in NYC) so hectic/stressed that a comforting refuge is almost a necessity. Again, just my two cents but I’ll bet their next abode will be very different. Sorry to hear about the circumstances as to why it’s on the market. – KBN

  10. Chelly February 9, 2009 | 5:49 pm

    too bad I can’t just purchase a room or pieces of a room. Like the part of the kitchen/breakfast area. I need that in my life. Luv it!

  11. aoide February 9, 2009 | 5:51 pm

    I, too, think that big houses won’t do much for your relationship. As HC said, you can spend whole weekends indoors without ever seeing each other.
    And I’m a big sucker for gardens in in the midst of a city. It seems like the ne plus ultra of urban living and I would unhesitatingly swap some hundreds square foots in the house for a bigger garden.

  12. jezebel February 9, 2009 | 6:46 pm

    Oh, this makes me so sad. It all seemed like a fairy tale in Vogue. These are days of truth, I suppose, and even the princes and ladies in their enchanted castles are prey to decay and fall.

  13. Renee Finberg February 9, 2009 | 7:04 pm

    Hey Heather,

    wanna move in with me and we will split the bills ?

    LOL

    i would cut off a body part for that place.

    i have always wanted a courtyard in the city just like that one !

    xx

  14. Habitually Chic February 9, 2009 | 7:17 pm

    Ivy Lane – I really feel like $25 Million is a bargain for a townhouse in the West Village. I hope someone with a big family buys it and enjoys it!

    XOXO Life – there are holiday photos posted here, http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/xmas-party/1819. Click on the red to see them. There were mostly blurry so I didn’t want to post any of them. The house seems perfect for parties.

    Chelly, I love that the floors look original.

    Aoide – I think a garden or outdoor space is what keeps a lot of people sane in the city. Why do you think the Hamptons are so popular! I can barely even see the sky in my apt!

    Jezebel – there have been so many couples that I have been envious of and then you hear later that they are divorcing so the grass is rarely greener.

    Renee – sounds like a plan! When do we move in?!

  15. Anonymous February 9, 2009 | 10:52 pm

    Yikes, the realtor isn’t going to like you! Haha!

  16. hello gorgeous February 10, 2009 | 2:31 am

    Yay!!! My house is for sale.

    Actually, I sort of feel like Jezebel: The fairy tale is over.

    I am in deep love with this house. Think I can get those chairs? I have dreamt about them….

  17. fromtherightbank February 10, 2009 | 9:05 pm

    I loved this house when I saw it in Vogue. Everything seemed so perfect in that article . . .

  18. saref February 11, 2009 | 1:03 am

    Is there any chance you would know where to find mercury-mirrored tiles? My web search left me empty-handed and short of scouring thrift/antique stores I am at a loss.
    Thank you for posting these pictures, this townhouse is breathtaking! (or should I say it was?)

  19. Topsy Turvy February 11, 2009 | 7:24 pm

    I think this house would be worth risking a divorce over!

    -Lana

  20. Urban LifeStyle Decor February 12, 2009 | 7:47 am

    I love that vintage aqua wall paper.

  21. Anonymous February 16, 2009 | 3:32 pm

    Saref: The mirror tiles are from Walter’s Mirrors in Queens, via Stanley Schoen Glass. Good luck!

  22. Anonymous February 16, 2009 | 3:40 pm

    Saref:

    The tiles aren’t aqua, also. They’re reflecting the dark green of the other three walls. Just FYI!

  23. Anonymous February 22, 2009 | 7:49 pm

    The article in Vogue never mentioned the architect who worked on the Janklow’s renovations……they deserve credit for such a remarkable job!