Inside an Enchanting Upper East Side Townhouse

When he spoke about writing Breakfast at Tiffany’s, author Truman Capote once said, “I am always drawn back to places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods. For instance, there is a brownstone in the East Seventies where, during the early years of the war, I had my first New York apartment….” This enchanting townhouse on East 71st Street may or may not have been an inspiration for Capote, but its wide tree-lined block was chosen as a setting for the filming of Blake Edwards’s 1961 film adaptation of the now-iconic novel.

New York, New York | Harry Nasser, Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage

Dating to circa 1915, the home has undergone an impressively meticulous renovation and restoration that retained and rejuvenated its period details while incorporating every comfort, sophistication, and convenience, from new plumbing and electrical wiring to top-tier security and climate-control systems. Ceilings soar, creating a sense of airiness and light, in some rooms displaying intricate moldings and Italianate coffering. Running beneath throughout the residence are floors of honey-hued parquetry crafted from reclaimed antique oak imported from France.

The parlor level serves as the hub for living and entertaining, with an elegant gallery-like foyer creating a fittingly fabulous introduction with a dazzling chandelier and walls that seemingly beg for art. The flow from here is effortless, to a streamlined kitchen with superior-caliber appliances, marble countertops, and a center island; a grand living room with more art-appropriate walls and a handsome wood-burning fireplace; and a dining room where walls of steel and glass admit glorious light and open to a balcony overlooking and leading via a spiral staircase to the garden below. Accompanying these spaces is a glamorous powder room

The levels above are dedicated to rest and repose. The primary suite and its library occupy the second floor—one facing the home’s storybook thoroughfare, the other gazing south over the gardens. Between the two is a luxurious bath with sinks and showerheads for two, a discreet water closet, and welcome radiant heating. A second bath with a tub adjoins the library, making it easily suitable for use as an additional bedroom. Further guest quarters are secluded on the uppermost and garden floors. In addition to a gym and a dedicated office with a bath, one bedroom on the garden level opens to the backyard and could be adapted to function as a media room, while the other can be accessed directly from the street, making it perfectly fitting for private professional space. Storage is remarkably abundant in the basement, which would be an ideal location for a large-capacity wine cellar.

A serene urban oasis, the backyard garden is a brick-paved retreat with a grilling area equipped with its own gas line for convenience. Walled for privacy and ringed with mature trees and greenery, it seems a perfect setting for tea in the sunshine, cocktails under the stars, or a simple solo guitar serenade of “Moon River.”

Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com