Mariah Carey’s Tribeca penthouse has always been more than a New York home. It is a lavish snapshot of the singer’s larger-than-life aesthetic, complete with sprawling entertaining spaces, theatrical interiors and some remarkably unusual rooms. Now, nearly three decades after Carey created the residence, the spectacular triplex is back on the market for $27 million, states an exclusive report by the Architectural Digest The property sits atop Franklin Tower in Tribeca and first made headlines when it appeared on MTV Cribs. Scroll down to read about the journey of the penthouse.
Two apartments become one grand residence
Carey purchased two apartments in the building in 1999 for a combined $9 million. The units occupied three floors and were subsequently joined to create a single residence measuring approximately 12,728 square feet. The resulting home features eight bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms, giving the penthouse an unusually expansive footprint even by Manhattan standards, states the online report.According to Architectural Digest, the singer brought in celebrated interior designer Mario Buatta to transform the interiors. The design embraced an unmistakably glamorous direction, incorporating silver-leaf doors, bronze-inlaid limestone floors, lacquered walls and an abundance of butterfly motifs. The butterflies appear throughout the residence in details ranging from cabinetry hardware and textiles to bathroom and kitchen finishes, turning the recurring motif into one of the home’s defining visual signatures.
A home built for spectacle
Among the penthouse’s standout spaces is a 38-foot-long primary bathroom, one of the most memorable settings from Carey’s appearance on MTV Cribs. The home also includes a window-lined great room that once housed Marilyn Monroe’s white baby grand piano, purchased by Carey at auction in 1999, adds the online report.Elsewhere, a rooftop sunroom and wet bar open onto a furnished terrace with sweeping views across New York City. Two kitchens provide additional flexibility for entertaining, while an underwater-themed media room adds another theatrical touch to the residence. The combination of oversized rooms, elaborate finishes and carefully staged details gives the triplex the feel of a private luxury hotel rather than a conventional Manhattan apartment.
A $27 million return to the market
The property is now asking $27 million, three times the price Carey paid for the original apartments in 1999. The residence was also previously offered as a rental, with an asking price of $32,500 per month. The financial obligations attached to the property are substantial. According to the New York Post, it carries roughly $18.6 million in outstanding loans, while monthly homeowners’ association dues are about $17,000.Still, the penthouse remains an unusually recognizable piece of celebrity real estate. From its enormous scale and distinctive interiors to its appearances on television and in Architectural Digest, the residence has spent decades closely associated with Carey’s public image. Now, after 27 years at the top of Franklin Tower, the elaborate Tribeca retreat is looking for its next owner, and a new chapter in its very glamorous history.Images Courtesy: Wikipedia and Street Easy
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