117 E 29th St #PENTHOUSE B, New York, NY 10016

When the most critical audience of seasoned brokers and photographers all have the same reaction of total awe, you know this is a unique home. The details that make this home awe-inspiring are almost too much to mentionbut I will try. Let's start with the terrace because it is arguably this home's most outstanding feature. Having built the first-ever database of all known terraced homes in NYC, I have personally reviewed and cataloged 8,565 apartments with private terraces; I understand how unique this one is. At 1288sf, it is not the largest but the most versatile, thanks to its many amenities. There are two distinct areas for dining and relaxing, separated by a pathway right through a "forest" of 16 birches. This pathway exemplifies the detail that has gone into this rooftop oasis: It hides some of the 30 speakers, and the entire terrace was raised so these trees are planted level with the pathway. West of Birch Forest is for relaxation, wet or dry, and is serviced by a full bar with a dishwasher. If you prefer wet, you can take an outdoor shower or relax in an architecturally significant plunge pool/spa. With its four-sided infinity edge and an overflow that magically disappears, it is visually stunning, but the remote-controlled cover makes it usable year-round. For dry entertainment, you can relax on an oversized Italian-made sofa designed and upholstered for large yachts. To the East of the birch forest is the dining area. It has a complete summer kitchen with a Kalamazoo grill and under-counter refrigeration for food and wine. The dining area comfortably seats 10. However, the focal point is the large stone-clad gas fireplace flanked by mature apple trees. Two other essential components make this exceptional terrace very livable year-round. - Plenty of shade: The dining and relaxing areas are covered by custom-made German umbrellas anchored to the sub-framing to handle high wind velocities. The summer kitchen can be covered by an electronically retractable awning that completely disappears in the zinc-clad wall. - Plenty of privacy: This oasis is surrounded by a 4' high green "hedge," which provides perfect privacy without diminishing the open feel. Edmund Hollander designed the entire plant palette mainly using native species that withstand the changing New York seasons. This penthouse interior is as stunning as the terrace, and the attention to detail remains unsurpassed. At just shy of 2100sf with 10" ft ceilings throughout, the apartment is a comfortably sized three-bedroom, three-bath home. You enter through a generous hallway with walnut-lined walls that cleverly hide large closets, laundry, and a full bath. The hallway leads to a double-high foyer housing the "stairway to Heaven" and access to the private and public areas. The public areas have an open-plan living room and kitchen and a cleverly designed dining area with easy access to the oversized open kitchen. The kitchen is publication-worthy, with exposed shelving on a light stone wall and a top-of-the-line appliance package from Gaggenau. Past the living room is the entrance to the library, which has a fireplace and a full en-suite bath, making it an excellent guest room. The private areas on the west side of the home have two bedrooms. The primary has a windowed en-suite bath, an oversized walk-in shower, heated floors, and plenty of closet space. Additional details include the HVAC having five zones, twelve 10' high walnut doors, twelve Art walls, a washer/dryer, and a 49sf storage unit in the basement. If most homes claim to be " smart homes" when their doors unlock automatically, then this home is a "genius home." The entire home and terrace (access, lighting, shades, HVAC, music, awning, and FIREPLACES) are controlled via remote control or even a smartphone app. 117 East 29th Street is a small condo loft building with both part-time and virtual doormen, a small gym in the basement, and is ideally located near everything dear.