Wedding planner to the stars is selling his architectural wonder—a two floor penthouse on West 19th St. with hidden compartments and a rooftop terrace.
Interior designer Colin Cowie, a South African lifestyle guru and party planner to the stars, television personality and writer at his West 19th St. penthouse which is on the market for $6.5 million.
Colin Cowie’s Flatiron penthouse, filled with eclectic glassware and outfitted with hidden storage compartments, is an architectural rarity.
At nearly 3,000 square feet and occupying two floors, it’s currently configured for only one bedroom, which makes sense if you’re in Cowie’s line of work: throwing fabulous parties.
Cowie is a designer and party and wedding planner to the stars, having thrown bashes for celebs including Jennifer Aniston, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey. He’s decided to list his apartment at 27 W. 19th St., which he custom-built from a blank space in 2009 for $6.5 million.
“I was privileged to be able to build this from the ground up in New York City,” Cowie said. “I built it like a boat. Every square inch is custom-made.”
Architectural details incorporate what Cowie has learned over the years as a designer. In the living room, the mantel has a hydraulic lift in it to reveal a storage area, filled with glassware and vases.
In the hallway between the living room and the kitchen, a bathroom and closet are behind hidden doors that blend into the wall when closed. The stairway looks like a simple wood finish, but closer inspection shows that each wood panel has a closet behind it – and more storage space.
Sliding doors provide more flexibility. When Cowie wants a formal dining space, he can seal off the area with mirrored doors that hide a kitchen island and bar area. He then can open them for a more casual, airy feel. The kitchen island, which normally serves as a casual dining space, can be extended to create a double-length workspace, providing plenty of room to work on plating food for a big party.
The dressing room highlights Cowie’s focus on organization — there’s a nook for everything, from sunglasses to cuff links. All the apartment’s storage allows for items to be tucked away.
“I’m a minimalist by nature, but I have a lot,” Cowie said, laughing.
Cowie combined the 14th and 15th floors of the boutique building. He bought the apartment in 2009 for $4.852 million, puttin gover $2 million into the space. He has a 900 square-foot roofdeck with unobstructed views of the city. Like the rest of the space, it’s ready for a fiesta. A dumbwaiter in the kitchen allows for easy transport of food and drinks up to the outdoor space.
Core broker Emily Beare, who helped Cowie buy the space, is now the listing agent on the property. She said Cowie is selling because he likes to move every few years and design a new home. He’s now seeking a live-work space. For those interested in buying the total package, Beare said Cowie would consider also selling the apartment furnished. For more information, call 212-726-0786.