'9 by Design' Family Can't Sell Townhouse

Cortney and Bob Novogratz, developer-designers and stars of Bravo's "9 by Design" are trying to unload their colorful, modern townhouse in Manhattan's West Village. Even a stay this past summer by the Heidi Klum and Seal clan hasn't helped.

According to AOL's Luxist, the townhouse overlooking the Hudson River originally was listed for a whopping $25 million last year and is now offered at $18.95 million. Ouch, that's a big cut.
But the Novogratzes, with their newfound fame are moving on, leaving the dramatic, five-story pad, with its basketball court, huge kitchen and stunning, rooftop terrace.

The listing is a co-exclusive between Paula Del Nunzio at Brown, Harris, Stevens and Raphael De Niro at Prudential Douglas Elliman. Also check out our review of the Novogratzes' book, Downtown Chic.

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Reader Comments (20)

by Claire Frankel - October 7th 2010 @ 7:12AM

Please take all the junk off the top of the wall cabinets and make this the minimalist kitchen it begs to be.

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by Nic - October 7th 2010 @ 10:10AM

Totally agree, the wholeplace needs some serious de-cluttering. Super modern from the outside, and full of nic naks like grandmas house....

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by New York - October 7th 2010 @ 10:59AM

The chandelier can go too. Other than the hefty pricetag, I love it.

by Darrell - October 7th 2010 @ 1:02PM

Over priced 5 story shot-gun style home. Why pay such a foolish price for for modest square footage, narrow rooms and the need to go up and down stairs (or the tiny elevator)in a highly populated area? Buy a small Central American country, a Caribbean Island, 100 acres on the Atlantic in Florida or a Malibu beach house for the same price.

You may need to have the money of a Wall Street Banker !!

by Drew - October 8th 2010 @ 5:10PM

The house sits right across the stree from the West Side Highway. I can't believe they got a shot of the house with no cars in front of it. It is the noisiest area in NY. For that kind of money you could live near Gracie Mansion where it is very quiet.

by carmina - October 7th 2010 @ 2:21PM

to them it's not junk...it at least adds some character or personality to the mostly stark space. what's so wrong with a home that looks like it's lived in these days, especially with so many of those uptight new yorkers.

by Deb - October 7th 2010 @ 7:21AM

Love the views. Love the hardwood floors. Love the basketball court. Other than that, you have to love that specific style. For that price...too plain and generic looking. I have seen nicer kitchens in a lower end unit. I am thinking that they are going to need to come down another $2mil. Just my opinion and I live in NY

by Dgarye - October 7th 2010 @ 7:51AM

Wow this is one ugly home! What do these two design - puzzles for psychward inmates? Never! Ever! put anything blue with hardwood floors. Geez, even I know that.That view is aweful, how could you not see those terrible brick walls to the right and left of your view? Anyone that buys this will have a lot of interior design work to do plus the rooms (in the photos) seem really small. Nope, maybe fifteen mil because of neighbor hood but doubt even that.

by myantiquesplace - October 7th 2010 @ 7:59AM

Too modern. too cold, plain, and IKEA looking for NYC.

by DMW - October 7th 2010 @ 5:11PM

AMEN! This comment is hitting the nail on the head! Exactly everything I was thinking. Ikea all over the place. Every thing is made of iron bars like a decorated prison. It looks soooo cold and hardened. They need to add a soft and warm feel to the place. Hell, it's cold enough in New York without having to sit on thin cushions and sleep on an iron rod bed. 9 By Design my a$$! This is the design needed for a home in Florida or a home with a view of a WARM coast.

by Not A Chance - October 7th 2010 @ 8:07AM

The flooring is nice, and the outdoor spaces are appealing, but the furnishings are horrific. The blue chair, the red chair, the guache chandelier above the kitchen island, the two mismatched wooden daybeds and rug in the same room, all the wall art. A garage door and opener in the living area?!? And what is with that door in the basketball court - do you have to jump into the room? I would love to see the interior of the building next door – the one with the tall round topped window. If that is also a home, I’ll bet it’s magnificent.

by Donna - October 7th 2010 @ 8:12AM

Wheres the bath rooms? I wonder if the bath rooms have any doors on them. From what I saw, one of the bed rooms have no door.
There must have been one behind the camera. I like the floors all the way through, but the rest looks cold to me.
I dont like any of the decorations, other than the bed frames in one of the bed rooms.
The basket ball court is nice though.

by Joe - October 7th 2010 @ 8:40AM

Great space but Design on a Dime interiors. And fix that crooked chandelier in the kids bedroom

by Bobby - October 7th 2010 @ 8:50AM

This is retrofitted garage/office space. The rooms are built straight up with the same dimensions. The flooring everyone loves is inexpensive laminate you can actually buy at Sam's Club. Once you strip the furnishings out the "home" it would demand a feel of desperation. I'm sorry, you people in NY may covet these grandiose boxes worthy of multimillion $$ asking prices but this one doesn't even have dimensional lines to work with. I'd say raise the price to $50MM & see if you can unload it making the new owner feel special. Mind games.

by cheryl - October 7th 2010 @ 8:52AM

I agree with most of the comments made very bizzare home design effort.Is that a blue chair or a hamper I could not quite figure it out, and what is with the statue of the Madonna???? I would also think for that kind of money they could come up with something a bit more sophisticated than a bbq grill purchased at Home Depot .......

by yort - October 7th 2010 @ 1:13PM

I was thinking the same thing about that cheap looking grill. For a home that expensive what were they thinking?

by G - November 4th 2010 @ 3:40PM

What up?

by Regina - October 7th 2010 @ 9:21AM

I really enjoyed their reality TV show. As far as the townhouse, I think it's very nice, especially if they went ahead and added that elevator. I hope they get a decent price and that their show returns next summer. Good luck to your family and thanks for entertaining me with your humor, sense of style and family togetherness. Regina

by chris - October 7th 2010 @ 9:32AM

Please stop calling these reality shows. NOTHING real about them. Buckets of money, cameras and exposure change the reality. Fake set-ups and access to situations, they would never have, if the cameras were not rolling.

by jane - October 7th 2010 @ 10:58AM

as they say in real estate, location, location, location. just think the facade of the home is too moderne for the neighborhood vibe. but, that said, on the interior it works the eye travels to the outside view in every room shown. i think it's a great home but its value may be diminished because although spacious the flow is between floors without the vintage appeal and that might limit its customer appeal. i think they should put traditional furnishings in the space and make it work, beef it up. that way, customers might overlook the tinny lightweight kitchen.

the aesthetic is very fine, but i think unappealing to new yorkers; new yorkers like their environments to have substance and be reflective of their work ethic, solid, durable.

20 Comments / 1 Pages