PHOTOS: 5 NYC Fantasy Lofts, Triplexes and Townhouses from Dwell’s City Modern Home Tours

Controlled voyeurism took over New York City this past weekend as <a href="http://www.dwell.com/">Dwell</a> and <a href="http://nymag.com/">New York Magazine</a> hosted the very first <a href="http://dht.dwell.com/city-modern">City Modern Home Tours</a> and opened up some of the Big Apple's most opulent homes up to curious cats like us. Oohs and ahhs abounded as visitors padded around hard-wooded corners in their blue sanitary booties (hey, you wouldn't want hundreds of people scuffing up your floors either, would you?) and admired fantasy features like seemingly endless walls of built-in storage, an indoor koi pond, a green-walled living room, giant windows and more terraces than we could count. We were also pleasantly surprised to learn that most of these dream homes also boast sustainable features like low-e windows, planted facades, solar shading, double windows, vintage and reclaimed materials and more. Step into our <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/flowerbox-duplex-lead/?extend=1">gallery</a> to take your own little tour through these truly spectacular and inspiring Manhattan lofts, triplexes and townhouses.

<h3>The Chelsea Triplex</h3> Tamara Hubinsky and Adam Bremner were in the midst of planning a few small renovations on their landmarked Chelsea co-op, when they found out that the unit right next door to them was up for sale. Recognizing a great opportunity when they saw it, they brought in designer <a href="http://alexscottporterdesign.com/">Alex Scott Porter</a> to transform the two separate apartments into the 3-level home of their dreams. Now the beautiful and functional family home is a cozy place to get away from the buzz of the city and also incorporates green features like reclaimed wood, cork flooring, vintage decor, passive solar design, natural materials and double windows that keep out noise and regulate interior temperatures.

Funky furniture adds a pop of color to the first level balcony.

The double windows were incorporated to preserve the home's historic windows, keep noise at bay and to regulate the home's internal temperature.

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

Bremner and Hubinsky's son officially has the best kids room we've ever seen. It has a nature theme complete with a loft bed, a tent canopy and squirrel pillows.

Every little girl's fantasy bedroom!

More smart storage shelves incorporated into leftover space next to the chimney.

One of the top levels two terraces.

What fantasy home would be complete without a walk-in closet?

A well-hidden storage nook makes use of leftover space next to the chimney.

Homeowner Tamara Hubinsky in her gorgeous master bedroom (we love that wallpaper!).

The 3rd level has its own sunny bathroom complete with watery blue glass tile.

The home's roomy master bath features sustainable cork floors.

Ms. Hubinsky shows us the queen size Murphy bed that pulls out of the wall for visitors.

The other top-level roof deck.

Much of the home's decor is vintage or second hand, like the Chinese rice field tool in the living room.

The kitchen is modern but functional.

<h3>The Townhouse at 41 Bond</h3> 41 Bond St.'s greenery-adorned facade is just a hint of what lies within. Entering the building's posh but modest lobby, you would never imagine such an expansive home inside. Designed by <a href="http://ddgpartners.com/">DDG</a>, the double-level townhouse opens up to a 50-foot-long great room with a panoramic view of a 1,700 square foot backyard, and feels a world away from the bustling NoHo neighborhood that envelops it. The artfully decorated home features handmande American furniture by <a href="http://bddw.com/">BDDW </a>and ethereal light fixtures made in NYC by <a href="http://lindseyadelman.com/">Lindsey Adelman</a>. 41 Bond also boasts a green roof on its top level to reduce stormwater runoff and save energy on heating and cooling.

The townhouse's windows are shaded by a living curtain that will eventually serve as a privacy screen once it grows thicker.

The home's lower level houses another living area and a guest room.

Funky art and poppy accents differentiate this space from the more subdued upstairs great room.

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The serene views from the back terraces are of the 8th Street Garden's pond.

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

Excess water from the living wall drips down into the koi pond.

Controlled voyeurism took over New York City this past weekend as <a href="http://www.dwell.com/">Dwell</a> and <a href="http://nymag.com/">New York Magazine</a> hosted the very first <a href="http://dht.dwell.com/city-modern">City Modern Home Tours</a> and opened up some of the Big Apple's most opulent homes up to curious cats like us. Oohs and ahhs abounded as visitors swadded around hard-wooded corners in their blue sanitary booties (hey, you wouldn't want hundreds of people scuffing up your floors either, would you?) and admired fantasy features like seemingly endless walls of built-in storage, an indoor koi pond, a green-walled living room, giant windows and more terraces than we could count. We were also pleasantly surprised to learn that most of these dream homes also boast sustainable features like low-e windows, planted facades, solar shading, double windows, vintage and reclaimed materials and more. Step into our gallery to take your own little tour through these truly spectacular and inspiring Manhattan lofts, triplexes and townhouses.

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

Kate and Daniel Wadia wanted their double-level Fifth Avenue apartment to look like a "little house in the sky" and after stepping into the light-as-air duplex, we congratulate them for accomplishing their goal. Joseph Tanney and Robert Lutz of <a href="http://re4a.com/"> Resolution: 4 Architecture</a> helped the homeowners achieve their vision of an open space in many different shades of white, and the final result is surprisingly functional (you'd never know by looking at these pristine pics, but the Wadias have two small children!). In addition to being gorgeous, the home also features glazed windows, an energy-efficient HVAC system and the architects made use of the pre-existing floors.

A small area to rest in case you get winded by the stairs.

Mrs. Wadia found this chair at a fleamarket in France and transported it back to NYC with her as part of her luggage. She then had the chair reupholstered with a striped Missoni fabric she chose herself.

Mrs. Wadia's colorful and eclectic artwork acts as a headboard in the master bedroom.

The lower level has a wall of floor to ceiling storage.

The perfect little room for the Wadia's young son.

And a matching hideaway for their daughter.

A curvy staircase leads down the the home's bedrooms.

A large chalkboard in the light-filled kitchen tells everyone what's for dinner.

The Union Square Duplex....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/photos-see-inside-5-nyc-fantasy-lofts-triplexes-and-townhouses-from-dwells-city-modern-home-tours/'>READ ARTICLE</a>

One of the home's most unique features is its 3 exposures, which is about 2 more than most NYC apartments have.

The homeowner's in their light-filled Fifth Avenue apartment.

Mrs. Wadia shows us how easy it is to access the home's hidden storage, which tucks away her children's toys and books.

<h3>The Chelsea Townhouse</h3> The Chelsea Townhouse had such a long line at its door, that we wondered what could possibly be so enticing that people were waiting half an hour to enter. Well, it turns out that <a href="http://juliankingarchitect.com/">Julian King Architect</a>'s thoughtful renovation of the pre-war home was well worth the wait.

The home was remodeled with sustainability and waste reduction in mind with considerations like preservation and reuse of original plaster moldings and wrought iron grilles, the use of reclaimed brick and wood, installation of a new high efficiency HVAC system, a dual-flush wall hung toilet, bamboo flooring and LED light fixtures.

Despite being a historic building, the interior of the light-filled dwelling is almost museum-like in its elegant modernity but its seamless integration with a soothing backyard garden keeps it from becoming too austere.