Background: The Apthorp by Flicker user Karen Green. Inset: Amanda Seyfried (modified) by Flickr user Danny Harrison.
By now, it’s an established truth that celebrities love prime Upper West Side real estate — and why wouldn’t they? With relatively quiet (and paparazzi-free) streets, close proximity to Broadway and a vibrant neighborhood, there are plenty of reasons why Hollywood’s A-list favor our neck of the woods when Tinseltown’s getting them down.
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The latest leading lady to open up her doors to Architectural Digest is none other than former Fordham student Amanda Seyfried, whose top floor abode at the perennially prestigious Apthorp building (which spans the trajectory of Broadway to West End Avenue, from 78th and 79th streets) is the combination of three former staff quarters.
Originally purchased for $2.52 million back in May 2019, the freshly renovated unit was upgraded at the hands of Sarah Zames and Colin Stief, the Brooklyn-based interior design team who handled Seyfried’s Catskills farm (her primary residence, which she shares with actor husband Thomas Sadoski and two children).
As landmarked buildings can be somewhat difficult to navigate, the goal was to stay true to original architecture while employing custom-made built-ins to save space and not compromise any historical integrity. The overall feel? Relaxed, farmhouse-chic — the perfect complement to the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and bright lights of Times Square, where Seyfried is likely rehearsing for her role as Thelma in an upcoming musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise.
In addition to the requisite high-end decor one would expect from a tastemaker of her caliber, Seyfried’s eclectic knick-knack collection includes a variety of pieces ranging from her daughter’s crafts to “toilet art,” which is on theme with her upstate farm, said to feature a “wool hanging vagina.” We’re not clear what that means either.
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Of course, the Apthorp is as famous as its glitzy residents over the years (which have included Nora Ephron, Cyndi Lauper, Al Pacino, Lena Horne and Conan O’Brien). Originally completed in 1908 for William Waldorf Astor by design duo Clinton & Russel, the Italian Renaissance Revival behemoth was marketed as one of the world’s largest apartment buildings — chock full of duplexes and ample single-story homes.
Known for its luxe limestone facade and massive interior courtyard, the Apthorp is meticulously maintained. After changing hands a few times, it was converted to a condominium building in 2010. According to reports, there are currently 155 units. Naturally, the mega-building has popped up in plenty of film projects — including Ephron’s Heartburn, which was based on the autobiographical novel depicting her time in the Apthorp.
As one who has lived just four blocks from this magnificent building for over 50 years, I have seen many, many famous faces going in and out, and eve known a few. In addition to the names listed above, my friend Mark “Moogy” Klingman (“You Gotta Have Friends”) lived there until his death in 2011. Also, Roger Grimsby (ABC Channel 7 anchor) lived there, as did dancer/choreographer George Balanchine, writer Joseph Heller, actress Rosie O’Donnell, and actor Bob Balaban.
The Apthorp (built 1905-1908) was the largest apartment building in NYC, but only for a few years, after which its “neighbor” at 86th Street – The Belnord (built 1908-1909) took that distinction.
I have always found it interesting that two of the very few buildings in NYC that take up an entire square city block (not even the Empire State Building does) are within a few blocks of each other on the UWS.