You might know Cortney and Robert Novogratz, a husband-wife team collectively known as The Novogratz, from your local bookstore or TV screen, while browsing furniture on Amazon, or even from checking out one our latest Dollhouse Beautiful episodes. (Most likely, all of the above.) The powerhouse couple, who rose to fame on on multiple renovation shows, has built a veritable design empire—all while raising seven now-teenage kids. But their most recent undertaking is arguably their most ambitious yet.
Last fall, the couple purchased a house in New York City’s West Village with the goal of turning it into a family home for their 9-deep crew. But this is not just any house: Set on a tree-lined block of Waverly Place, one of the most famous streets in the area, the four-story building dates back to 1826 (pre-Civil War!) and features a very unique, curved pink facade that has long captivated the neighborhood. “This is the very first time we’re buying a landmarked building,” Cortney tells HB, “but this house we had to buy.” With only three prior owners, the property was essentially untouched (read: in total disarray) when the Novogratz closed—ideal for two designers who want to preserve but also modernize its historic architecture.
The house prior to renovation.At the top of the facade is an impossible-to-miss, ginormous top-floor window. And inside, that room is about the size of a ballroom—you can all but picture the swanky parties that must have been held there. “All the creative artists, everyone gathered here,” Cortney explains. “There were weddings, famous artists. We want to open this back up to the community to keep the arts alive and well.” Like every other room in the house, this one’s got a long way to go until they reveal the finished project. So we caught up with the Novogratz to get a tour through the house as they do some light demo to kick off the renovation.History-lovers, don’t worry. They’re preserving everything worth preserving and documenting every incredible discovery along the way. Watch closely and you’ll catch a glimpse of Scalamandré’s famous zebra wallpaper in a very early iteration!
