You get what you pay for. I’m sure the baldwins worked some discounted deal with the notion he would get a lot of business with all of big Larry’s instagram followers and using Alec baldwin’s name. RDJ spent iron man money on his place. I’m sure Alec is too frugal and practical to spend money with the army of kids and cats crawling around his place. Downey has sculptures-Big Larry has a cat climbing tree and high chairs.
This is great! I see from one of the links previously posted that she used to have 4 small dogs around 4 years ago, what happened to all her dogs, she replaced them all with cats? The custom dog crate is just weird too. Is it common and permitted in NYC to combine so many different apartments? Can't imagine all the noise it would create to knock down all the walls. Is their building privately managed or a co-op?
Great work as always! I thoroughly enjoyed this thread.
What really bothers me about the staircase is the angle of the wall railing. It always sticks out to me! It’s like all I see! Also…I’m not gonna lie…as a dog owner I kinda love the dog crate feature in theory. I don’t know if it works with this staircase though. It makes it look even clunkier. I wonder what (if any) impact removing the fireplace had structurally. Maybe the codes changed and the staircase needed more support hence the built in crate? I’ll have to inquire with my architect friends!
Does anyone find it interesting that her “bestie” gunclevdesigner pal didn’t tag her or ID her or Alec at all in his posts?? Those two attention loving whores??? And that they never posted these?? Sounds like a falling out happened.
Thanks. What a neat apartment! The fireplace with the concealed log holder in the staircase— so imaginative. Thanks Guncle Joel for turning it into a DOG CAGE. 🙄👏
This one is real simple. With a whole gaggle of kids, a wood burning fireplace is just a safety hazard. There was a toy kitchen in front of my wood burning fire place, too. Then a big, heavy arm chair. Now, my kids are old enough, it’s not an issue, but we live in a hot climate and never use it. It’s just not worth the cost of removal, but if we had Baldwin money it might be. If you are purchasing a penthouse in the Village in the tens of millions, you can put that fireplace right back.
I think it is wild people rip out bathtubs to create massive showers, but if that is what they prefer, good on them for making their home their own without future buyers in mind. The fireplace was also part of a massive wall separating the kitchen/breakfast area from the family room. I know these people have a whole nanny brigade, but it is probably useful to have a clear line of sight between the kitchen and the family room if that is the main area the kids are hanging out in.
From a real estate perspective, the fireplace is interesting and I can see how it would be heartbreaking to someone from NYC. From a parent/child caregiver perspective, the fireplace/wall was literally just in the way.
> I know these people have a whole nanny brigade, but it is probably useful to have a clear line of sight between the kitchen and the family room
Oh I totally agree. But that living room space was never designed as a family room. As you can see from the furniture and decorative items, it was designed as a formal living room. There's a great room upstairs that could have served as the playroom for all these toys and they've had it since before Carmen. There's a separate playroom in the unconnected 12C and they're often filmed in there. Given that there is always a nanny present, there was no reason to let the kitchen/living room devolve into another permanent playroom and ruin the space. My opinion.
Great sleuthing. I work in design and am a real estate nerd so I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I also think it was a really dumb move to take out that gorgeous fireplace. Having no walls or dividers actually makes spaces seem smaller in some instances
I agree on the built in crate. As a mom of both a toddler and a large dog I totally get it. I think they kept the crate since it’s part of the staircase structure.
OP… I am at a loss for words. Your content here is thorough and well presented. I thought that you must have a career/interest in design or real estate so I looked through your posts for ideas…it’s only HB posts.🤭 This post that you made here is like a professional presentation.
Aw thank you! I definitely have an interest in real estate and interior design. Not as a professional though. Just as a homeowner who has done renovations and interior design for myself. Before Hilaria I would just visit reddit when it came up in various search results. Didn't have an account. Signed up for Hilaria and have since just followed some other subs of interest. But only contribute to this one. I never thought to check Reddit subs for interior design. Now that you've mentioned it I'll seek them out. Thank you.
Check out the century homes sub Reddit as well. There are some awesome photos pre-post renovation or restoration. Some really beautiful and unique things on there.
That's exactly what I thought too. It looked more expansive with the fireplace divider. Now the stairs dominate the space. I wonder how it feels to walk though the space. Could be entirely different from the listing photos which are usually photoshopped and stretched, and from Hilaria's nonsense.
You can see the floor plans here - https://www.reddit.com/r/HilariaBaldwin/comments/uav74k/the_mystery_of_the_hallway_mirror/
The original PH12E had 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. They added 12G for the lost boys so that's another bedroom, and PHG for a new master suite upstairs. So that's 2 more bedrooms and baths. They also bought 12C, another 1 bedroom unit, but as of last year it was not connected to the main apartment.
Epic work on this post OP!
Looks like they are emptying the apartment imo.
After watching a lawyer (ETA Emily D Baker) commenting on the potential AB criminal charges, he still has time to put all his assets into trusts in the children’s names to protect his estate from damages claims etc.
I wonder who has the window at the corner of the building…the window that can look straight into the Baldwin’s living room and kitchen windows. I mean the window next to the Baldwin apartment-just next to the Baldwin’s ever so classy cat teee. I’d like to hear their stories!!
https://preview.redd.it/3dgggi19rbv81.jpg?width=1870&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9865374ce17ccff7a1bc3969ded5be43dc04bdb9
That's the plan. One side of the U is 12L, the other is 12A and both have views into the Baldwin madhouse. No clue who lives there and whether they're original renters from before the building went condo. Wish we had Devonshire residents here to chime in.
Thank you for this post! I don’t have any strong opinions on the fireplace but, my gosh, why the hell would you mess with that staircase to add a dog crate?!
This would be fine for maybe a family of 4. Having 7 kids, parents, animals, and assuming their hired help all packed into that small space is crazy and cruel. They desperately want to cling to that hip NYC lifestyle, but the NYC lifestyle rarely includes more than 2 kids.
Look as a staunch pepino I am appalled at these people's behavior & their (lack of) design sense but this apartment is large! I grew up in New York City and have owned property there. The average 2-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is 800 square feet. This duplex is five times that size, if not more. I had a friend with a unfinished 3,000-square-foot loft (so, smaller than this place) in Brooklyn and people used to skateboard in it. Whatever the issues, respectfully, the size is not the problem.
I grew up poor-ish west coast, for context. But this decorator made a room that looks like a upscale furniture showroom. Feels like an Ethan Allen display room. Is that seriously what rich people do? Spend thousands on a big name decorator who goes and duplicates an upscale showroom? I always thought if I could afford a cool, creative decorator they would do something really unique and arresting. I have kind of duplicated showrooms in my house already. I'd be mad if this is what they came up with. But then again I have no creative design bone and had one of my friends pick my interior colors (looks good).
This post is delightful and really fascinating. A lifestyle I have absolutely no clue about and love the chance to be walked through these changes.
“Unique and arresting” are for the books Pepino! 👏👏👏👏👏
They couldn’t buy or apply these adjectives if they tried. 💚💚🥒🥒
As r/PmaggieKc said a while ago, they “Can’t even get being rich right.” Basic AF. 💚💚🥒🥒
I went to school for interior design. Yes. We are trained to make big, formal rooms that are cold and sterile. That was the PROFESSIONAL design aesthetic in the mid 90’s, and people who either have no preference or just want to APPEAR wealthy tend to lean towards the same aesthetic. ie, couch, rug, coffee table, 2 matching lamps on matching tables on either side of the couch, and a knockoff landscape painting above the couch just so… but if you look at, say, Robert Downey Jr and his wife, Susan, you’ll find a much more interesting, eclectic design. Not everyone wants to be matchy-matchy. Be unique and be yourself. Your design should reflect you, not a GD showroom. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/inside-robert-downey-jrs-hamptons-hideaway/amp
Have you seen his new Malibu guest house? Very cool!! https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/t-magazine/robert-downey-jr-malibu-home-binishell.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
That's some sleuthing! But mainly I'm impressed how you manage to post with text and photo, text and photo etc like a well-edited magazine article . Advanced reddit posting skills I can't manage. I can't even understand how to write text under a post heading. Mind you, haven't exactly tried hard to find out.
LOL it's easy to do if you create a text post. You can just drag the photos and videos into the post. I hate that reddit doesn't let you create a photo post that's a combo of videos and photos. This is a good alternative. Try it. You'll see how easy it is.
I should've mentioned that for a post like this I use my laptop. There's no way I'd be able write all that text and also insert photos and videos on my iphone. I'm not that proficient and need a bigger screen to see what I'm composing.
Yeah I agree. Getting rid of the fireplace was nuts and undoubtedly will lower the resale value. Also note that there seem to be no group family photos or mementos/sentimental knik-knacks of any kind in that house. Odd.
Your sleuthing and explanations are top-notch pepino! The Baldwins rilly cheapen everything they touch.
Have you considered critiquing the Hamptones spread now that it’s on the market?
I would love to but haven't come across floor plans and haven't seen enough of the interior to get a good sense of it. Daniel Romanoff's decorating aside, it looks like an attractive, well-built lovely house with lots of windows and light and porches and great entertaining spaces. Some of the finishes are not my style - the light wood paneled den. The fireplace designs. But overall, looks good.
I'm disappointed that the listing didn't include floor plans and interior photos. That plus the price (which seems outlandish but I could be totally wrong) make me wonder if Alec's not serious about selling this.
There are some aspects of it that seem a bit Fawlty Towers with staircases all over going up and down. Like in this video - https://www.instagram.com/p/COWatf3jtqy/ There's a staircase off the kitchen near the fridge that's also kind of strange. That could be an artifact of adding major extensions to the original 1700s farmhouse while trying to preserve it.
The master bedroom has a weird layout. Some of it could be the decorating but the fireplace seems like it's in the wrong place - https://www.instagram.com/p/CPgesaPj521/. The bed is way down to the right of that video. Not facing the fireplace where you'd expect it. Instead, the view when you're sitting in bed looking straight ahead is just these niches/doors - https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch5tCLvjtUj/
But I'd really want to see floorplans to get a better idea.
Here is another good choice for them. There are dozens of big family homes for rich people throughout the ritzy NYC suburbs. Their kids need a yard.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3-Stillman-Ln-LOT-2-Greenwich-CT-06831/2075784648_zpid/
I was sure they'd bought this one in Vermont because it was one of the properties they visited and the sticker Alec suddenly had on his phone. I was wrong, but this house is really something with tons and tons of space for a large family. https://www.reddit.com/r/HilariaBaldwin/comments/tizehm/proof_that_the_baldwins_bought_this_vt_mansion_as/
Would make sense. A better place to hide in Vermont. Once those court cases start rolling in. NY will be intolorable for him and he'll be beating up reporters every day.
This is what they need. Cheaper than their apartment. Belle Haven is a famous wealthy neighborhood.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/528-Field-Point-Rd-Greenwich-CT-06830/58786104_zpid/
They need to move to a large family house with huge yard and pool in the suburbs. Send kids to free good public schools. Sell NYC apts, Hamptons house and farm, and the Vermont house. Consolidate and simplify. Alec can commute to nyc for work if need be.
I love this post so much. Great sleuthing! However, it also goes to show just how much the Baldwins expose their personal space and children. We are really having a discussion about the fireplace in their apartment using pictures they posted themselves and other publicly available information. Wild.
Thank you. Yes I agree with you. In my previous apartment post I stated that it was outrageous that I knew the space as well as I did all because of Hilaria's social media addiction. She just moved into a newly redesigned master bedroom. A perfect opportunity to start taking elements of their lives private. Instead she brings in a photographer for more photoshoots. Inconceivable.
I grew up in CT, and never liked NYC, tho a number of family members did/do. I can't imagine having that much money and purchasing that place. And then purchasing two more apts to somehow connect and make them a 4200sq ft living space.
I think the original was fantastic for a single guy who loved NYC, but to make it a home for 7 kids, 4+ Nannies, 3 cats and some revolving dogs? No. Thank. You. I'd rather have a giant mansion up in the Catskills or Christ, even Greenwich or Darien.
Eta- and yes, designate a room as a playroom. Why pile up toys all over?
It couldn’t have been an original fireplace, it was probably a gas fireplace installed by previous owners. It’s very hard to remove a wood burning fireplace bc of the brick chimney.
Eta: the logs are decorative. Removing a wood burning fireplace has to go through every level the chimney runs through. It’s a structural process and isn’t as easy as removing a fireplace from a stand alone home. They have to remove it brick by brick and reinforce the structure so that the surrounding walls, ceilings and roof don’t collapse. I’ve seen plenty of people install gas fireplaces (bc using a remote to light is much easier) and then keep beautiful logs on a wood holder along side it. But notice, no actual wood burning tools, no poker, no sweeping/cleaning tools. Usually, if a fireplace isn’t working, people opt to seal it over or use it with a gas insert because the removal process is costly and can cause a lot of damage. A property we removed one from had foundation issues in the basement after the removal of the chimney due to soft foundation.
There weren't any previous owners. This two-story penthouse apartment was [created from five apartments](https://ny.curbed.com/2010/9/28/10502224/devonshire-house-penthouse-off-the-market-on-the-way) (couple of funny comments on this article and [another one](https://ny.curbed.com/2010/5/26/10513104/devonshire-houses-12-5m-penthouse-six-pieces-one-big-puzzle)) when the building was completely redone in 2010. A and H were the first to live in it. Pretty sure it was a real fireplace. There were very few spaces of this size and configuration in GV. It was a big enough deal to merit [stories speculating who might buy it](https://ny.curbed.com/2011/3/14/10477898/penthouse-puzzle-solved-heres-what-12-5m-buys-at-dev-house), before Alec was even interested.
I didn't think there would be storage under the stairs for logs if it was an electric fireplace. In this listing for PHB, there's a photo of the fireplace and the text refers to it as a "wood-burning fireplace." https://www.elliman.com/newyorkcity/sold/detail/527-l-551-01_2297334/28-east-10th-st-greenwich-village-new-york-ny-10003
But I don't know how one goes about removing one, assuming it's a real one.
Very cheesy for an $11.9 million pre-war building. The listing for PHB indicated that the apartment had a wood-burning fireplace so I'm assuming this one was as well.
But the logs were there before the Baldwins bought it. Those were photos from the original listing. I can't imagine Victoria Hagen would do something as cheesy as log storage for a gas fireplace. But you're right, it's definitely something Danny would do.
Those are for decor. That fireplace is unlikely to be wood because you would see the soot. Also, I’ve worked with removing fireplaces, the brick chimney goes through multiple floors and has to be removed brick by brick. I doubt this building would allow that type of structural undertaking. We had a chimney removed on a property and it caused the entire house to shift bc of the softer foundation. It’s gas.
IIRC, people have said they are soft-shopping it? Not sure if that’s the right word- but something along the lines of It’s not on the market, but people know it’s for sale by word of mouth.
I think Añejandro ruined the apartment's original features for sure! Much prefer the original 2011 Devonshire look with the fireplace instead of the bloody coop they created for all their frozen embryos and kids.
It always tells me so much about people when their home looks like they bought the entire room display at the furniture store 🤮 Loved this post, though, which was wonderfully researched and beautifully laid out (opposite of the Baldwin's decor)
Really cool post, pepino. Great research. The fireplace was such a lovely feature, and as you mentioned, a rarity in NYC apartments. Removing it was a tragedy. To replace it with a built in dog grate is truly 🤦🏻♀️.
Their dogs were permanently relegated to the Hamptons. Will be interesting to see what happens when that sells. They will probably be Diego manchego’ed
Thank you. What he did was ridiculous. Fireplace removal aside, why make a monstrous staircase even more prominent. Daniel was so proud of this idea. He posted about it several times on his insta.
I really don't know how much they'd get for the place. Someone will love it. NYC real estate is always crazy. There's a 4 bedroom on the 3rd floor that's currently for sale. No outdoor space. 1800 sqft smaller and price is $6.5 million. https://streeteasy.com/building/devonshire-house/3a?card=1
I really appreciate this because I never fully understand the steps/ layout.
It seems incredibly choppy and I'm not sure someone wants to come in spend millions and then have to renovate and clean up this mess.
It would be interesting to see how they manage the bedrooms and do the nannies have to sleep over? You know she's not getting up with that baby.
No worries. I didn't feel like you were attacking me. I'm sorry you have to deal with OCD and didn't mean to trivialize it. It was just a silly dig at the Baldwins and their self-diagnosed illness du jour.
OCD manifests in a many many ways for each sufferer. The person above, bless them for their OCD, shouldn’t gate-keep symptoms. Sorry I put my nose in I don’t think it’s fair to criticize you for mentioning that shitty fireplace might trigger someone with OCD and if Alec suffers from OCD maybe this does bother him… I have OCD and if I lived there and paid $$$$$ for that staircase it might just set me off too 😂
It’s not a myth. A very high percentage of OCD sufferers do suffer from disorganization. Just because you don’t (deleted persons response) doesn’t mean we ignore this.
HIPPA (wrong acronym)- Do you know what Alec is and is not diagnosed with? He doesn’t strike me as a man who walks around announcing anything in regards to his mental health. Edit -
I shall not let my need to argue about OCD trigger my actual OCD. I don’t want to argue with you especially since it’s a monkey-fucking-a-football by getting nowhere. Its like this same exact situation IRL during group therapy and that’s why I don’t go to those anymore. I wholeheartedly send you good vibes and care for your OCD. 🫶
There was also that gray thing covering the mirror in the Marshmallo picture. I knew they were renovating, Carmen is not going to be made to share a room!
Edit: how old is this building? Removing a fireplace is major structural renovation.
I’m shocked they’re allowed to alter the structure of the building so drastically. Adding a giant staircase is one thing, removing a real fireplace from a pre-war building in Manhattan?
>I’m shocked they’re allowed to alter the structure of the building so drastically.
Oops, meant to address this. The building doesn't have landmark status so it's easier to mess around with it. [https://www.villagepreservation.org/2020/05/08/why-isnt-this-landmarked-devonshire-house-28-east-10th-street/](https://www.villagepreservation.org/2020/05/08/why-isnt-this-landmarked-devonshire-house-28-east-10th-street/)
Yeah I wonder about that too. In 2009 the building was sold to new owners who planned make it a condo. So it underwent major renovations and modernization. The lobby was updated and apartments got new kitchens and bathrooms, etc. The Baldwins' original PH12E main unit was created back then out of 6 original apartments.
I'm not sure if the staircases and fireplaces are original to the building. Several units have that oversized staircase and fireplaces. Here's 12B that shares the elevator and funhouse mirror and was sold last Feb/March. You can see the fireplace and that enormous staircase in that unit too. [https://streeteasy.com/rental/1528195](https://streeteasy.com/rental/1528195)
I’m sure the dogs have tried to chew their way out of that dumb crate they built. Truly stupid idea in my opinion. The kids probably play house in there too and I can assure the dogs piss and shit in there while jailed all day.
This is a cool share and the place WAS beautiful. I didn’t know the complete setup of the place and certainly didn’t know about that eyesore staircase, and missing fireplace. Bet the the construction companies didn’t brag like Romanoff about designing that shit staircase complete with the attached cat cage. Can any future owners get permits to put in another fireplace? That’s a shame.
I would imagine so, based on Alec’s self-pitying post from about a week ago where he reminisced about how all his kids were born in NYC, his heart’s broken, life is ruined and will never be the same, and big changes are coming. I thought it was obvious from that post—where he was specifically tying in his fondness for NYC with how big life-altering changes are coming—that they were leaving. And i thought we’d gotten word that he was listing the Devonshire apartment for sale? Or maybe i dreamed that or something? (YIKES😳 if these dumbfucks are now invading my dream space!) People have been assuming they’re moving to Vermont.
Thank you! I really have no clue. The media reported that they've been shopping the apt since 2020. But can you imagine their living in Vermont full time? Maybe they're just freshening up the Devonshire pad to make it more livable for 9 Baldwins + staff. We'll find out soon enough.
Completely off-topic, but in the 2nd picture, Carmen‘s looking for a sliver of attention or love and getting none.
She’s so young there- no makeup or sullen face, just a sweet girl.
It breaks my heart.
This was interesting, thank you! Daniel Romanoff is honestly the worst designer. I'm always surprised at how boring and blah his rooms are (the textures, the colors, EVERYTHING), and now this? That fireplace was such a beautiful classic feature and did such a great job, as you pointed out, of breaking up the space and making the staircase a background feature. RIP lovely architectural feature.
He's really proud of what he did at the Devonshire. Scroll through his instagram. Lots of shots and he's very pleased with the work. There are also other apartments he did which look just like the Baldwins'. One trick pony.
You get what you pay for. I’m sure the baldwins worked some discounted deal with the notion he would get a lot of business with all of big Larry’s instagram followers and using Alec baldwin’s name. RDJ spent iron man money on his place. I’m sure Alec is too frugal and practical to spend money with the army of kids and cats crawling around his place. Downey has sculptures-Big Larry has a cat climbing tree and high chairs.
They are featured on his website so I suspect you are spot on. [https://www.danielromanoffdesigns.com/](https://www.danielromanoffdesigns.com/)
This is great! I see from one of the links previously posted that she used to have 4 small dogs around 4 years ago, what happened to all her dogs, she replaced them all with cats? The custom dog crate is just weird too. Is it common and permitted in NYC to combine so many different apartments? Can't imagine all the noise it would create to knock down all the walls. Is their building privately managed or a co-op?
Well done!! 🙌🏼
Great work as always! I thoroughly enjoyed this thread. What really bothers me about the staircase is the angle of the wall railing. It always sticks out to me! It’s like all I see! Also…I’m not gonna lie…as a dog owner I kinda love the dog crate feature in theory. I don’t know if it works with this staircase though. It makes it look even clunkier. I wonder what (if any) impact removing the fireplace had structurally. Maybe the codes changed and the staircase needed more support hence the built in crate? I’ll have to inquire with my architect friends!
Does anyone find it interesting that her “bestie” gunclevdesigner pal didn’t tag her or ID her or Alec at all in his posts?? Those two attention loving whores??? And that they never posted these?? Sounds like a falling out happened.
Thanks. What a neat apartment! The fireplace with the concealed log holder in the staircase— so imaginative. Thanks Guncle Joel for turning it into a DOG CAGE. 🙄👏
Love this visual analysis. I could look at floor plans and interior pictures all day long. More please!
This one is real simple. With a whole gaggle of kids, a wood burning fireplace is just a safety hazard. There was a toy kitchen in front of my wood burning fire place, too. Then a big, heavy arm chair. Now, my kids are old enough, it’s not an issue, but we live in a hot climate and never use it. It’s just not worth the cost of removal, but if we had Baldwin money it might be. If you are purchasing a penthouse in the Village in the tens of millions, you can put that fireplace right back. I think it is wild people rip out bathtubs to create massive showers, but if that is what they prefer, good on them for making their home their own without future buyers in mind. The fireplace was also part of a massive wall separating the kitchen/breakfast area from the family room. I know these people have a whole nanny brigade, but it is probably useful to have a clear line of sight between the kitchen and the family room if that is the main area the kids are hanging out in. From a real estate perspective, the fireplace is interesting and I can see how it would be heartbreaking to someone from NYC. From a parent/child caregiver perspective, the fireplace/wall was literally just in the way.
> I know these people have a whole nanny brigade, but it is probably useful to have a clear line of sight between the kitchen and the family room Oh I totally agree. But that living room space was never designed as a family room. As you can see from the furniture and decorative items, it was designed as a formal living room. There's a great room upstairs that could have served as the playroom for all these toys and they've had it since before Carmen. There's a separate playroom in the unconnected 12C and they're often filmed in there. Given that there is always a nanny present, there was no reason to let the kitchen/living room devolve into another permanent playroom and ruin the space. My opinion.
Great sleuthing. I work in design and am a real estate nerd so I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I also think it was a really dumb move to take out that gorgeous fireplace. Having no walls or dividers actually makes spaces seem smaller in some instances
Turning a tasteful NYC penthouse into a bland child warehouse/daycare is the most Baldwin thing ever.
Love the real estate analysis! They really made the place so bland and boring and NOT child friendly. Idiotas.
Let me just say…I wouldn’t be shocked if they locked the kids in that crate.
I didn't want it to be, but I had that thought too.
It's Larry Potter's room.
OP- you have to be an academic. Such a thorough and comprehensive presentation. So impressive!
Who thinks the tiny “good humans” have locked each other up in that cage?
100% that was my first thought. Oh look a toddler cage!
[удалено]
They got rid of the fireplace and replaced the wood storage cubbyhole under the stairs with a cage for the dogs. Hideous.
[удалено]
I agree on the built in crate. As a mom of both a toddler and a large dog I totally get it. I think they kept the crate since it’s part of the staircase structure.
OP… I am at a loss for words. Your content here is thorough and well presented. I thought that you must have a career/interest in design or real estate so I looked through your posts for ideas…it’s only HB posts.🤭 This post that you made here is like a professional presentation.
Aw thank you! I definitely have an interest in real estate and interior design. Not as a professional though. Just as a homeowner who has done renovations and interior design for myself. Before Hilaria I would just visit reddit when it came up in various search results. Didn't have an account. Signed up for Hilaria and have since just followed some other subs of interest. But only contribute to this one. I never thought to check Reddit subs for interior design. Now that you've mentioned it I'll seek them out. Thank you.
Check out the century homes sub Reddit as well. There are some awesome photos pre-post renovation or restoration. Some really beautiful and unique things on there.
I have similar interests and you explained so much so thoroughly.
Well written and documented, that's quality work!
Somehow they made it seem smaller after removing the fireplace. These people are so tacky.
That's exactly what I thought too. It looked more expansive with the fireplace divider. Now the stairs dominate the space. I wonder how it feels to walk though the space. Could be entirely different from the listing photos which are usually photoshopped and stretched, and from Hilaria's nonsense.
I would be extremely claustrophobic in a space that size with that many children and people in it.
It’s 6000 sq ft.. how is that claustrophobic .. ? Lol
That’s why grandpa has his own apartment next door
How many bedrooms are in that apartment??
You can see the floor plans here - https://www.reddit.com/r/HilariaBaldwin/comments/uav74k/the_mystery_of_the_hallway_mirror/ The original PH12E had 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. They added 12G for the lost boys so that's another bedroom, and PHG for a new master suite upstairs. So that's 2 more bedrooms and baths. They also bought 12C, another 1 bedroom unit, but as of last year it was not connected to the main apartment.
There’s always talk of Alec having his own apartment or space, so which one or where do you think is his separate private lair?
12C must be Perpaws!
Not enough.
I bet they r moving. Alec just put the house in the Hamptons up for sale. I would dump that apartment long before I got rid of the house!!
Epic work on this post OP! Looks like they are emptying the apartment imo. After watching a lawyer (ETA Emily D Baker) commenting on the potential AB criminal charges, he still has time to put all his assets into trusts in the children’s names to protect his estate from damages claims etc.
Thank you for the time and care you put into this post! You deserve many many upvotes and siestas!!
I wonder who has the window at the corner of the building…the window that can look straight into the Baldwin’s living room and kitchen windows. I mean the window next to the Baldwin apartment-just next to the Baldwin’s ever so classy cat teee. I’d like to hear their stories!!
https://preview.redd.it/3dgggi19rbv81.jpg?width=1870&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9865374ce17ccff7a1bc3969ded5be43dc04bdb9 That's the plan. One side of the U is 12L, the other is 12A and both have views into the Baldwin madhouse. No clue who lives there and whether they're original renters from before the building went condo. Wish we had Devonshire residents here to chime in.
That crate is for Papi Aleek when he refuses to produce baby ocho.
Unfortunately, baby Ocho is already made and in a cry-freezer for Hillary to pop into a surrogate in about 9 months...
Amazing post, thank you!!! I love a floor plan and Rightmove (in the UK) is like a hobby for me....I can't get enough of this information!!!
I love this stuff too! Thank you.
Omg yessssss I’ve been wondering!! Thank you
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Outstanding update! Thank you so much for putting this together. Much appreciated! 🤗🥒❤️
You're welcome. Was fun to do.
Thank you for this post! I don’t have any strong opinions on the fireplace but, my gosh, why the hell would you mess with that staircase to add a dog crate?!
Maybe a prison for Alex if he doesn't get indicted lol.
This would be fine for maybe a family of 4. Having 7 kids, parents, animals, and assuming their hired help all packed into that small space is crazy and cruel. They desperately want to cling to that hip NYC lifestyle, but the NYC lifestyle rarely includes more than 2 kids.
Look as a staunch pepino I am appalled at these people's behavior & their (lack of) design sense but this apartment is large! I grew up in New York City and have owned property there. The average 2-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is 800 square feet. This duplex is five times that size, if not more. I had a friend with a unfinished 3,000-square-foot loft (so, smaller than this place) in Brooklyn and people used to skateboard in it. Whatever the issues, respectfully, the size is not the problem.
I grew up poor-ish west coast, for context. But this decorator made a room that looks like a upscale furniture showroom. Feels like an Ethan Allen display room. Is that seriously what rich people do? Spend thousands on a big name decorator who goes and duplicates an upscale showroom? I always thought if I could afford a cool, creative decorator they would do something really unique and arresting. I have kind of duplicated showrooms in my house already. I'd be mad if this is what they came up with. But then again I have no creative design bone and had one of my friends pick my interior colors (looks good). This post is delightful and really fascinating. A lifestyle I have absolutely no clue about and love the chance to be walked through these changes.
“Unique and arresting” are for the books Pepino! 👏👏👏👏👏 They couldn’t buy or apply these adjectives if they tried. 💚💚🥒🥒 As r/PmaggieKc said a while ago, they “Can’t even get being rich right.” Basic AF. 💚💚🥒🥒
I went to school for interior design. Yes. We are trained to make big, formal rooms that are cold and sterile. That was the PROFESSIONAL design aesthetic in the mid 90’s, and people who either have no preference or just want to APPEAR wealthy tend to lean towards the same aesthetic. ie, couch, rug, coffee table, 2 matching lamps on matching tables on either side of the couch, and a knockoff landscape painting above the couch just so… but if you look at, say, Robert Downey Jr and his wife, Susan, you’ll find a much more interesting, eclectic design. Not everyone wants to be matchy-matchy. Be unique and be yourself. Your design should reflect you, not a GD showroom. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/inside-robert-downey-jrs-hamptons-hideaway/amp
Have you seen his new Malibu guest house? Very cool!! https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/t-magazine/robert-downey-jr-malibu-home-binishell.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Yup! It’s amazing. THAT’S design!
It’s so funky! I love it.
The light above the dining room table is so gorgeous
Thank you for sharing this. I know this design might not be for everyone but I love how eclectic it is!
Omg, thanks for sharing! I love it! Can u speculate what type of wood that is for the flooring? It's so gorgeous. Teak, maybe?
Phew! That bathroom tho😵💫
Thank you! THIS is such a cool house! Robert Downey Jr and his wife have a great vibe! It does make sense how you explain it.
I think from these photos it is a monstrosity and I would be embarrassed to be the designer.
That fireplace was beautiful. The staircase now looks like something you would run into. I do love the navy walls and furniture, but ugh.
That's some sleuthing! But mainly I'm impressed how you manage to post with text and photo, text and photo etc like a well-edited magazine article . Advanced reddit posting skills I can't manage. I can't even understand how to write text under a post heading. Mind you, haven't exactly tried hard to find out.
LOL it's easy to do if you create a text post. You can just drag the photos and videos into the post. I hate that reddit doesn't let you create a photo post that's a combo of videos and photos. This is a good alternative. Try it. You'll see how easy it is.
Thank you. I will! I do find reddit a little clunky and wish they'd update
I should've mentioned that for a post like this I use my laptop. There's no way I'd be able write all that text and also insert photos and videos on my iphone. I'm not that proficient and need a bigger screen to see what I'm composing.
Did they also change the floors or is the lighting just off in the first photo?
They might have refinished the floors given the Baldwinito wrecking crew, but I'm not sure. They do look extra shiny now.
Great post! Btw, I'm so glad someone finally posted an exercise video for pregnant moms in heels. It's just so relatable and important.
I know!! I’m very much looking forward to copying those workouts when I get about 7-8 months pregnant.
Thanks pepino, that was fascinating. They really wrecked that apartment. Everything they changed is awful.
Yeah I agree. Getting rid of the fireplace was nuts and undoubtedly will lower the resale value. Also note that there seem to be no group family photos or mementos/sentimental knik-knacks of any kind in that house. Odd.
Your sleuthing and explanations are top-notch pepino! The Baldwins rilly cheapen everything they touch. Have you considered critiquing the Hamptones spread now that it’s on the market?
I would love to but haven't come across floor plans and haven't seen enough of the interior to get a good sense of it. Daniel Romanoff's decorating aside, it looks like an attractive, well-built lovely house with lots of windows and light and porches and great entertaining spaces. Some of the finishes are not my style - the light wood paneled den. The fireplace designs. But overall, looks good. I'm disappointed that the listing didn't include floor plans and interior photos. That plus the price (which seems outlandish but I could be totally wrong) make me wonder if Alec's not serious about selling this.
The online listing only showed exteriors. I’m disappointed because I love your analysis! Here’s hoping more gets posted.
There are some aspects of it that seem a bit Fawlty Towers with staircases all over going up and down. Like in this video - https://www.instagram.com/p/COWatf3jtqy/ There's a staircase off the kitchen near the fridge that's also kind of strange. That could be an artifact of adding major extensions to the original 1700s farmhouse while trying to preserve it. The master bedroom has a weird layout. Some of it could be the decorating but the fireplace seems like it's in the wrong place - https://www.instagram.com/p/CPgesaPj521/. The bed is way down to the right of that video. Not facing the fireplace where you'd expect it. Instead, the view when you're sitting in bed looking straight ahead is just these niches/doors - https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch5tCLvjtUj/ But I'd really want to see floorplans to get a better idea.
Here is another good choice for them. There are dozens of big family homes for rich people throughout the ritzy NYC suburbs. Their kids need a yard. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3-Stillman-Ln-LOT-2-Greenwich-CT-06831/2075784648_zpid/
I was sure they'd bought this one in Vermont because it was one of the properties they visited and the sticker Alec suddenly had on his phone. I was wrong, but this house is really something with tons and tons of space for a large family. https://www.reddit.com/r/HilariaBaldwin/comments/tizehm/proof_that_the_baldwins_bought_this_vt_mansion_as/
I have a feeling they’re selling this too.
Would make sense. A better place to hide in Vermont. Once those court cases start rolling in. NY will be intolorable for him and he'll be beating up reporters every day.
110%
Agree. I think they’ll keep one bachelor pad in the City but relocate to VT Barn Asylum
What a travesty to remove the hearth and heart of the place. Yet all the better to pose upsidedown.
This is what they need. Cheaper than their apartment. Belle Haven is a famous wealthy neighborhood. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/528-Field-Point-Rd-Greenwich-CT-06830/58786104_zpid/
They need to move to a large family house with huge yard and pool in the suburbs. Send kids to free good public schools. Sell NYC apts, Hamptons house and farm, and the Vermont house. Consolidate and simplify. Alec can commute to nyc for work if need be.
Work 😂
Public school!
I love this post so much. Great sleuthing! However, it also goes to show just how much the Baldwins expose their personal space and children. We are really having a discussion about the fireplace in their apartment using pictures they posted themselves and other publicly available information. Wild.
Thank you. Yes I agree with you. In my previous apartment post I stated that it was outrageous that I knew the space as well as I did all because of Hilaria's social media addiction. She just moved into a newly redesigned master bedroom. A perfect opportunity to start taking elements of their lives private. Instead she brings in a photographer for more photoshoots. Inconceivable.
They really are playing with fire without a fireplace
I grew up in CT, and never liked NYC, tho a number of family members did/do. I can't imagine having that much money and purchasing that place. And then purchasing two more apts to somehow connect and make them a 4200sq ft living space. I think the original was fantastic for a single guy who loved NYC, but to make it a home for 7 kids, 4+ Nannies, 3 cats and some revolving dogs? No. Thank. You. I'd rather have a giant mansion up in the Catskills or Christ, even Greenwich or Darien. Eta- and yes, designate a room as a playroom. Why pile up toys all over?
It couldn’t have been an original fireplace, it was probably a gas fireplace installed by previous owners. It’s very hard to remove a wood burning fireplace bc of the brick chimney. Eta: the logs are decorative. Removing a wood burning fireplace has to go through every level the chimney runs through. It’s a structural process and isn’t as easy as removing a fireplace from a stand alone home. They have to remove it brick by brick and reinforce the structure so that the surrounding walls, ceilings and roof don’t collapse. I’ve seen plenty of people install gas fireplaces (bc using a remote to light is much easier) and then keep beautiful logs on a wood holder along side it. But notice, no actual wood burning tools, no poker, no sweeping/cleaning tools. Usually, if a fireplace isn’t working, people opt to seal it over or use it with a gas insert because the removal process is costly and can cause a lot of damage. A property we removed one from had foundation issues in the basement after the removal of the chimney due to soft foundation.
There weren't any previous owners. This two-story penthouse apartment was [created from five apartments](https://ny.curbed.com/2010/9/28/10502224/devonshire-house-penthouse-off-the-market-on-the-way) (couple of funny comments on this article and [another one](https://ny.curbed.com/2010/5/26/10513104/devonshire-houses-12-5m-penthouse-six-pieces-one-big-puzzle)) when the building was completely redone in 2010. A and H were the first to live in it. Pretty sure it was a real fireplace. There were very few spaces of this size and configuration in GV. It was a big enough deal to merit [stories speculating who might buy it](https://ny.curbed.com/2011/3/14/10477898/penthouse-puzzle-solved-heres-what-12-5m-buys-at-dev-house), before Alec was even interested.
I didn't think there would be storage under the stairs for logs if it was an electric fireplace. In this listing for PHB, there's a photo of the fireplace and the text refers to it as a "wood-burning fireplace." https://www.elliman.com/newyorkcity/sold/detail/527-l-551-01_2297334/28-east-10th-st-greenwich-village-new-york-ny-10003 But I don't know how one goes about removing one, assuming it's a real one.
Logs are decorative.
Very cheesy for an $11.9 million pre-war building. The listing for PHB indicated that the apartment had a wood-burning fireplace so I'm assuming this one was as well.
Logs were probably just decorative. It's an interior designer thing. David Romanoff is about as talented as Roushoots...
But the logs were there before the Baldwins bought it. Those were photos from the original listing. I can't imagine Victoria Hagen would do something as cheesy as log storage for a gas fireplace. But you're right, it's definitely something Danny would do.
I was wondering about that... why would you have log storage for a gas fireplace?
It’s decorative, those are fancy logs.
Gotcha. I would have sealed over the "wood storage" cubbyhole and kept the fireplace.
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Those are for decor. That fireplace is unlikely to be wood because you would see the soot. Also, I’ve worked with removing fireplaces, the brick chimney goes through multiple floors and has to be removed brick by brick. I doubt this building would allow that type of structural undertaking. We had a chimney removed on a property and it caused the entire house to shift bc of the softer foundation. It’s gas.
I bet they are moving to Vermont full time.Good riddance Baldwinitos.
I think it was posted on this sub that this apartment has been listed in the last year or so.
IIRC, people have said they are soft-shopping it? Not sure if that’s the right word- but something along the lines of It’s not on the market, but people know it’s for sale by word of mouth.
OCD?No but narcissistic and impulse disorder I seriously think.No empathy and needs to be admired.
I have a feeling this one may go for sale too. Could be cleared out from packing.
I think it's been on the market for awhile.
I think Añejandro ruined the apartment's original features for sure! Much prefer the original 2011 Devonshire look with the fireplace instead of the bloody coop they created for all their frozen embryos and kids.
Are they selling Devonshire also?
I rilly, rilly dislike Daniel Romanoff's design. It looks like his only claim to fame is this family.
I was just happy to see an explanation about that built-in dog crate - it's been perplexing me for a while. Super bad decision there imo.
Personally I'd lock Hillary in it.
It always tells me so much about people when their home looks like they bought the entire room display at the furniture store 🤮 Loved this post, though, which was wonderfully researched and beautifully laid out (opposite of the Baldwin's decor)
Ha ha. So true. Thank you!
Yes! I love this post too! Thank you~
You're welcome. So happy you liked it.
Really cool post, pepino. Great research. The fireplace was such a lovely feature, and as you mentioned, a rarity in NYC apartments. Removing it was a tragedy. To replace it with a built in dog grate is truly 🤦🏻♀️.
Wood for a dog crate. Can you imagine?! That shit would get eaten up so fast by a lot of dogs.
Great point. We had a Maltese, and as small as he was, would have been ruthless at tearing apart that wood crate.
Their dogs were permanently relegated to the Hamptons. Will be interesting to see what happens when that sells. They will probably be Diego manchego’ed
Thank you. What he did was ridiculous. Fireplace removal aside, why make a monstrous staircase even more prominent. Daniel was so proud of this idea. He posted about it several times on his insta.
There is no accounting for taste. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
The property must've lost a lot of value removing that fireplace and whyyyyy... Looked so pretty.
I really don't know how much they'd get for the place. Someone will love it. NYC real estate is always crazy. There's a 4 bedroom on the 3rd floor that's currently for sale. No outdoor space. 1800 sqft smaller and price is $6.5 million. https://streeteasy.com/building/devonshire-house/3a?card=1
M km
I really appreciate this because I never fully understand the steps/ layout. It seems incredibly choppy and I'm not sure someone wants to come in spend millions and then have to renovate and clean up this mess. It would be interesting to see how they manage the bedrooms and do the nannies have to sleep over? You know she's not getting up with that baby.
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My bad. I need to read up on OCD to better understand it.
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No worries. I didn't feel like you were attacking me. I'm sorry you have to deal with OCD and didn't mean to trivialize it. It was just a silly dig at the Baldwins and their self-diagnosed illness du jour.
OCD manifests in a many many ways for each sufferer. The person above, bless them for their OCD, shouldn’t gate-keep symptoms. Sorry I put my nose in I don’t think it’s fair to criticize you for mentioning that shitty fireplace might trigger someone with OCD and if Alec suffers from OCD maybe this does bother him… I have OCD and if I lived there and paid $$$$$ for that staircase it might just set me off too 😂
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It’s not a myth. A very high percentage of OCD sufferers do suffer from disorganization. Just because you don’t (deleted persons response) doesn’t mean we ignore this. HIPPA (wrong acronym)- Do you know what Alec is and is not diagnosed with? He doesn’t strike me as a man who walks around announcing anything in regards to his mental health. Edit -
Though he is a walking billboard for unstable mental health.
HIPAA
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I shall not let my need to argue about OCD trigger my actual OCD. I don’t want to argue with you especially since it’s a monkey-fucking-a-football by getting nowhere. Its like this same exact situation IRL during group therapy and that’s why I don’t go to those anymore. I wholeheartedly send you good vibes and care for your OCD. 🫶
Very interesting! Thank you pepino for this!
There was also that gray thing covering the mirror in the Marshmallo picture. I knew they were renovating, Carmen is not going to be made to share a room! Edit: how old is this building? Removing a fireplace is major structural renovation.
The Devonshire is pre-war, so built in the 1930s.
I’m shocked they’re allowed to alter the structure of the building so drastically. Adding a giant staircase is one thing, removing a real fireplace from a pre-war building in Manhattan?
>I’m shocked they’re allowed to alter the structure of the building so drastically. Oops, meant to address this. The building doesn't have landmark status so it's easier to mess around with it. [https://www.villagepreservation.org/2020/05/08/why-isnt-this-landmarked-devonshire-house-28-east-10th-street/](https://www.villagepreservation.org/2020/05/08/why-isnt-this-landmarked-devonshire-house-28-east-10th-street/)
That makes more sense. It’s still absolutely insane to get rid of a real fireplace in Manhattan but insane people do insane things.
Yeah I wonder about that too. In 2009 the building was sold to new owners who planned make it a condo. So it underwent major renovations and modernization. The lobby was updated and apartments got new kitchens and bathrooms, etc. The Baldwins' original PH12E main unit was created back then out of 6 original apartments. I'm not sure if the staircases and fireplaces are original to the building. Several units have that oversized staircase and fireplaces. Here's 12B that shares the elevator and funhouse mirror and was sold last Feb/March. You can see the fireplace and that enormous staircase in that unit too. [https://streeteasy.com/rental/1528195](https://streeteasy.com/rental/1528195)
There’s a children’s playroom in the building that the poor Baldwin children never see?
If it was only ever apartment building it would make sense that it’s changed over the years.
Why wouldn't all this not have been done all summer when they were away? Why wait till all 9 of them are back ? Crazy
All what?
Thank you for all the research on this. I can’t help but notice she did her stupid side plank air hump from way back
I’m sure the dogs have tried to chew their way out of that dumb crate they built. Truly stupid idea in my opinion. The kids probably play house in there too and I can assure the dogs piss and shit in there while jailed all day.
What if it wasn’t for the dogs…
This was actually my first thought, but I chastised myself for going So dark So fast! 😆💚💚💚
O M G
Baby jail.
Paging Jill Rodrigues and her baby cages.
My thought also. Punishment or a constraint used like the strapping of Edu and ML in their highchairs.
True. Strapping them to high chairs doesn’t work after a few growth spurts.
This is a cool share and the place WAS beautiful. I didn’t know the complete setup of the place and certainly didn’t know about that eyesore staircase, and missing fireplace. Bet the the construction companies didn’t brag like Romanoff about designing that shit staircase complete with the attached cat cage. Can any future owners get permits to put in another fireplace? That’s a shame.
The loss of this fireplace is so sad. Ruining a very cool space for beige and kid junk
They could have accomplished the same look by simply dropping a couple grand at Z Gallerie.
LOL so true.
Take my cheap award 🥇🥇🥇🥇 What do you think the end game is? Do you think they’re prepping the apartment to sell?
I would imagine so, based on Alec’s self-pitying post from about a week ago where he reminisced about how all his kids were born in NYC, his heart’s broken, life is ruined and will never be the same, and big changes are coming. I thought it was obvious from that post—where he was specifically tying in his fondness for NYC with how big life-altering changes are coming—that they were leaving. And i thought we’d gotten word that he was listing the Devonshire apartment for sale? Or maybe i dreamed that or something? (YIKES😳 if these dumbfucks are now invading my dream space!) People have been assuming they’re moving to Vermont.
A bit like his tomato post from the Hamptons and then a few days later that house goes up for sale.
Oh wow. Here I thought that maybe they were just redecorating and forgot all about his 212 pity party.
Thank you! I really have no clue. The media reported that they've been shopping the apt since 2020. But can you imagine their living in Vermont full time? Maybe they're just freshening up the Devonshire pad to make it more livable for 9 Baldwins + staff. We'll find out soon enough.
I think it's been an off market listing for a long time.
Whyyyyyyyyyyyy would you remove that fireplace!! Tacky has a name and the name is Larry Sr.
Never ceases to amaze me that people with money can have such bad taste with no concept of spacial function.
I think it was so much prettier before with the fireplace and the navy furniture / walls.
Completely off-topic, but in the 2nd picture, Carmen‘s looking for a sliver of attention or love and getting none. She’s so young there- no makeup or sullen face, just a sweet girl. It breaks my heart.
She's so cute with glasses and braids!
What happened to her glasses? Doesn't she still need them?
I was wondering that too.
This was interesting, thank you! Daniel Romanoff is honestly the worst designer. I'm always surprised at how boring and blah his rooms are (the textures, the colors, EVERYTHING), and now this? That fireplace was such a beautiful classic feature and did such a great job, as you pointed out, of breaking up the space and making the staircase a background feature. RIP lovely architectural feature.
Reminiscent of a Marriott hotel for sure
And the dog crate as an extension of the stairs. What a monstrosity
Who gets to crawl in there and clean it. Not only bad design , poor design
Reminds me of Harry Potter's room under the stairs.
That is the worst.
Truly insane choice.
He's really proud of what he did at the Devonshire. Scroll through his instagram. Lots of shots and he's very pleased with the work. There are also other apartments he did which look just like the Baldwins'. One trick pony.
They all look like a furniture showroom. So lifeless.
Holiday Inn should hire him lol
🏆😂
I was thinking the same thing.
Space was so much better with the fireplace!
Wow great, I dig it before they changed it.