Myers and Michielli. (Patrick McMullan)
In the listing photos, Roberta Myers and Frank Michielli’s new co-op at 924 West End Avenue looks a little fuddy duddy. But the place, as they say, has great bones, bones that we're sure its new owners—two souls uniquely suited to sussing out the aesthetically pleasing—will be able to take full advantage of.
And while Ms. Myers, the longtime editor of Elle, and Mr. Michelli, a partner at Michielli + Wyetzner Architects, are certainly well-equipped to dispense of the great-aunt paint job and floral wallpaper, they aren't the only ones who saw potential in the two-bedroom, two-bath apartment.
The co-op, which came on the market for $1.85 million in June with Fenwick Keats brokers Will Rogers (no, not that Will Rogers) and Kinnaird Fox, sold for more than ask at $1.92 million, according to city records. Sellers Donald Sutherland (no, not that Donald Sutherland) and Ruth Lawyer must be pleased.
Very Upper West Side.
After all, great aunts sometimes happen to have exquisite jewelry and valuable art. And if you can look beyond the overstuffed furniture in the listing photos, you notice parquet floods, oversized windows, wood-paneled walls and Arts and Crafts detailing. And the kitchen sounds flawless: oak glass-front cabinets, an Italian marble center island, Viking range and oversized windows with double arches.
No word on the closet situation, but we guess Mr. Michielli can probably draw up some designs. Or Ms. Myers could follow Jenna Lyons's lead and transform one of the bedrooms into storage? (Probably not going to work, given the couple's two children and the apartment's two bedrooms.)
It will be a short move uptown for the couple, who city records show previously owned an apartment at 639 West End Avenue.
The only question is whether Elle can help us find the budget version of a West End two-bedroom. Can the magazine please do a Shop the Trend on Upper West Side co-ops?
kvelsey@observer.com