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“I’m anxious to get this done as soon as possible. Now that I’ve decided I’m ready, I don’t want to wait any longer than necessary. It’s driving me crazy how small our place is,” Emily said.
Sophie nodded sympathetically. Emily’s idea of small was spacious for New York standards, but she understood. And she was more than happy to help.
Each day, she asked Emily for feedback and, although it was all mostly positive, by the end of the day on Friday, Emily had decided that all but one of the properties they’d seen were too small.
“I’m hopeful for tomorrow and glad that Jim will be joining us. I think maybe we’ve saved the best for last,” Emily said.
“Those two are the biggest properties available in that area,” Sophie confirmed. She too, hoped that they would love one of them enough to make an offer. But she knew that often the higher-priced sales took longer as the buyers were pickier and might want to hold out for the perfect property. Though she knew Emily didn’t want to wait around. And both were what Sophie would consider spectacular. She hoped that Emily and Jim would agree.
Tessa’s and Caroline’s listings were a block apart. Sophie met Emily and Jim at Tessa’s listing first and when they finished, they could go right onto Caroline’s as the property was empty and there were no other showings scheduled that day.
Sophie arrived ten minutes early and a few minutes later, Emily and her husband walked up. Emily looked excited as she introduced Jim.
“Sophie, this is my husband. Jim, meet Sophie.”
Jim smiled and held out his hand. His handshake was firm and businesslike, but his eyes were warm and as they walked around the unit, it was clear to Sophie that Jim adored his wife.
“Oh, this kitchen is incredible,” Emily said. There was a huge, honed marble island with six chairs along one side and several smoky blown glass hanging lights above it. The kitchen cabinets were pale gray, with brushed aluminum appliances and a charcoal gray tile backsplash. The kitchen looked as though it was rarely used as there was nothing on the counters and the cupboards were mostly empty.
“It is beautiful,” Jim agreed. “But marble stains and with two little ones and possibly more on the way, I’m not sure how practical it is.”
Emily looked disappointed. “You might be right,” she agreed.
Jim put his hands on his wife’s shoulder and smiled down at her. “If you really want marble, we can make it work.”
She returned his smile. “We’ll see. Let’s keep going.”
The unit was beautifully decorated with dark burgundy and hunter green silk drapes on the enormous windows that overlooked Fifth Avenue and Central Park. The owner was a fifty-something bachelor, a businessman, and this was one of several homes. The overall feel was luxurious and somewhat masculine. The bath in the primary bedroom had sleek black marble and although it was beautiful, it seemed a little cold, Sophie thought.
Jim loved the library though, which he would use as an office. It was a dark room with lots of black leather and polished mahogany wood. There was a massive desk surrounded by custom-built bookcases along both walls. He walked over to a shelf of leather-bound books and took a closer look. Emily joined him and smiled.
“I could totally see you working here,” she said.
He nodded. “It’s a great room. Love the high ceilings.”
As they walked out, Sophie casually asked, “So what do you think?”
Emily and Jim exchanged glances and Emily smiled. “It’s an amazing apartment. I don’t love some of the colors, but I think so far it is at the top of the list. It has everything we are looking for.”
Sophie wondered how Caroline’s unit would compare. It had a very different feel to it. That property was just a block away, and Emily seemed excited about seeing it.
“This one is the closest so far to the Met,” Emily said and glanced at Jim. He took her hand and smiled. It was a gorgeous day to be out walking. It was cold but clear. As they walked, the wind seemed to pick up and Sophie pulled her long coat around her a bit tighter.
The building was just ahead, and the unit was on the sixth floor. They took the elevator up and Sophie opened the door and stepped back so they could enter the unit first. She smiled to herself as she heard Emily’s quick intake of breath.
“Wow. Jim, look at this entrance, it’s so impressive and welcoming at the same time.” The foyer had champagne-colored marble floors and a soaring twelve-foot-high ceiling. They walked through to the living room, which was a huge, open area with a wall of oversized windows that overlooked Central Park and the Met.
There was an elegant cream-colored fireplace with custom moldings and French doors that led into a dining room on one side and on the other went into an office. The primary bedroom was spacious and had a walk-in-closet with a small island in the middle. It looked like something a movie star would have and Sophie saw the love in Emily’s eyes.
“This is such a glamorous space. I might want to just hang out in this closet,” Emily said. There was a comfy pink suede chair by a white desk with three-way mirrors. She could sit there and put her makeup on and check the fit of her clothes.
Jim was more impressed by the bathroom which had both a clawfoot tub and a standing shower encased in glass. It had all-white marble and seafoam green glass subway tiles in the shower that gave it a peaceful, spa-like feeling.
The kitchen was a little smaller than the one they’d just looked at, but it was cozier and to Sophie’s eyes, more user-friendly. There was a half-moon-shaped island with five chairs along one side. The island was raised on the side where the chairs were and on the other side, there was a stove, so Emily or Jim, could cook while facing those seated at the island and they would also have a view to the living area as well. It would make for easy entertaining or keeping an eye on the kids. And the counter material looked like marble but was a more durable quartz.
“I love this,” Emily breathed. She glanced around the apartment and back at Jim. “I love all of it. I can see us living here. What do you think?”
He nodded. “I like it. If you think this is the one, let’s do it.”
