Inside Residence 42A: The $15.95 Million Crown Jewel of Midtown Manhattan’s Baccarat Hotel and Residences

NEW YORK — Directly across the street from Edward Durell Stone’s landmark Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) building in the pulsing heart of Midtown Manhattan stands one of the city’s most exclusive sanctuaries. The Baccarat Hotel and Residences, soaring above West 53rd Street, is an architectural and lifestyle triumph that seamlessly marries legendary French heritage with contemporary urban living. Designed by the renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the tower channels the aristocratic elegance of the legendary French luxury crystal brand founded by King Louis XV in 1764.

Now, a pinnacle of this architectural marvel has hit the market. Residence 42A, a sprawling, full-floor, four-bedroom condominium interiorly curated by AD100 designer Tony Ingrao and furnished by Nicole Fuller Interiors, is listed at $15.95 million through the Charlie Attias Team at Compass. Representing the zenith of Manhattan luxury real estate, this turnkey property offers a rare combination of private, full-floor seclusion, high-concept design, world-class hotel amenities, and iconic skyline vistas.

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Main Facts: A Masterclass in High-Altitude Luxury

At its core, Residence 42A is a celebration of craftsmanship, light, and materiality. Spanning the entire 42nd floor of the tower, the residence commands sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Manhattan skyline, highlighted by a breathtaking, direct sightline of the Empire State Building.

Key Property Specifications:

• Asking Price: $15.95 million
• Location: 20 West 53rd Street, Unit 42A, Manhattan, NY 10019
• Layout: 4 bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, powder room, private dressing area, gourmet kitchen, and expansive great room.
• Interior Design: Custom design by Tony Ingrao (AD100); turnkey furnishing by Nicole Fuller Interiors (including all custom curtains, carpets, light fixtures, and art-adjacent decor).
• Key Architectural Features: 11-foot ceilings, strié plaster details, dark-stained white oak flooring, floor-to-ceiling windows, and custom crystal inlay entry hardware.
• Listing Agents: Charlie Attias, Connor Ramage, and Brooke Winsness of Compass.

The narrative of luxury begins at the threshold. The front door is fitted with a custom crystal inlay handle—a subtle, shimmering nod to the building’s namesake crystal house. Stepping inside, guests are greeted by a dramatic foyer featuring strié plaster walls and a signature Baccarat chandelier, setting a tone of refined opulence that flows effortlessly into the residence’s primary living spaces.

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Chronology of the Tower: From Royal Crystal to Modern Metropolis

Understanding the pedigree of Residence 42A requires looking back at the evolution of the site and the brand that defines it.

• 1764: King Louis XV of France grants permission to Bishop Louis-Joseph de Laval-Montmorency to establish a glassworks village in Baccarat, Lorraine, specializing in fine crystal production that would soon become the preferred tableware of European monarchs and tsars.
• 2015: The Baccarat Hotel and Residences officially opens its doors in Midtown Manhattan. Developed as a multi-use architectural masterpiece, the tower is meticulously divided into three distinct operational and cultural components: a bi-level public library at its base, a hyper-luxurious nine-story boutique hotel, and private ultra-luxury condominiums occupying floors 18 through 49.
• Present Day: The secondary market for prime Manhattan real estate sees continuous demand for turnkey, branded residences. Full-floor layouts like Residence 42A emerge as prized assets for global elites seeking privacy paired with five-star hospitality services.

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Supporting Data: Design, Materials, and Five-Star Amenities

The interior architecture of Residence 42A is a masterclass in texture and light. Tony Ingrao’s design seamlessly bridges classic French sensibility with a modern, metropolitan edge.

Spatial Breakdown and Finishes

• The Great Room: Anchored by soaring 11-foot ceilings, this expansive entertaining space is flooded with natural light pouring through oversized, picturesque windows. The room juxtaposes dark-stained white oak flooring with bold, neon-colored contemporary paintings, creating a dynamic dialogue between classic European styling and vibrant modern art.
• The Gourmet Kitchen: Designed for both high-end culinary execution and sleek aesthetic appeal, the kitchen features brushed nickel and clear glass cabinetry, iceberg polished granite slab countertops, and a custom glass-and-mirror backsplash that reflects the natural light and city views.
• The Primary Suite: Occupying a quiet wing of the floor, the primary bedroom boasts floor-to-ceiling windows framing the city skyline. It features a bespoke private dressing area and an en-suite bathroom clad in white honed-marble, complete with heated floors and ultra-luxury Fantini fixtures.
• Powder Room: A design triumph in miniature, the powder room showcases striking frosted mirrored glass wall panels.

The Turnkey Experience

Offered fully furnished by Nicole Fuller Interiors, Residence 42A is completely move-in ready. The sale includes all custom drapery, designer carpets, exquisite lighting fixtures, and carefully curated decor pieces, allowing a buyer to step off the elevator into a fully realized aesthetic vision without lifting a finger.

Hotel-Level Amenities

Residents of Unit 42A enjoy 24-hour access to the legendary services and amenities of the Baccarat Hotel, bridging independent homeownership with elite hospitality:

• Spa de La Mer: The world-renowned wellness sanctuary offering bespoke skincare and holistic treatments.
• Le Chevalier: Fine dining orchestrated by Michelin-starred chef Shea Gallante.
• The Baccarat Bar & Petite Salon Lounge: Dramatic, crystal-laden social spaces modeled after the historic salons of Versailles.
• Wellness & Leisure: An indoor swimming pool flanked by private cabanas and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
• Concierge & Logistics: 24-hour multilingual concierge services and white-glove valet parking.

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Official Responses and Market Context

According to the listing brokerage, the Charlie Attias Team at Compass, properties of this caliber represent a rare intersection of architectural heritage and functional domestic luxury in New York City.

"Baccarat is not merely a brand; it is a global benchmark for uncompromised luxury," notes the brokerage team. "Residence 42A elevates this legacy by offering the ultimate privacy of a full-floor layout combined with Tony Ingrao’s visionary design and the unbeatable convenience of hotel-managed living. For a discerning buyer, this property offers a complete lifestyle solution that is virtually unmatched in Midtown."

Market analysts point out that branded residences—particularly those associated with storied European luxury houses like Baccarat, Four Seasons, and Aman—have consistently outperformed traditional luxury condominiums over the last decade. Buyers increasingly prioritize turnkey readiness, institutional-grade security, and immediate access to wellness and dining infrastructure, trends that heavily favor towers like the one on West 53rd Street.

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Implications: The Future of Branded Luxury Real Estate in Manhattan

The listing of Residence 42A at $15.95 million underscores several broader shifts in the ultra-prime Manhattan real estate market:

1. The Rise of the Turnkey Turnaround: High-net-worth buyers, many of whom maintain multiple global residences, increasingly reject the logistical headache of renovations. The inclusion of bespoke curation by top-tier designers like Tony Ingrao and Nicole Fuller Interiors shifts the value proposition from raw square footage to immediate, frictionless experiential luxury.
2. The Blurring Lines Between Hospitality and Home: The success of the Baccarat residential model proves that modern urban elites desire the services of a five-star hotel integrated directly into their domestic lives. Private elevators, 24/7 multilingual concierges, and Michelin-starred dining on demand are no longer viewed as vacation luxuries, but as baseline necessities for top-tier urban living.
3. Midtown’s Resurgence: While downtown neighborhoods like Tribeca and SoHo have long dominated luxury headlines, properties like Residence 42A remind the market of Midtown’s unmatched centrality. Situated steps from MoMA, the Theater District, and high-end Fifth Avenue retail, the location anchors residents at the cultural and financial crossroads of the world.

As Residence 42A seeks its next custodian, it stands as a glowing testament to what happens when French royal heritage meets American architectural prowess—a crystal chandelier shining brightly above the Manhattan skyline.