Check out Christine Baranski’s New $2.2 Million Apartment

 

According to Celebrity Net Worth, actress Christine Baranski is worth a mammoth $14 million. Where she got it from is no big secret. A 40-year veteran of stage, film, and screen who’s best known for her portrayal of Maryanne Thorpe in ‘Cybil’, of Dr. Beverly Hofstadter in ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ and of Diane Lockhart in ‘The Good Wife,’ she’s one of the most consistent and prolific stars of her generation. But as to what she spends all that money on, so far, we’ve only been able to guess. Until now. According to Variety, Baranski has just shelled out a whopping $2.2 million on a duplex apartment in New York City’s fashionable Upper East Side. The apartment, which Variety kindly describes as a ‘fixer-upper,’ might be more shabby than it is chic for now, but if Baranski’s got anything of her character Diane Lockhart’s go-getting attitude, it shouldn’t be too long before she brings it up to speed. If you’ve ever wondered where the rich and famous spend their time when they’re not on our screens, now’s your chance to find out as we go through the keyhole at Christine Baranski’s new $2.2 million apartment.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

According to streeteasy.com, Baranski’s new apartment was on the market for just 44 days. Not many properties turn over in that kind of time – even fewer in the $2 million-plus category. So, what exactly is so special about this particular New York apartment? On the face of it, a lot. Tucked away at the very heart of Lenox Hill, the apartment boasts a prized location just off Park Avenue. As nycgo.com notes, it’s an area that’s famous for ‘pastry, pearls and pocket squares.’ The people who live here are either rich or famous already, or on the cusp of becoming both. Luxury boutiques rub shoulders with world-class restaurants. Stroll the famous ‘Museum Mile,’ and you’ll find legendary names like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, not to mention Neue Galerie and the Frick Collection. Simply put, the Upper East Side is where it’s at for culture, cuisine, and high-end shopping opportunities. It’s refined, it’s exclusive, and it’s home to some of the biggest names in showbiz. When Baranski moves in, she’ll be joining the likes of Drew Barrymore, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Bill Murray, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mia Farrow, all of whom have chosen to make this pretty, leafy part of New York their home.

The Amenities

Before we check out the apartment itself, let’s take a moment to wonder at the amenities on offer. While most of us would be satisfied with a laundry room and an elevator, Baranski will be getting the full caboodle. The Prewar Cooperative (which, by the way, was designed by legendary architect Lafayette A. Goldstone in 1928) boasts 5-star service all the way. As well as offering the services of a 24-hour doorman, there’s also a live-in superintendent. Each inhabitant of the building’s 30 apartments enjoys access to a pretty landscaped garden, a well-equipped gym, a bike room, a storage room, and a laundry room. Pets are welcome and, unlike many NYC co-ops, pied-à-terre use is permitted.

The First Floor

Baranski’s new apartment boasts around 1,800-square-feet spread over two floors. Despite the not insignificant selling price, the apartment isn’t exactly in line with the sleek, streamlined residences we’d normally expect from the rich and famous. Whoever the previous owners were, they were clearly fans of technicolor walls and slightly wacky furniture arrangements. But as the virtually staged images provided by the listing agent show, there are stacks of potential in this 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom duplex. A charming foyer leads to a spacious living room. On the one side, a wood-burning fireplace anchors the room. Running along the length of one side are three large windows offering lovely views over the treetops. The adjoining dining room is, in relation to the living room at least, relatively small. But despite that (and even despite the garish mauve walls), it still oozes plenty of charm.

Moving onto the kitchen, there’s plenty to catch your eye. As the rest of the apartment’s whimsical decor suggests, the previous tenant clearly had a unique sense of style. From the gold crown moldings that frame the ceiling to the retro patterned backsplash and the blue marble countertops, that same haphazardly pick and mix approach to interior design that’s seen elsewhere is put on full display in the kitchen. The copper trimmed range has a certain rustic appeal, but Baranski clearly has her work cut out with the rest. Tucked away behind the kitchen are a small guest bedroom and a bathroom.

The Second Floor

In addition to the small first-floor bedroom, three more bedrooms are located upstairs. One is currently decorated in a slightly mystifying combination of red-and-white toile wallpaper, matching drapes, and a red and white checkerboard floor. The second and third bedrooms have been combined into one, with the smaller of the two fitted as a dressing room. A wood-burning fireplace adds a cozy touch to the master bedroom, but the less said about the wall-to-wall blue carpeting and the 1980’s era blue floral wallpaper, the better. Despite the fact that a lot of work is needed to turn it around, the apartment has bags of charm. It’s got space, plenty of period features, and more than enough potential to keep an interior designer happy.

The Property Portfolio

Baranski’s new fixer-upper is by no means her only residence. It’s not even her only residence in the building – she already owns a neighboring unit that she bought in 2004 for $1.275 million. Whether or not she intends on combining the two units to create one huge property, time will tell. Other than that, the ‘Good Wife’ actress also owns several homes in Connecticut, including a late 18th-century farmhouse in Bethlehem that was the family home of her late husband, Matthew Cowles, and an early 20th-century lakeside cottage near New Preston.

The Owner

Christine Baranski is the 15-time Emmy Award nominee of such shows as ‘Cybill’ (1995–98), ‘The Good Wife’ (2009–16), ‘The Good Fight’ (2017–present), and ‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2009–19). A versatile actress who first came to prominence on Broadway, she’s also achieved success on film, with some of her most notable performances including ‘Mamma Mia!’ (2008), ‘Into the Woods’ (2014), and ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!’ (2008).

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