MW 'We live well together': Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos show off their $27 million NYC townhouse
By Claudine Zap
The home brings a vision of 1920s and 1930s "French glamour" to life.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have never been shy about sharing their innermost secrets live on-air-but now, they're offering fans the chance to actually peek inside their stunning New York City townhouse while showcasing the property in a new video tour.
The married "Live With Kelly and Mark" hosts moved into the Upper East Side home 11 years ago-after purchasing the palatial pad for a jaw-dropping $27 million and offloading their former dwelling in SoHo for an impressive $20 million.
Now, they've opened the doors to the intricately decorated five-story abode, flaunting their "sexy" decor in a video for Architectural Digest.
Ripa, 54, told AD that she knew immediately that the townhouse was meant for them. Ripa and Consuelos, 53, wed in 1996 and share three children.
"I was like, 'It's perfect, just hand me my toothbrush,'" Ripa said. "We've moved several times in our lives, but no matter where we go, for me, this is my forever home. When I walked in here, I was like, 'This is the final place where I will live.' I love this house so much."
However, Consuelos wanted to add some personal touches to the home to suit their very specific tastes. The couple tapped designers William Sofield and Emma O'Neill of Studio Sofield to bring their vision of 1920s and 1930s "French glamour" to life.
The result is a mix of art deco and modern style, with the duo breathing new life into vintage pieces, like using dual armoires as storage for sports equipment, and hiding their shoes in a custom-designed cabinet.
The couple note that they have done little to change the townhouse since that initial transformation in 2013.
The overhaul they carried out before moving in helped them to create their perfect "forever home," they said.
"I don't want to sound morbid, but they'll have to carry me out of here feet first because I have gotten good and comfortable in this house," Ripa joked.
Their lives have transformed since the pair moved in over a decade ago. Not only have their children-Joaquin, 21, Lola, 23, and Michael, 27-long since flown the coop, the duo have also experienced many professional evolutions.
Ripa, the longtime host of a syndicated daytime talk show, has cycled through numerous co-hosts during her time in the home. She first appeared on the show with Regis Philbin in 2001, then spent a year anchoring the series solo. In 2012, she welcomed Michael Strahan as her sidekick. Ryan Seacrest took over as co-host in 2017. Finally, in 2023, Consuelos was announced as the show's co-host to his wife.
The couple first met on the set of the soap opera "All My Children" in the 1990s.
'Our favorite place on Earth'
Along with their show, the two clearly share a passion for fine design.
Starting at the front double doors, Consuelos and Ripa, who is holding her pup, welcome viewers to "our favorite place on Earth."
Starting at the top floor, Consuelos says, "Welcome to our cigar lounge," also known as "Bar 5." Ripa says the inspiration for the moody design is "1970s New York City meets 1920s Paris."
The teal-toned paneling is covered in artwork. The furniture includes black-leather couches, velvet chairs, and a bar hidden behind heavy drapes.
Initially, the top perch was "Mark's space where he would go smoke cigars," Ripa says. There's a "special ventilations system that sucks the cigar smoke" out to the sky.
"It's the ultimate guy's room," Consuelos adds.
But the top floor also became a spot for hanging out.
"Sporting events are watched, games are played, cocktail parties, everything happens," Ripa says. "I don't come here often, but when I do, I always say to myself, 'I should spend more time here, it's so pretty.'"
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Hotel-inspired bedroom
Next up, we get an up-close look at the couple's bedroom, which is designed to emulate a "beautiful" European hotel room. It features elegant light fixtures and neutral hues.
"The feeling you get there, it's sexy, it's peaceful, it's quiet," Consuelos says. "I really feel at home here."
"Just about every light fixture and everything you see in this room has come from the flea markets in Paris," Ripa says.
The oversized mirror that sits opposite the bed hides a TV, Consuelos confides. Ripa adds, "We watch 'Judge Judy' in here."
Behind the bed, a statement wall shimmers with layers of gold leaf. The Paris hotel vibe continues with a desk that overlooks a wall of windows and a terrace.
This is the spot where the "Live Wire" author wrote her book, Ripa notes.
In the hallway, the unusual artwork on display is actually depictions of their kids' eyes.
"They don't live here anymore," Consuelos says. But when they leave their bedroom and lay eyes on their children's eyes, "It feels like they're still with us."
The couple admit they keep their children's rooms as they were left, and they prefer to share a bathroom and a closet rather than take over one of the empty beds and baths.
"We live well together," Ripa says.
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'Informal formal living room'
From the bedroom, the tour heads to the "informal formal living room," Ripa says. "We've had so many great parties in this room."
Filled with elegant couches, a sideboard and chairs, along with a wall of windows and a fireplace, the space could seem intimidating. However, don't be fooled by its formal look.
"It's super comfortable," Ripa says.
The space gets a holiday transformation every year, when they remove the couch in front of the window to make room for their Christmas tree. (Ripa recently posted a photo of their tree on Instagram.)
The whole room in fact "becomes a Christmas room," she adds, adding that the pastel artwork over the fireplace was a gift from "the late great Gloria Vanderbilt."
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Dining with lazy Susan
A fun detail in their formal dining room is the table with a lazy Susan. The revolving tray is perfect for Chinese takeout, Ripa adds. They also point out an opulent tiered light fixture from Vienna.
The small space off the butler's pantry/bar area was converted into Consuelos' private domain.
He needed an office, but it didn't need to be big, he said. In this space, "I get a view of the garden. I can take calls."
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'Heart and soul' of the house
While every room is the heart and soul of the house, the kitchen really is, they both attest. Consuelos points out that the room is "just off the garden," should they want to take their coffee outside.
But it's plenty pleasant inside, with a huge center island, white cabinetry with frosted glass windows, stainless appliances, and an enormous white hood over the stove. Through an archway, there's a casual dining table.
"We're fussy coffee drinkers," Ripa says, pointing out multiple machines. For later in the day, there's a "snack closet."
Ripa notes that their loft in SoHo was an industrial space, and Consuelos had to shift his aesthetic from "austere minimalist" to living in a place with "round things" in the art deco style.
"Moving uptown changed you," Ripa jokes, "turned you into a gentleman."
This story originally ran on Realtor.com.
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December 18, 2024 05:02 ET (10:02 GMT)
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