This historic carriage house has been given a contemporary make-over in New York’s Manhattan.

Such houses were popular among New York’s burgeoning middle class in the 19th century, who built them to stash their carts and horses. But the rise of the motorcar meant these ornate buildings were quickly co-opted as housing – or razed.

This one at 150 East 22nd Street was designed by architect Sydney V Stratton in 1893 for wealthy socialite Miss E L Breese in a Neo-Flemish design. It was given a complete transformation by its current owners in 2006, who retained its original red-brick facade and constructed a steel-and-glass addition.

Spread over five storeys, the townhouse – on the market via Josh Doyle and Joshua Wesoky of Compass for $16.8m – packs in 7,000 sq ft of living space. The old carriage house is now a large garage and separate entertaining space. It can also function as a self-contained apartment, complete with a hidden kitchen and bathroom.

Up a level is the parlour floor, which houses the formal living room, kitchen and dining room, all capped by a soaring 15ft ceiling. French doors lead out onto a planted terrace – one of six private outdoor spaces.

Six bedrooms fill the remaining levels, with the top floor designed as a ‘private retreat’ complete with wet-bar, powder room, roof deck and en-suite bedroom.

But if you’re still left wanting more, there’s 8,000 unused sq ft available as air rights to take the property to new heights…

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