Inside the Retro NYC Penthouse Everyone’s Talking About

A four-bedroom, four-bathroom penthouse on the Upper East Side is turning heads — not just for its $2.89 million price tag, but for its unapologetically retro design that looks straight out of an ’80s cocktail party.

Located at 425 East 63rd Street, the 2,725-square-foot home wraps around a 1,295-square-foot terrace, offering sweeping views and plenty of outdoor space.

The apartment is actually three units combined decades ago by its original owner, Fred, an art collector and self-taught interior designer who now rents the home from his nephews.

“It’s three apartments combined into one,” Fred said. “I did the original design myself.”

A Penthouse with Personality

Fred first bought one of the units in 1978, later merging all three into a single dramatic space. Over the years, he filled the home with more than 110 pieces of art, many of which are now up for sale.

“I originally designed the circular ceilings because I didn’t like flat, white ones,” Fred explained. “If you look at them, it’s like a painting above your head.”

He designed the space in the 1980s with features that were bold for the time — gold-plated fixtures, marble sinks, mirrored walls, and dark wood panels. The result feels less like a traditional apartment and more like a living art installation.

Fred, who works in finance and spends most of his time in Florida, still visits the penthouse for a few months each year.

“Right now I’m in Vegas,” he said. “But I still spend three or four months a year there. I’m just getting old — that’s why I’m selling.”

Like Walking into the Guggenheim

Fred, who also has engineering degrees, says his design was inspired by artist Mustafa Abelseed, whose work he compares to Picasso. “The curves go all around,” he said. “Every room connects — it feels like one flowing piece.”

He describes the effect as “walking into the Guggenheim,” with mirrored walls that make the rooms feel twice as big. “When you do mirrors properly,” he said, “they magnify the light. When you walk in, it looks much larger.”

Fred once had over 1,200 artworks in the apartment but auctioned many off in Florida, where he keeps another private collection.

Today, about 110 pieces remain — and yes, most are for sale. “There’s an old saying in the art world,” Fred laughed. “Everything’s for sale.”

A Taste for Vintage

Not everyone will love the dramatic look. “There are two kinds of people who walk in,” Fred said. “You’ve got the Gen Z crowd who buys everything from Ikea, and then you’ve got people who appreciate art and like walking around smiling at what they see.”

The penthouse features four bedrooms, four baths, a spacious terrace surrounded by greenery, and views that make you forget you’re in one of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods.

It’s part of The Royal York, a full-service cond-op with 24-hour doorman, concierge, gym, landscaped gardens, bike storage, and garage parking. The building also allows subletting with no board interview — a rare find on the Upper East Side.

The Price of Personality

The monthly maintenance fee — $11,475 — might shock some buyers, but listing agent Beatriz Moitinho of Serhant says it’s consistent with similar Upper East Side apartments of that size.

“It’s three apartments combined,” Moitinho explained. “And when you include the 1,300-square-foot terrace, it actually makes sense. Based on other listings, this is really well-priced.”

Still, for Fred, the home’s true worth isn’t measured in square feet or marble fixtures. “The apartment was designed so if you’re lying on the floor and looking up, you’re looking at a painting,” he said. “It still makes me smile every time I visit.”

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Saleem Mubarak: The writer is a real estate journalist specializing in all types of New York City properties, including luxury residences, commercial spaces, and homes.

He also writes humorous articles about real estate, investors, and realtors.