Barbara Corcoran visited a New York City penthouse in 1992 and knew she had to have it. She bought it 23 years later.

At the time, she was delivering an envelope to a Fifth Avenue duplex. When she stepped inside and glimpsed the lush green terrace through a set of French doors, something clicked. “I envisioned myself living here,” she said. She left her name with the owner, not expecting anything.

Years passed, her career as founder of The Corcoran Group and fame on ABC’s “Shark Tank” soared, and eventually, the call came. In 2018, Barbara and her husband, Bill Higgins, purchased the 4,600-square-foot duplex to call their own—an emotional full-circle moment, decades in the making.

Now, as Barbara prepares to turn the page of 1158 Fifth Avenue to a new chapter, the home she once dreamed of—and later transformed—is for sale. And  Vesta Home, a design, staging and furniture studio, had the honor of getting it ready for its close-up on the real estate market. 

Vesta’s New York design team, led by Creative Director Christina Slater and designer Amber Cicardo, was tasked with reimagining the 11-room Carnegie Hill penthouse with its sweeping views of Central Park and the Reservoir. “We wanted to create a cohesive story from the moment you enter,” says Christina. “The staircase is a real ‘wow’ moment, but then your eyes are drawn to the treetops beyond the living room. It’s all about layers of experience.”

The design  emphasizes both scale and “defining moments.” The grand living room features five oversized windows, a wood-burning fireplace and elegant moldings. To match its proportions, the Vesta team  created two distinct seating arrangements and replaced the television with mirrors to reflect the views and artwork. At Barbara’s request, Vesta brought in its  Kennedy Modular Sofa—a piece she first admired in another Vesta Home project at Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman’s former home.  (In fact, when it came to selling her place, Barbara  asked  the broker from that listing  who had done the staging.)

Barbara’s meaningful art collection was kept in place wherever possible. Sculptural lighting played a pivotal role. With only one junction box in the expansive living room, a glass bubble fixture not only created a second living zone, but also helped punctuate the space’s impressive volume. “Fixtures are the jewelry of the home,” Christina adds. “They need to be bold.”

The penthouse level features a breathtaking glass solarium—now used as a dining room—and an adjoining kitchen with an eat-in banquette, butcher block island and incredible views. Knowing the elevator couldn’t accommodate a full-size table (a common issue in NYC buildings), Vesta sourced an extendable version that could double the seating capacity for holiday hosting. “We always thought in moments,” Christina explains. “Where will the new owner host Thanksgiving? Where do the French doors open for a dinner party?”

The landscaped terrace—one of Barbara’s favorite spots—was brought to life with a graphic black and white umbrella, layered seating areas, and functional connections to the indoor spaces. It’s a true extension of the home.

In the sunroom, the designers removed a large rug that was covering the original stone floor and added a smaller, more symmetrical layout with a sofa and Vesta’s Tryphena Lounge Chair in umber velvet, creating a more intimate setting by the fireplace.

In the primary suite, Vesta introduced grasscloth walls, a custom silk rug, brass chandeliers and tailored drapery to elevate the sense of warmth. The built-in desk was softened with new brass hardware, and lighting and window treatments were upgraded throughout the home—including in the closet and bathrooms.

No detail was left untouched. The former lime-green bedroom of Barbara’s  daughter was painted a more neutral tone, and drapery was replaced throughout the home to ensure every fabric felt intentional and architectural. “For a home of this caliber, everything needs to look like it was made for the space,” Christina says.

From start to finish, the project came together in just under two weeks, with only 3.5 days spent on site. It was a quick, collaborative effort between Vesta Home, Scott Stewart’s team at The Corcoran Group, and Barbara herself, who remained involved in the design process.  

As for the penthouse’s $12 million price tag, Barbara knows she’s asking for less than what she spent buying and renovating the home—but for her, that was never the point. “I never thought I would ever leave,” she told The New York Times. “It’s easy to spend money when you’re building a lifelong dream. For me, real estate is emotional.”

For Barbara, this isn’t just another transaction—it’s a deeply personal decision. Now, as she prepares to move on, she does so with equal parts sentimentality and clarity—ready for her next chapter, while passing the keys to someone new who will fall in love with it the same way she did.

Property available fully furnished.

 

Furniture and Styling by Christina Slater, Amber Cicardo and Bryanna Warman of Vesta

Project Management by Bonnie Bruckheimer and Samantha Donini of Vesta

Listed by Scott Stewart, The Scott Stewart NYC Team, and Carrie C. Chiang , The Carrie C. Chiang Team,  at The Corcoran Group

Photography by Melanie Greene, GreeneHouse NYC