Baz Luhrmann Just Listed His NYC Townhouse For $20 Million

Baz Luhrmann, the Australian director, producer, and writer most commonly known for works such as the 1996 "Romeo and Juliet," "Moulin Rouge," "The Great Gatsby," and the upcoming biopic "Elvis," has recently listed his townhouse in New York City. Located in Gramercy, the almost 8,500 square foot residence is currently listed with The Corcoran Group for just under $20 million.

The townhouse boasts six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms and is accessed via a gated street entrance to a private garden. There are four floors to the residence, with the listing noting further potential to build up, offering plans to interested buyers. There is also an English basement accessed by an elevator, staircase, or private entrance.

More than the townhouse's spaciousness, it is also absolutely stunning. Built in the 1850s and renovated in 2019 to have a more modern and energy-efficient HVAC system, boiler, drainage, piping, etc., it still has plenty of eccentric beauty — which comes as no surprise to those familiar with Luhrmann's flair for the dramatics in his works. Speaking of, the townhouse itself is described as "Beckoning the begone era of the Gilded Age in New York," not dissimilar to Luhrmann's work directing and co-writing "The Great Gatsby," which is known for its glitz, glamor, and eccentricity.

The Gramercy residence opens into an extravagant foyer, with black and gray Art Deco-inspired wallpaper and dark patterned wood flooring. The demure aesthetic is enhanced by a red runner carpet leading through the hallway and up the curved staircase, almost Hitchcock-esque in its dark opulence.

The first-floor living space, pictured above, is slightly brighter but still carries an air of demure lavishness. The wallpaper shifts to a dark emerald here, with a still dark hardwood floor and two large windows trimmed in white wood. Another grand curved staircase breaks up the room. There is a central fireplace with gilded gold and green engraving. The vintage luxury of the room is broken up with a modern mirror above the fireplace, as well as a modern gold and black light fixture. Opposite from the fireplace is a wall made up entirely of bookshelves. It is staged as a combination living and dining room.

This demure, dark aesthetic carries out into most of the first floor, including the private screening room and the room leading to the elevator access. The elevator itself is pure Gilded Age glamor, with patterned grayscale tiles, Art Deco wallpaper, a gold mirror and sconces, and a 1920's inspired architectural style.

The kitchen, however, begins to break up the heavy vibe. Accessed from the first-floor living room, the kitchen is brighter and more inspired by a vintage aesthetic, as opposed to being dedicated to it. Subway tile backsplashes, a flat brown pine for cabinet faces, and a vintage-inspired light fixture tie in the theme of the townhouse. However, it is broken up by modern appliances, such as the double range gas stove, large steel fridge, and a ginormous marble-topped island. The Corcoran listing says the kitchen was designed by Clive Christian (the creator of the world's most expensive perfume) and leads out to the private back garden.

Such is the case for another living room, which has lighter floors and white walls with tall ceilings and large windows, letting in plenty of natural light and offering a spectacular view of the city. The room is architecturally very inspired by the 1920s and 1930s, with an engraved ceiling, wall moldings, and a large chandelier.

The townhouse is listed to have six bedrooms, and all of them are luxurious in their own way. One of the children's bedrooms has its own fireplace! None of them compare to the spectacular master bedroom, though. The large room is wallpapered in vintage florals, reminiscent of antique botanical sketches and illustrations. The floor is patterned hardwood. There is also a bay window, with the three large white windows providing the perfect space for a sitting area. There is a large, opulent marble fireplace with black detailing, as well as a gorgeous chandelier in the center of the room. The bedroom has its own en suite, and a hallway leads to a private study.

According to the New York Post, Luhrmann purchased the townhouse in 2017 for $13.5 million. Before then, it was owned by Clifford Jordan, the famous jazz saxophone player, and his wife, Sandy Jordan. Luhrmann lived in the townhouse with his wife, the production designer Catherine Martin, and their two children.