Tasteful Friends: Carson Kressley giving a tour of his Park Avenue apartment

Some clever details in the false kitchen cabinets to make space for clothing the adjacent bedroom, also that dining area in the foyer. He is strangely attractive, pretty trim with nice skin that looks a little overtreated.

I can see why my sisters loved him on Queer Eye. He is also pretty fluent in his jokes and narration. I don’t think I heard a single “um”.

This fellow seems really, really comfortable in his own skin. Maybe that’s something to aspire to. I am actually the “I want all this shit picked up” troll, and I was tempted to say that about his drinks tray and the frausty Hermes ashtrays. But I just can’t. This queen is just too damn nice to have a pick at.

I like it! D-ring snaffles and all! Really reflects his personality.

How much $$$$ did he pay for this flat?

I just love him.

He's entertaining and endearing.

Nice Brendad Ickson reference at the beginning. “Hello! And welcome to my home!”

The browns are awful. Most of it is kind of awful. The horse pictures are ok. What was he in charge of on Queer Eye? I am surprised at how unsophisticated his taste is.

What's with all the horses?

Bedsit with sparklies.

Per Wikipedia, R8:

[quote]His family raised ponies and he competed in equestrian events from an early age, was a member of the U.S. World Cup Saddle Seat equitation team in 1999 and won a world championship in 2009.

I'm not a New Yorker so I'm intrigued by the raised dining area and the sunken living room.

Is that common? I think Taylor J Phillips had the same thing. Doesn't it make a small space seem even smaller?

Quite nice. Guessing Thom helped. The show they did together working on interior decor was such fun, I hope it comes back now that the fucking Rona has hopefully made that a possibility.

The apartment is a bit cramped and cluttered but overall I like his sense of style. All the paintings and drawings of horses are annoying. Don't care for the tusks. I see he splurged on an Hermes blanket. He looks good and I like his taste in clothing.

Some good and bad. Too much stuff, but he says as much by admitting he's a maximalist. I really like the shelving, barware wall. Kitchen is small and nothing, but nice - but he says he doesn't really use it. Bedroom is just fine, if small, and I don't love the art. I hate the dining nook - everything about it. With that raised area, it could be so much better. Not sure about the living room - I couldn't get a good feel for it other than there's too much stuff. There was no good wide shots of it.

Kressley is supposed to be worth $8 million. What do you think? Too optimistic. They obviously don't have access to his income tax returns. But surely he made some decent money from QESG. WIth the price of New York real estate, maybe $8 million isn't far off the mark.

He’s adorable in the clip.

There’s only one bedroom?😳

His style isn’t mine, but I like it. Dusting must be a nightmare with all that shit and having to move everything on the shelves. I guess that’s why he said he hasn’t dusted in three years.

R17, he’s obviously joking about dusting. I’m sure he has a cleaning lady who comes in once or twice a week.

R5 He's a gay Stepin Fetchit who makes his living acting out exaggerated stereotypes to make the other side laugh. At us.

The raised foyer that he turned into a dining room is ridiculous. So jam-packed. The chair backs are too close to the steps.

I liked the medium gray in the bedroom and the pink (walls) bathroom as well.

Those net worth sites are worthless. I'm sure Carson isn't starving though. I really like him. Thom on the other hand is worth a fucking fortune. Money from family and more importantly money from his excellent work as a designer. He is really good, naturally funny and an all around good person.

I hate him.

Yes, I am kidding. He's lovely and talented.

I hate him.

That was two years ago. He's homeless again.

I like him and love the apartment but those "nailhead details" don't seem "art deco" to me. Fun, though. It's so sweet how he pretends none of the handmade stuff is expensive. And that he did any of it by his own hand. Cent'anni.

He's fugly as all get out, but he seems like a very sweet person.

I wonder where on Park Avenue that building is located. It's unlikely the snootier co-ops would let him in. He also has a farm BTW.

How old is he? Did he have a facelift? very nice work on his face. He looks great.

too many furniture for that small space. I don't hate it. I don't like brown at all at all but the grey is OK.

He is creepy. Make him walk in front, always.

He obviously doesn't cook. The kitchen's false cabinet fronts (side adjacent to the bedroom) was over-elaborate and maybe even totally unnecessary.

I worked with Carson briefly, and was invited to a small cocktail party at his place. He’s a delightful guy, and I was very taken by his place. The apartment itself is absolutely wonderful - a perfect size for one person - and it was very “done” and yet really comfortable. I’ve thought about that apartment for years - one of my favorite NY apartments. At the time, one bedrooms in that building went for under 1M, but I’m sure they’re considerably more now…and his - especially with the balcony - was far nicer than the standard 1 bedrooms in the building.

In Flyoverland, that would be an efficiency apt. with galley kitchen.

[quote]The raised foyer that he turned into a dining room is ridiculous. So jam-packed. The chair backs are too close to the steps.

I thought I was the only one who thought that.

R29 What you were you there? And is there really only one bedroom?

*What YEAR were you there?

Nope, me too. It's an accident waiting to happen!

R32 - 2013. Yes, one bedroom. It’s a great layout for a one bedroom. Then again, I’m not someone who craves an enormous space. I’d say it’s in the neighborhood of 8-900 sf.

Odd that he's living on Park Ave, and not even the nice part. That's for stuffy old ladies

Too much clutter for me.

[quote]I wonder where on Park Avenue that building is located. It's unlikely the snootier co-ops would let him in.

Definitely not in the fancier parts of Park Avenue, where apartments can be $15 - $20 million. He doesn't have that kind of money.

I love his energy. He would be great to have as a friend.

Apt seems to be park ave near high 20s/low 30s, I love Carson! This apt though a little dark for my taste, it represents his personality well. He has a massive equestrian estate in S Eastern PA so this is prob all he needs in NYC. He likely bought ~2003-2005 when you could still get something in Manhattan for a decent price.

Amazing that you can be a Z-list celebrity in the US and make enough to buy a Park Ave apt

Why do gay decorators have to cover every inch of their homes with Knick-knacks?

That apartment deserves a spot in this thread.

Do drunk guests fall off the dining "nook" when pushing themselves away from the table?

It’s a little too much for me personally, but I do think it’s beautiful. I love Carson. He’s really witty and I believe he’s a nice person. So what if he’s effeminate and flamboyant??? Why do all gay guys have to be the same?

Noticing the books: coffee table books about style and pop culture. CK isn't into "Art."

He's funny, so that compensates.

Not bad, tastefully done, although perhaps " less is more"... What is his fascination with horses?

If you look closely without the furnishings, you can tell his apartment is small, but I guess it's huge compared to the other 99% of apartments in nyc...

Anyone have any idea how much he makes a year?

Not totally my taste but I liked a lot of it. Knew who he was but had never really watched him on tv before; surprised how much I enjoyed listening to him. Would love to have a balcony with that view. Love the pink bathroom and the chandelier.

They should let one of those covid convoy truckers remake his apartment. Turn it into a three-part Netflix series (with lots of furtive weeping).

it's in an older building downtown.

Beautiful apartment

The bathroom is great and the balcony and it’s views are very nice features. The dining area in the foyer seems like it’s practically teetering. Do you really need a table for 10 in a one-bedroom pied a terre? Even in a small space, his maximalist taste would be better served by a braver use of color. What’s the point of doing Hollywood Regency in greys and browns?

Well, this won't be popular, but I *love* the dining nook (especially the chairs), even though I can see how it might cause issues when people are drinking alcohol or when "nature calls". Not the most practical, but it looks great. The bedroom I can do without; so sick of the gray/brown thing!

I love the rug in the living room.

technically, it's park ave south.

I've met hi a ton of times over the years. He could not be nicer. Quieter when a crowd isn't staring at him (he performs on a dime), but a great guy.

pardon my mistake. it's on park ave and in the mid 30s. don't want to post the address for his stalkers. He lives on a high floor.

He says he has parties there?? It seems way too cluttered to have parties. If that was my place and I threw a party I'd be a nervous wreck the entire time that people are gonna break my shit.

In 1980, I almost bought an apartment in that building, one-bedroom, same layout, sunken living room, but on a lower floor. Couldn't quite swing the purchase price however.....$75k was out of reach...lol

I like the look of those mirrored furniture (side tables etc) but it's too fragile and I see people throw them out on the curb all the time, broken glass etc.

I rewatched the video and saw that he had speakers mounted on the walls next to TVs. Those walls are very thin in those buildings and it's a co-op so they have very strict rules for noise...

I doubt he's having parties late at night. you can't make noise after 10pm in most co-ops.

Jordan Cunningham is his long lost gay son. It's okay. I miss Tom. "Do you likeeeeee it???" But Carson is a sweetheart.

I hate the living room/dining room. Too much going on and I don't like the color palate.

I do like the bedroom though. And the views are beautiful.

I like how the evil camera person honed in on the railing to show the flaking paint.

Not THAT park of Park Avenue...must be Park Avenue South, going by the buildings.

My dentist did his teeth. His signed pictures are on the wall. He came in once while I was there, the office staff reacted as if he were royalty. He was very nice, I nodded at him and he was charming. Said and how are you? My dentist said he was a great guy.

[quote]Kressley is supposed to be worth $8 million. What do you think?

[quote] Those net worth sites are worthless.

They are all made up but factor in celeb's home's worth even if they are mortgaged to the hilt. Carson has that 5th Ave apartment and a horse farm in his native Pa.

Seems like a nice guy. The apartment is gorgeous, just not all the decoration. The sunken living room and those views are everything. The kitchen is crap, even if he doesnt use it. Way too small for an apartment like that. Honestly I'm surprised he's made that much money, even if it's not in "that" part of Park avenue (fyi it's still a really nice part)

"Amazing that you can be a Z-list celebrity in the US and make enough to buy a Park Ave apt "

Why? Being able to afford things is based on money, not celebrity status. He worked on things that made him enough money to buy a Park Avenue apt. So be it. Whether we like those projects or not is immaterial.

He may have purchased the flat with an interest only loan which is quite common in NYC. I used to think this was a crazy idea, but with real estate value sky-rocketing it's worked out very nicely for some of my friends who got in years ago.

Farms are expensive so this is where his money goes.

Equestrian activities cost greatly. He should be making lots of hay with his farm.

At least he doesn't live in 432 Park Avenue. That place is really bad news.

Antiques Roadshow...

AND if he's from the horsey set, he is from $$$.

Thanks, R73. That explains the horse obsession.

[quote] I rewatched the video and saw that he had speakers mounted on the walls next to TVs. Those walls are very thin in those buildings and it's a co-op so they have very strict rules for noise...

obviously written by someone who has never set foot in a 1930s NY co-op. The walls are sure as hell not "very thin" they are thick plaster and the floors are thick concrete. It wasn't until the 1980s that they started with the schlock construction with thin walls. I live in a 1957 built co-op and have wall or ceiling mounted speakers in every room and the sound does not carry to neighboring apartments .

I have visited friends who lived in buildings built in 1920s. you can hear neighbors walking, talking. esp if they are by the windows. I was shocked I could hear the conversation so clearly.

R76 My building is the same style and possibly built by the same outfit. My place is very similar to this one, but on a higher floor. I had a counter height refrigerator with a ribbed glass front set into a hole in the exterior wall of my apartment’s pantry. The wall was about a foot thick, and solid mortar. I got the idea from a cooking show and it looks very nice, but they had to jackhammer into the wall and build a frame around the opening. These building, neogothic towers from the 1920’s are generally well constructed. The casement windows make these apartments hard to cool.

That's an exterior wall. A friend lives in London Terrace and you can hear neighbors on both sides and upstairs. Bloody nightmare.

also, his bathroom doesn't have a window, which means there is probably a vent, the sounds in there can definitely travel to his neighbor's apt.

I associate sunken living rooms more with the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.

Personally, I think it’s ugly. She needs to pull out all the crap and start over. It’s funny that she pretends on the tour that she is going to to the next room, when it’s really just a one room apartment.

It's not really a sunken living room. It's more like a raised foyer. Everything but the foyer is on the same level, IIRC.

Does it have a separate bedroom or does he sleep in the “foyer”?

R84, yes, it has a separate bedroom with a terrace

I see. It’s kind of claustrophobic.

i've been in this building, the living room is indeed "sunken" in both the "F" line and "A" line apartments. The foyer and all the other rooms (it is NOT a one room apartment) are on the same level as the external hallway., only the LR is a step down,

At least they did not show him masturbating in the bedroom.

[quote]AND if he's from the horsey set, he is from $$$.

Carson rides 'saddleseat' which means he rides primarily American Saddlebreds (a breed, like a poodle is a breed). Not a lot of money in Saddlebreds, very niche-market. Horse farms make their money buying and selling horses at a fairly high turnover. The bills on horse farms are high, you're always hustling to make that next feed or equipment payment. Any big big money to be found in horses is buying and selling hunters and jumpers. Selling trained horses from Europe to rich city families whose daughters beg, whine, and scream until they get what they want. Dad usually pays 3 times as much as he should for the horse because he don't know any better, and he's loaded anyway, lol.

I see a lot of thrift-shop furniture painted white. This was done on the cheap.

I don't think it's crap but if he got rid of half the paintings and little knick-knackies, he'd have a much more tolerable space. It is claustrophobic.

r65, Park Avenue South ends at 32nd Street @ 470 Park Avenue S. Regular Park Avenue addresses begin on the north side of 32nd, with numbers 1 and 2. Carson's building is a little bit north, on true Park Avenue. No, it's not 65th and Park, but it's not Park Avenue South, either.

I can't breathe!

[quote] He's a gay Stepin Fetchit who makes his living acting out exaggerated stereotypes to make the other side laugh. At us.

I'd say that's more Mario Cantone.

[quote][R5] He's a gay Stepin Fetchit who makes his living acting out exaggerated stereotypes to make the other side laugh. At us.

That's who he is, r19, he isn't exaggerating his behavior. Your self-loathing is showing.

I don't know why but he reminded me of this.

R19 as if all effeminate gays were likeable.

Are all masculine gays, r97?

[quote] it's not 65th and Park, but it's not Park Avenue South, either.

FFS R92, did you pull this right out of your ass, or are you really that ignorant of Manhattan geography?

He looks down from his terrace onto Park Ave, there is a river a few blocks to the east, the EAST river. To his left is the Chrysler Building which is at 42nd and Lex is to the North, so he is definitely south of 42nd. He is on Park Ave. SOUTH, on the west side of the street in the mid-30s

I wouldn’t mind know what he does to his face. His skin looks good. Anybody know what soap he uses?

Mane & Tail

R100, judging by his lips, he uses a lot more than soap on his face. He probably gets the full works at the dermatologist: Botox, dermabrasion, peels, lasers.

R99 If he's above 32nd Street he's on Park Avenue not Park Avenue South. Arguing otherwise is beyond foolish.

He bought this many, many years ago. For over 700K.

It's not the area of Park Avenue where I grew up. Of course, that was long before I was on Assistance.

Being ignorant of Manhattan geography, R99 no doubt thinks Park Avenue South begins at 42nd Street.

I would get rid of every bit of animal print and plaster in that apartment and show more bare floor in the dining area and living room. Maybe rethink the black wrought iron railing. I would also swap every last drop of peach and ochre paint and fabric and for grey or forest green. There's a lot of shimmery glass and mirror, which is fine but I don't see a lot of money elsewhere in this place--just refinished and reupholstered second hand furniture, some built-ins with stock cabinetry, and generous use of the Polish seamstresses at Thom's workroom. It doesn't scream money like a few designer pieces would. I'd like to see sumptious leather for the sofa and a bigger, less fussy bed in the bedroom.

This screams "this apartment is just for me and I don't have room for anyone else in my life.". It's claustrophobic and a bit dated.

I like the apartment. But I would have smaller scale furniture where he has placed the dining room. As for the rest of the apartment I would just edit items.

R98 certainly not which is why I clarified EFFEMINATE gays.

lmao was not expecting arguments about the thickness of walls or the location on Park Avenue

Carson Kressley has too much lip.

The animal print does cheapen it a bit. It's almost like he lives in an antique shop with all the clutter, or wants that feel. I guess Mr. Ed would feel right at home and that's what counts.

Yes, it’s a lot, probably too much for me, but as he says, he is a “maximalist” and if he likes it, fine.

His place is beautiful. Loved seeing Carson fill in for Wendy with Vivica Fox a few weeks back.

I knew the tour would eventually lead to an unveiling of his trousers.