Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, husband and wife stars of the popular morning show Live With Kelly and Mark, recently opened their $27 million mansion to record a video for Architectural Digest.
They have lived in the opulent five-story Upper East Side home for 11 years, and though they are not shy about discussing personal matters on air, this is the first time they have offered the public a “behind-the-scenes” view into their lives. The “sexy” aesthetic of the townhouse is an amalgamation of the couple’s lives. One can see individual touches throughout, including elements from their children.
Forever Home
When the couple purchased the townhouse in 2013, Ripa decided it was her forever home, though they have moved several times over their nearly 30-year courtship. The decor is a pleasant combination of modernism and art-deco, with a formal sitting room painted black and trimmed with black decor. The couple mutually envisioned a 1920s-1930s “French glamour” interior and hired Studio Sofield to bring their vision to life.
The couple has done little to renovate the elegant home over the last 11 years except for personal touches. The double front doors are the same, though some modifications have been made to the interior. The fifth floor is a cigar lounge known as “Bar 5.” The chic decor is, in Ripa’s words, “1970s New York City meets 1920s Paris” and features teal-toned paneling adorned with artwork. The lounge is outfitted with cigar-smoking exhaust vents and is “the ultimate guy’s room,” according to Consuelos.
European Luxury
The guy’s room is not the only personal change Ripa and Consuelos have made to the townhouse. The master bedroom is tastefully designed to replicate a luxurious European hotel room. The neutral tones and unique light fixtures give the room a refined air. “The feeling you get there, it’s sexy, it’s peaceful, it’s quiet,” says Consuelos.
Artful furnishings include an oversized mirror, a statement wall with gold leaf behind the bed, and a desk with a terrace view. A personal touch of artwork depicting their children’s eyes lines the hallway outside the master bedroom. Though their children are grown and living on their own, the art helps Consuelos and Ripa feel like their kids are still with them.
Bottom Floor
The couple’s “informal, formal room” has hosted many parties. Its decor includes couches, a sideboard with chairs, and a fireplace. The wall is adorned with a pastel from the late Gloria Vanderbilt, but the design is not meant to be stuffy. The formal room is transformed every winter into a “Christmas room.”
The kitchen, overlooking the garden, is one of Consuelos’ and Ripa’s favorite rooms. According to Ripa,” We’re fussy coffee drinkers,” and the kitchen, set up with multiple coffee machines, allows them a variety of choices in the morning, including sipping their brew in the garden. The kitchen is also outfitted with an island and an afternoon snack closet.
The formal dining room is playful, including a lazy Susan set on the table. According to Ripa, the movable tray is set under an elegant Venetian light fixture and is perfect for Chinese takeout. Consuelos adapted the small butler’s pantry into his office. He did not require much space, and the pantry allowed him a comfortable place to take phone calls while viewing his beloved garden.
The chic aesthetic of the townhouse differs from that of their previous SoHo industrial space. Ripa told her husband about the Art Deco and the transition: “Moving uptown changed you, turned you into a gentleman.”
