Murano

Francois Karimi, 44; Kory Karimi, 34; beauty-industry executives with business in the art world
3BR; Long Island City, Queens
To buy: $1,250,000; monthly common charges $789.46; monthly real estate tax $58.53
Moved in: May 2011.

THE AREA: "The view of the city skyline is postcard-picture perfect, and we're only one stop away from midtown," says Francois. "The tunnel is right here, there's the ferry; there are so many reasons geographically why it makes sense. If I had to sum up [the neighborhood's population], I'd say there are genuine, real people. There's a refreshing diversity. And the art [scene] is very vibrant—there are tons of studios around. MoMA PS1 (22-25 Jackson Ave at 46th Ave, Long Island City, Queens; 718-784-2084, momaps1.org) obviously, but not just that. In terms of restaurants, it's been four months and we haven't even touched the surface yet."

THE SEARCH: "My wife and I were looking for more than a year for a new place," explains Francois. "We already owned our apartment [on Roosevelt Island], but we were looking for something slightly bigger. The number-one criterion was having an outdoor space and a view. And not just a view— a breathtaking view. We looked in Queens and Brooklyn [and] over a weekend we decided to go around everywhere in Long Island City. We saw this amazing building that was going up that looked modern, sleek—nothing tacky. And we came in and we said, 'We're interested in only the top-floor penthouses with terraces. Let us know what units you have available.'"

THEIR FAVORITE THING: "The terrace is amazing," enthuses Francois. "It's almost 15,000 square feet, and it's fenced in, so there's complete privacy. The view is just breathtaking. We come back from work and have a drink up there before having dinner. On the weekend we have our breakfast up there."

ABOUT MURANO: The 12-story, 76-unit building was constructed in 2010 and has features—like a glass exterior and a moat around the perimeter—inspired by the Murano islands in Italy, which are known for their glassmaking. LEDs on the eighth and ninth floors light the all-glass exterior from dusk until 10pm and change color every hour. Conveniences include a gym, a billiards room, a garage and bike storage—plus a common terrace on the second story and a ground-floor garden area.

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