For one New York City family, a fifth-floor, full-size basketball court sealed the deal. A brownstone on the Upper West Side had served as a lovely home for the family of five for years. But as their offices, schools, and friends were all centered on the Upper East Side, they began to crave a change.

With three boys 17 and under and the high school years quickly slipping away, the family wanted to move, and soon. That's when they stumbled upon this gorgeous seven-floor 1888 townhouse, clad in neoclassical-style limestone. 'We were working around the clock and I engaged my most trusted builder from the Hamptons to come to Manhattan to make it happen,' says Christin Farrar, founder and principal of C.

Farrar Design, who was called in to help. 'Knowing that he and his team could deliver was the saving grace.' Keeping in mind the father's obsession with '90s hip hop and the family's sprawling art collection (including everything from Damien Hirst to commissioned Mark Whatson), Christin injected this home with elegance and poise.

Blending calming colors with bold, expressive accents, she ensured each detail was ready to support the family's busy lifestyle. To hear more about the space, H&G spoke with Christin Farrar . Here's all she had to say about the expansive family home.

'Family-centric values' informed many of Christin and the team's decisions about this space. With plenty of space for the busy family to gather with friends and areas to display an impressive collection of ch.