Inside HYACYN Founder's Design-Forward Manhattan Haven

Lucía Torres · 2026-06-25

Contemporary fashion meets residential design at 287 East Houston Street #8A. This open-concept, floor-through home has soaring 10-foot ceilings and walls of windows that flood the space with natural light from dawn to dusk. It's a chic, gallery-quality space that feels exactly like what you'd expect from a designer who blends mood, material, and silhouette. ### A Designer's Personal Touch The two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence belongs to Tobias Ulmer. He's the German-born founder and creative director of HYACYN, a New York fashion label known for sharp tailoring mixed with a rebellious, subculture-driven attitude. Ulmer has called this Lower East Side home since 2019, the same year he moved to New York and shifted from advertising into fashion, eventually launching his label. Six years later, after a runway show at New York Fashion Week, the same instincts that shape his collections are all over this apartment. ### Kitchen Built for Gatherings At the heart of the home is a kitchen made for entertaining. Custom Alta Italian cabinetry pairs with honed Carrara marble countertops, recently restored to a pristine finish. A generous island anchors the open layout, which flows into a dining space. The appliance suite is all Miele, including a vented hood, so this kitchen is as serious about performance as it is about style. ### Views That Change the Mood From the main living area, sweeping, protected views stretch from Downtown Brooklyn to One World Trade Center. Head to the north-facing primary suite, and the skyline shifts completely. The Empire State Building and Chrysler Building anchor the view, turning the bedroom into its own kind of postcard. The ensuite bath feels spa-inspired with heated floors, a double vanity, and materials like Bianco Dolomite and Gray Danube marble. ### Outdoor Living Space A south-facing, 118-square-foot private terrace extends the living space outdoors. It's big enough for morning coffee, a dinner party, or just watching the sun set behind the skyline. This spot adds a layer of flexibility to the home. ### Practical Details That Matter Throughout the home, wide-plank 7-inch whitewashed oak flooring ties everything together. An in-unit Miele washer and dryer, plus exceptional closet space (including a walk-in off the primary suite), handle the practical side of downtown living without feeling like an afterthought. ### A Creative Vision in the Sky For anyone drawn to the intersection of fashion, design, and downtown New York living, 287 East Houston Street #8A is as close as real estate gets to owning a piece of someone else's creative vision. It's fully realized, ten floors up, with city views in every direction. - **Key features:** Soaring 10-foot ceilings, walls of windows, Miele appliances, private terrace, and spa-inspired bathroom. - **Neighborhood:** Lower East Side, close to fashion and design hubs. - **Agent contact:** John Antretter or Brigitte Pays with The Agency New York for showings. This home is a rare blend of fashion sensibility and residential comfort. It's a space that tells a story, and it's waiting for its next chapter.