It’s Free to Look: 43 Clarkson Street

If you must spend hours staring at a blank canvas or agonizing over mediocre prose, it seems best to do so in a cavernous, sun-blasted loft.

The aesthetically astute spaces in this pre-war brick building at 43 Clarkson Street were partly the handiwork of Julian Schnabel, director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, along with several other artistic types who’ve lived here over the last few years. Thankfully, the cure for all artistic angst lies in 14-foot ceilings and 10 oversized windows – or, failing that, the wet bar.

The neighborhood, filled with bakeries and bookstores, has played host to a number of artists in its time, including Edgar Allen Poe. Given the $3.75 million price tag, according to the listing from broker superstar Darren Sukenik, rest assured not all artists are starving. — Laura Kusisto