Host Jenna Bush Hager was stunned on NBC’s show Wednesday night when she got a sneak peek at a stunning New York City mansion with TikTok star Caleb Simpson.
During the latest episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, writer Donna Farizan shared how she got the chance to tag along with Caleb — who became famous for asking how much rent New Yorkers pay — as they toured the breathtaking home of LoveShackFancy founder Rebecca Hessel Cohen.
Rebecca and her husband Todd Cohen began renovating their home more than six years ago, and even Jenna, 42, was impressed with the “gorgeous” house, which includes a speakeasy, massive closets and a carriage house.
When Rebecca brought Caleb and Donna to her West Village home, the latter said it felt like she was “transported to France.” Designer Rebecca said they always had “lots of fresh flowers,” before sharing some of the interior details.
“All this paneling is from Paris. It’s all original, it’s inspired by the Picasso museum,” she explained, before adding: “There are 156 antique wall lights in this house,” as viewers catch a glimpse of her opulent marble bathroom and ornate white fireplaces.
LoveShackFancy founder Rebecca Hessel Cohen showed off her incredible NYC home on Wednesday’s episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna
The beautiful West Village property certainly takes its inspiration from Paris when it comes to the furnishings
Rebecca said her home is filled with antiques and she likes to have fresh flowers everywhere.
One living room featured mainly cream-colored armchairs with designer blankets, an antique marble and gold coffee table, a curved sofa and built-in bookcases.
Rebecca then showed off one of the hidden bars in her home, as a shocked Donna asked, “How many speakeasies are there?” to which she replied, “You’ve seen two, you’ll see more,” as she opened the door to a bar adorned with crystal glasses and a marble sink.
The trio then climbed into an elevator and walked to the street level of the house. Rebecca said, “I need to feel inspired wherever I am.” They entered a dining/living room with more antique-looking furniture.
Rebecca’s rectangular dining table was covered in several tablecloths and decorated with fresh flowers. There was a large white cabinet behind it and a beautiful chandelier completed the room.
She then pointed to the gold mirrors in the room and described them as “original,” before telling Donna that they had all been converted into televisions.
Next, she and Caleb got a chance to walk through the kitchen, which was outfitted with wood cabinets and marble countertops, as well as a very impressive black and gold stove and more antique sconces on the wall.
As the trio walked outside to a small fairytale courtyard, lined with plants and fabric-covered tables, they strolled to the carriage house to meet Rebecca’s husband Todd, who is also her business partner.
Rebecca revealed that the ornate gold mirrors actually work as televisions
A fabric-covered dining table is flanked by gold chairs, as well as a beautiful chandelier and several bouquets of fresh flowers
In one of the bedrooms there is a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the bed is also beautifully decorated
Rebecca is clearly a fan of the color pink and loves to show off her dining room setups on Instagram
The carriage house was equally cozy, containing several couches, three enormous chandeliers, even more ornate gold mirrors, and lots of candles.
Caleb then got the chance to climb the monkey tails in the couple’s basement gym and even rummage through the “many closets,” including Rebecca’s personal closet, which she says she likes to keep “really clean.”
He concluded his tour with the usual bedside test, but it was no surprise when Rebecca ordered him to remove his shoes first, while her husband watched.
Almost a year ago, in August 2023, the couple invited Architecture overview in their home and Rebecca said that when they bought the property it was “a total ruin.”
“But when I first walked through it and then walked up to the carriage house in the back — the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in New York City — I thought, ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do, but we’ve got to buy this house,’” she told the publication.
Todd described the renovation process as “intense,” explaining, “The house is from the late 1800s, so you had to have the guts to make all those changes.”
The couple, who have two daughters, described their children’s bedrooms as LoveShackFancy Land, referring to Rebecca’s clothing brand.
Rebecca was more than happy to give Today contributor Donna Farizan and TikTok star Caleb Simpson a tour of her home
The mother of two revealed she has several secret bars in the property
The incredible Manhattan home even has a fairytale courtyard and a carriage house
Viewers also got a quick, quick look at Rebecca’s lavish marble bathroom
“It feels that way for their floor and spaces, because it gives me a warm and cozy feeling, and I love that,” she told AD.
“But then when I want to feel grown up and experience a beautiful, inspiring, textured and refined environment, I can go to the upper floors. It was all about creating a balance.”
She said of her husband, “Todd was really sweet about it. He always wanted to put some pink accents in the house. All of a sudden he said, ‘Maybe this room should be pink.'”
The happy couple enlisted the help of interior designer Benjamin Vandiver to renovate their beautiful space.