21 B, 188 East 78th Street, is a stunning high floor condo of 2,874 square feet at the Empire, fully renovated two years ago with meticulous attention to every detail.  It is in triple mint condition and flooded with light from all four exposures and over sized windows; the vies are open and wide. The ceilings are 9 1/2 feet.  The floors are rift sawn white oak in 4 inch wide planks laid over a double plywood subfloor and sound membrane.   All millwork is custom.  All hardware throughout the apartment is nickel plated and all bathroom fixtures are from Waterworks.   One enters through a charming foyer to the living room which has a Juliet balcony and a northern exposure.  Off it are the Dining room to the right (East and North Exposures) and the Library/Study to the left with an exposure to the north(doubles as an extra bedroom).  The apartment has five bedrooms and five baths (noted above that the 5th bedroom is currently being used as a library/study.) Each have baths ensuite, all with herringbone Thassos marble floors.  A steam shower was installed in the bathroom off the library.  The Master Bedroom suite facing North and West has two closets within (one is a walk-in with safe), a Juliet balcony with double doors and more than enough room for a king sized bed and seating area.  The Master Bathroom has radiant floor heating, double sinks in a marble vanity, two medicine cabinets, a separate Zuma tub with jets, a large stall shower encased in glass with a on-wall shower head as well as a hand held, both of which have dual controls.  Two other bedrooms (one faces South and West, the other North with a Juliet Balcony and double doors)  are over-sized with ample closet space.  Both have beautifully appointed bathrooms ensuite, again all with Waterworks fixtures. The fifth bedroom has been used as a staff room with its own bath ensuite but currently is used as an office, with however, a cleverly designed king sized trundle bed for those days when there is an absolutely full house.  The kitchen has been elevated to an art form for serious cooks with a whole wall of Eastern facing windows, honed marble counters, custom cabinetry with silent self closing drawers, bookshelves, a desk, and breakfast table.  The appliances are superb; a Wolf 5 burner cook top with hood, a Wolf convection wall oven with a warming tray, Bosch dishwasher, Sub Zero Refrigerator and an oversized Franke insulated stainless steel sink with disposal that is big enough to hold any cooking pan or platter.  The  laundry room is fitted with stone counter and deep soaking sink, and extra large vented Washer/dryer.  There are also utility closets and broom storage.   The owner/architect went to great lengths to combine the simplicity and minimalism of modern living with the elegance and proportion of a pre-war dwelling.  The workmanship is superb.   All of this in the building that has just completely renovated its 2nd floor where all the amenities are;  a full fledged gym, playroom, lounge with catering kitchen that opens onto one of two gardens.  In addition there is a garage and bicycle storage.  The Empire is ideally located in close proximity to the glorious food stores of the Upper East Side, Citarella, Fairway and Whole Foods.  McCabes, a fully supplied wine and spirit shop is a block away.  Neighborhood eateries, J.G. Melon, Due, Atlantic Grill, Sette Mezzo, Flex, are blocks away and so are many more as well as renowned restaurants like Cafe Boulud, Sistina, and Elio's.   The Empire is at a nexus of mass transportation.  The #6 subway and the SBS M79 are a block away.  There is a choice of express or local bus service at the 79th Street stop on either Lexington or Third Avenue.   There is a monthly assessment of $430.45 in place until December, 2019.  Bring your sunglasses and a toothbrush.