Live large over Union Square in this penthouse loft

This 8th floor, two-bedroom penthouse is a true loft: Located in a former factory, the rental is now a bright and spacious aerie with some vestiges of its past, like a barrel-vaulted ceiling and custom millwork. Otherwise, it's entirely new and luxe, and includes a private terrace from which to gaze down upon the surrounding Flatiron neighborhood. Naturally, all this grandeur doesn't come cheap: You'll pay $10,000 per month, according to the Corcoran listing, at the high end for the area. But the location on 16th Street between Fifth Avenue and Union Square West is particularly central. 

The penthouse's high position means lots of natural light, the better to see the blond wood flooring and period details in the ceiling; there's also a woodburning fireplace, a rarity in NYC. A skylight further brightens the dining room, and the adjacent kitchen offers abundant prep space and the requisite upscale, stainless steel appliances. 

Follow the spiral staircase to the master bedroom, where sliding doors open onto the private terrace, spacious enough to entertain a large group, or to serve as a roomy hideaway. The en-suite bath looks new, with a stall shower and generous storage space. 

The second bedroom, back downstairs, is definitely on the narrow side, perhaps best suited as a guest room or, when the Murphy bed pictured here is tucked away, an office. You'll find a second full bath on this level as well. The unit also includes central air, a washer and dryer, and additional storage space.