Wednesday - July 04, 2012

Buy This House, Put Drew Back To Work

I see that Claremont is on the real estate market ...

Comprising 70 acres atop Bernardsville Mountain and commanding views as far as Manhattan, Claremont is an exceptional estate by any measure. But it is equally noteworthy for its distinguished heritage; Claremont was designed by and became the summer home of the renowned architect George Brown Post (1837-1913). Known as ‘the father of the tall building in New York’ Post’s commissions had substantial impact on the skyline he viewed from Claremont’s privileged stage. And in the surrounding mountain colony, the firm of George Post & Sons built or altered up to 30 country houses making a profound imprint on a period of residential architecture that came to be known as the gilded age of the Somerset Hills.

Classically designed and richly embellished, Claremont’s Neo-Federal-styled mansion captures our wonder as it visually delights. A stone courtyard presents the residence clad with slate roof and stucco-covered stone trimmed with terracotta. Its rounded lines, Corinthian columns, elegant proportions and Beaux-Arts detail are signature Post. Double glass doors provide entry to the wide, marble-floored center hall. Imposing ceiling heights, exquisite moldings, expansive windows and elegant fireplaces grace its commodious gathering spaces including formal living and dining room, library and den.

From the center hall a grand staircase sweeps to the second floor where the Palladian window-wall frames arresting views to the two-story portico, terraced gardens and distant valleys. Included at this upper level is the master suite with bedroom, sitting and dressing room; 4 en suite bedrooms, and extensive staff quarters. Complementing the home is a full walk-up attic and full basement with exterior entrance. The estate also affords a charming guest cottage and beautiful shingle-style carriage house with apartment.

Actually it’s nearly 71 acres, but who’s counting. And all this can be yours for the reduced price of just under ten million dollars. The asking price is $9,800,000. Heck, the land is worth almost that much right off the bat. And don’t worry about security or safety. The house has a retrofit state of the art sprinkler system, a modern alarm system, and a turn of the 20th century active deterrent system, comprised of massive bronzed steel bars that fold out from recesses beside each window and door and can be securely locked from the inside. Oh, and there’s a gate at the street end of the half mile long driveway, to keep those pesky Fuller Brush salesmen at bay. And if that isn’t quite enough for you to feel safe, the world renowned safari outfitter and gun maker Griffin and Howe is right down the street. Not that Bernardsville has any crime, thank you very much. The very idea!

Post was a damned good architect with a perfect sense of proportion. The house is far, far larger than it looks because he got the design just right. He just made everything larger so it balanced; the windows are 9 feet tall, and the front door opens wide enough to drive in a grand piano. Or two. Skirting at the edge of the roof hides most of the roof from view from the ground. Without it, you’d notice that this home is actually nearly 6 stories tall, instead of the generous 2 it appears to be. Well done.

And if you follow the link and look at the pictures of the main house, the carriage house, the guest bungalow, and the property manager’s office building, you won’t see a single pane of glass that I haven’t cleaned, or a room I haven’t worked on or in. I used to get a lot of work at Claremont, until the dear old lady who was the last descendant living there, passed on a couple years back. So I know my way around ... and I could use the steady work. Pretty sure some of those 1/2” thick window panes need reglazing by now.

And you can see Manhattan from the upper windows, 35 miles away. Heck, if you go up the servant’s stairs to the attic and then up the 30 foot tall staircase inside it and then out the roof hatch by the top skylight, I think you can see England. King of the World, indeed!

Posted by Drew458     on 07/04/2012 at 02:55 PM   
Filed Under: • work and the workplace •  
• Comments (5) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

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