Overview

UPPER BROOKVILLE. Tucked away on five magnificent acres in the North Shore village of Upper Brookville, a mystical and, perhaps, even magical estate welcomes all with a warm and charming presence. Built at the end of the Twentieth Century but looking like it was built at the beginning of that century, it presents a conundrum. What is its architectural style? Its rustic character evokes a love of nature. Is it patterned after an Adirondack “grand camp”? How about a Handsel and Gretel house in the middle of its own enchanted wooded playground? Was it found in the pages of J.R. R. Tolkein book? No. The answer is in the name of the architectural firm that designed and custom built it. Ike Kligerman Barlkey are well known for their amazing ability to combine pieces of varying architectural styles into stunning eclectic masterpieces. Such is this amazing home. It is exquisitely crafted and designed with the finest of materials and craftmanship to provide luxury and a casual elegance ideal for “Gold Coast” living. Featured in the May, 2000, issue of “Architectural Digest”, one of its creators described it as a marriage of American Shingle style and English Arts and Crafts. Its floor plan encompasses a unique and open feeling with public rooms in the west wing and service and leisure rooms in the east wing. Each wing has its own spectacular staircase; the east accesses all three floors; the west accesses only the second floor that houses five generous bedroom-bath suites. The ultimate retreat and entertainer’s delight, the property includes ample parking, an attached four-car garage, and an oversized pool with expansive brick patios and a delightful pool house. Upper Brookville has long been a popular location for leaders of industry and finance to build their grand estates. Its beautiful, wooded countryside is dotted with gorgeous properties. Approximately 1700 residents enjoy an ideal location convenient to boating, golf, equestrian facilities, quaint village shopping, museums, and the Long Island Railroad putting them within approximately a 40-minute commute to Manhattan. Off a quiet cul-de-sac drive, a long winding circular driveway leads past neatly-manicured lawns that wrap around an abundance of towering pines and oaks - like a carpeted forest. As you enter the charming circular courtyard, brick and shingle wings of the manor reach out like a friend extending arms to welcome you. A steep, slightly curved, gabled roof with painstakingly-crafted, undulating drunken-shingle rows matching the red brick-and-shingle walls, makes the size of the mansion seem intimate and appealing like a high-class cottage. Off the West wing, an arched entry in a wall concealing a formal garden, leads you along a fish-scale-shingled veranda with a barrel ceiling, to the home’s delightful custom stained-glass entry. In the east wing, a porta cochere flanked by brick buttresses provides easy passage to the service courtyard and a four-car attached garage. From here, guests can go directly to a delightful outdoor entertainment area. Off the family room, a brick fire pit offers a perfect spot for evening conversation. From here, semicircular steps descend to an oversized inground, heated, Gunite pool with expansive brick surround. At the far end, an enchanting cottage-like pool house resembling the main house offers a party room, kitchen, one full and one half bath, and a guest dressing room, a laundry room, and a full basement. Welcoming guests through an arched door with delicate floral stained-glass inset, the entrance foyer is a work of art from its inlaid two-tone floor radiating from a center medallion to the unique and impressive staircase with basket-weave fielded-panel walls and wide stairs diminishing in width as they ascend from landing to landing. To the front, next to a guest closet and powder room, the warm and inviting library/billiard room features fielded paneling, custom cabinetry, a stunning fireplace, coffered ceiling, and huge bay window. Ideal for entertaining from large to intimate parties, an open floor plan features blond herringbone hardwood floors flowing throughout a generous dining room and gallery leading to the service wing and separated only by a row of honey-stained pillars supporting a see-through basket-weave frieze. This allows for expanding entertainment space when needed and flooding both areas with sunlight through front and rear walls of French doors. Across a second gallery leading to an expansive rear patio, ideal for al fresco dining, steps lead down into the delightful living room accented by a striking marble and mosaic tile fireplace, herringbone hardwood floors, and a large box-bay window. Terra cotta floors flow throughout the service area, which includes a spectacular three-story oak spiral staircase, closets, mudroom, powder room, butler’s pantry, and eat-in kitchen. This remarkable cook’s haven features custom natural oak cabinetry, Kirkstone countertop, farm sink, and large center island with seating area and a second farm sink. High-end appliances include a professional-grade Viking gas six-burner range with two ovens, a Viking wall double oven, microwave, dishwasher, and an integrated, full-size refrigerator with matching freezer. Above the sink, Arts-and-Craft stained-glass pocket windows slide open to reveal views through the family room’s French doors to the pool area. Accessed from kitchen and service hall, this comfortable and spacious getaway offers both a unique corner fireplace with decorative tiles and a custom-built-in cabinet for a large panel television. Open to the kitchen, the breakfast room provides a perfect place to start your day, enjoying sunny views of the property through three walls of windows and doors opening to the rear patio. At the top of the main staircase, a foyer with sitting area separates the west wing master suite and den/guest suite (with beautifully concealed Murphy bed and charming fireplace) with the east wing accessed through a long, windowed hallway with built-in bookcases and upholstered window seats. Past the second staircase in the east wing are the remaining three generous bedrooms, each with bath en suite and walk-in closet. With an abundance of charm and comfort, the master suite boasts a breathtaking and romantic English bedroom with tray ceiling, window seat, decorative-tile fireplace, built-in glass-and-mirror display niches, and soaring Palladian-style window and French doors opening to a private porch. The charming English theme continues in the bright and cheery bath featuring an oval tub, two marble-topped vanities and cabinetry in the main area, and two water closets flanking separate entrances to a waterfall shower. This area leads to an immense dressing room with exquisite built-in cabinets, dressers, cubbies, and closets. The full, finished basement offers ample room for recreation, workshops, laundry, and storage. It includes an inviting media/game room, two full baths, a mirrored gym, wine room, two mechanical rooms and ample storage.