Credits
From Kevin Guhl
This totally renovated historic stone manor, originally constructed in 1932, is finely crafted with exquisite details on all three stories. The estate encompasses more than 54 acres offering equestrian facilities, farmland, English gardens, a pond and steam, and bucolic wooded and pastoral views within a quiet country setting. This Chester, N.J. home blends stunning architecture, modern amenities and a wealth of luxuries. Featuring seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, three half-baths and five wood-burning fireplaces, this home is listed for $5,750,000 by Flor de Maria Thomas of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury.
The home’s exterior is crafted from Vermont stone and Italian tile roofing. The front door opens into a grand foyer with a 17-foot ceiling, coffered ceiling, wainscoting, upper level Palladian windows, and a grand ribbon staircase that leads up to an overlooking balcony. Custom raised paneling, wide plank hardwood flooring and crown and dentil moldings are found in the foyer and throughout the home. The house has been modernized with several energy efficient innovations.
The main home is designed for work as well as entertaining. The office has raised-panel cherry walls and bookcases, built-in desks and cabinets, and doors to the interior courtyard. The two-story library includes matching cherry woodwork, a circular staircase, 16-foot ceiling and fireplace with marble surround. The great room also features a 16-foot ceiling with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace flanked by custom cherry entertainment centers, a pine beadboard ceiling accented with bow-shaped trusses, and six sets of French doors. The living room includes another fireplace with marble surround.
The homeowner has access to a retreat in their own wing of the home with private courtyard. The master bedroom is positioned conveniently on the first floor, featuring a fireplace and two sets of French doors to the garden and pool. The attached master bathroom offers a dressing area, three walk-in closets, custom vanity with double sinks, a jetted tub with marble surround and a separate shower.
The spacious and state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen is well-appointed with a terra cotta tile floor, country kitchen cherry cabinetry, imported tile backsplash, marble countertops, a double stainless steel sink and a center island with vegetable sink and induction stove. The kitchen provides top-of-the-line appliances: a large commercial cast-iron AGA stove with custom stone surround, two electric wall ovens and a Bosch dishwasher. The breathtaking breakfast room soars upward with a custom oak cathedral ceiling and includes a terra cotta floor, extensive custom windows and a built-in desk. There is also a butler’s pantry with restored glass front cabinetry, Kohler farm sink, food warmer and dishwasher. Meals can be served in the formal dining room, complete with a window seat and bay window. Three powder rooms, a mud room, laundry room and pantry complete the first floor.
The second floor includes six bedrooms, two with their own attached bathrooms and two that share a bathroom. Highlights of the various bedrooms and bathrooms are custom bookcases, a skylight, walk-in closets, clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, a fireplace, a cathedral ceiling and French doors that lead onto balconies. There is also a standalone bathroom and a sitting room.
The finished lower level is packed with recreational space. This includes an exercise room that has French doors leading to a slate patio, two dressing rooms with showers, a pool vestibule, recreation room with fireplace and French door to a patio, cherry library, game room with two sets of French doors, cedar office with stairs to master wing, wine cellar, dog/garden room with dog shower and laundry area, and a bathroom.
The detached, three-car garage is heated. There is a well-appointed one-bed, one-bath guest apartment above the garage. A full two-bedroom second apartment is housed in the property’s three-story post-and-beam barn. The working equestrian barn includes six stalls, a tack room, wash stall, feed room, hay loft and hay bin with drop. There are five fenced horse pastures and a riding ring with lights large enough for a stadium jump course.
The property is gated and fenced for privacy with outside lighting. Stone terraces and cobblestone courtyards and walkways lead around the home. There are granite patios in the interior courtyards. For outdoor recreation, there is a free-form in-ground swimming pool and a tennis court, both lit.
For more information on this classically-designed home, contact Flor Thomas at 973-214-7553 (cell) or 973-543-2552 (office). Thomas is affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Mendham, located at 106A E Main St, Mendham, NJ 07945. Listings can be viewed at www.FlorThomas.net.