NORTH END PALM BEACH HOME SELLS FOR $10mm+

Sitting a-top one of Palm Beach’s highest points, an expansive Georgian-style mansion has sold for $10.35MM.  Within 13,479 living sq ft are 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and 2 half baths.  Interiors are elegant.  Situated in a lake block near Palm Beach Country Club, the house, at 320 Ridgeview Drive, is at the intersection of Hi-Mount Road, a bit south of “coral cut” on North Lake Way.  

The master bedroom has a tray ceiling, carpeted floors, and onyx fireplace and French doors with balconies.  There are “his” and “hers” bathrooms, his includes a steam room. Three more bedroom suites have tray ceilings, French doors leading to balconies and carpeted floors.

The pool is lined in glass mosaic and there is an outdoor shower.

Rooms on the main level rise from an elevation of 22’, with a full basement below, unusual for a house of this size. The high elevation lent itself to the expansive basement.  

The lower level has a brick-walled 5,000-bottle wine cellar with vaulted ceiling and tasting room and has been used for charity events.  The wine room has a dining table in the center which accommodates large dinner parties.  On this floor there is a home theatre with acoustic walls, raised ceiling and a large screen.  The nearby billiards room has a limed-oak tray and coffered ceiling.  Included is an oversized laundry room with two sets of washers and dryers and storage space.  The lower level powder room is appointed in Verde Alpi marble and has a gold leaf ceiling.  Three arched glass and iron doors open to the wine room.

The poolside covered loggia has a broad sundeck above it, family room open to kitchen, elliptical staircase, paneled library and natural light streaming in through windows and French doors.  Color scheme is tone-on-tone ivory, millwork is painted with a subtle strip. Ceiling is beamed and coffered cypress.  There is a cabana bath, bbq and full size gym.

The main floor library is mahogany-paneled, has decorative moldings, corbel details, a Venetian plaster ceiling, and built-in bookcases and bar.  The living room features dental molding around the crown, a bay window and fireplace with marble surround and wood mantel.  French doors and windows open to the loggia, or have views of the pool area.  Floors are cherry wood.

It was built by architect Thomas Kirchhoff for the Lamberts in 2002.  The floor plan revolves around the home’s elliptical staircase, which leads to a second floor open gallery.  Floors are Bulgarian limestone set on the diagonal with Jerusalem stone cabochons.

The functional kitchen is the envy of gourmet chefs.  Dining room has wainscot paneling and subtle faux finish on the walls.  Floors in the kitchen and family room are Jerusalem limestone.  Family room has a raised-hearth stone fireplace, coffered ceiling and wet bar.  Counter tops are granite and appliances are professional-grade.  Elevator is near the kitchen.

The home has a symmetrical façade with 5 bays and stone quoins.  The central portion is clad in natural stone with Corinthian pilasters and a  pediment.  This is the highest price sale in Palm Beach since September 2011.

BONNET HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDENS IN FT LAUDERDALE - HAVE A MEMORABLE DAY!

Picture a day of sunshine, fluffy white clouds, and the scent of ocean breezes all around beautiful gardens.  Head over to Bonnet House, on 35 acres of beachfront property in the heart of Ft Lauderdale. There are indications that the grounds already witnessed 4000 years of Florida history.  Human activity may date back to 2000 BC, and other archaeological evidence indicates it was one of the first sties of Spanish contact with the New World.

 The house was purchased in 1895 and given to the buyer’s daughter as a wedding gift in the 1920’s.  Construction began to build a haven where the daughter could pursue music and poetry and the husband could pursue his artwork.  Frederic Clay Bartlett left behind his family’s hardware business, was schooled in Munich’s prestigious Royal Academy, and developed a prolific and prosperous career as an artist.   He created murals and created faux painting throughout the house, including murals on the ceilings. He and his wife were also art collectors and amassed a priceless collection by artists including Gaugin, Picasso and Seurat which he gave, after her death, to the Art Institute of Chicago. 

When the wife died in 1925, until he remarried in 1931, visits were infrequent.  Soon a renaissance and renewal of the house began, adding many new decorations and embellishments.  Along with the main house were a separate artist’s studio and meditation house.  His third wife, Evelyn Fortune Bartlett began painting, with his encouragement, in 1933 and her works were well-received by many galleries.  Ponds with bonnet water lilies and lush tropical gardens surround the property today.  There are several interesting gazebos and covered sitting areas on the property.  Trip Advisor lists Bonnet House Museum and Gardens as the 2^nd best out of 47 Ft. Lauderdale attractions.

After the husband died in 1953, the wife returned each winter to Bonnet House and later donated the property to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.  It was soon listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  In 2002 the City of Ft. Lauderdale declared the property a historic landmark and it is now one of America’s 11 most endangered sites in 2008.  The Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is accredited by the American Association of Museums.  It is one of the last examples in south Florida of a native barrier island habitat with five distinct ecosystems including the Atlantic Ocean beach and primary dune, a fresh water slough, secondary dune including the house site, mangrove wetlands and a maritime forest.  There is a Desert Garden, hibiscus garden and, as Evelyn was a passionate orchid collector, Bonnet house comprised one of the largest orchid collections in the southeast US.

Today there are events scheduled during the day including orchid shows with booth after booth of magnificent orchids to view and purchase, orchid classes, composting and cooking classes by well-known vendors.  Adult birding, art, calligraphy and orchid classes are offered along with school classes.  An annual orchid festival and a juried art exhibit is held on the grounds as well as symphony concerts. A gift shop offers garden ornaments, books, jewelry and other items.  Lovely orchids are shown and being purchased including cattleyas, dendrobiums.  Tour costs vary from $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $16 for children and those under age 6 are free.  Admission to the grounds only is $10.  Group tours are available for $13 each.   Open Tuesday thru Saturday 10-4.  Call 954-563-5393 ext. to reserve.  Take Sunrise Boulevard East from I-95 and turn right on North Birch Road to get to the property.

Tours, musical events and art classes are scheduled regularly and this pretty site is used for corporate events and weddings.  For more information see http://www.bonnethouse.org.