3/25/2013

AMSTERDAM NY 1895 ARMORY BEING REDONE, NOW BREAD AND BREAKFAST AND HOME FOR OWNERS






Former upstate New York 36,000 sq ft gothic style National Guard Armory built in 1895 by Isaac Perry was converted to a home, modeled after a medieval castle in 2005.  It is on a hill with 2 acres.  
 
The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes.  Listed for sale for $1.2MM+, but may have been sold.

 
There are four soaring turrets and ivy-climbing walls.   Among the 50 rooms are 7 bedrooms.  Living rooms, ballrooms and reception rooms are used for events.  Garage holds 10 cars.



 
Included are a full sized 1000 sq ft gymnasium with 2nd story bleachers, which can hold 1000 people (500 seated), rifle range, fallout shelter, billiard room and communal showers.  




 This is the only NY State armory that has been transformed into a single family house. 



Extensive renovation and redecoration were done, returning the building to lush Victorian-Romanesque décor.  The castle has Wi-Fi, cable tv and high speed internet, onsite parking for 40 cars. 



The 18” brick walls hold the temperature at an ambient level making it comfortable in summer and heat-effective in winter, using steam boilers in the basement.



An extensive collection of elegant told-rimmed dinnerware, flatware, glassware, doffee service, tablecloths, chairs, tables and dinner equipment can be used for events.



Located 3 hours from Manhattan and 30 minutes from Albany.   Bed & Breakfast accommodations are available.  Three star hotel. 

3/19/2013

$50mm WILL BUY YOU BOB HOPE'S FABULOUS JOHN LAUTNER MODERNIST ESTATE HOME IN PALM SPRINGS




Perched in the private gated neighborhood of Southridge, the Hope' 223,366 living sq ft volcanic-like estate, designed in 1973, dominates a corner lot with sweeping views of the entire Coachella Valley in Palm Springs, CA.

 



This concrete, steel and glass icon is located within a gated community and includes a vast entertaining area with a boulder in the middle of it, an indoor pool, six bedrooms and twleve bathrooms, all housed in concrete and topped by an out-of-this world wavy concave undulating copper roof which has an open semi-circle at the center.  A circular skylight provides the home with much natural light.  A boulder in the living room makes one huge statement for nature. The estate also boasts an outdoor pool, outdoor pond, outdoor fireplace, tennis court and putting green.  Architect John Lautner, designer of this unique home, said, “The purpose of architecture is to create timeless, free, joyous spaces for all activities of life.”  Early in his career he studied at Talisien with Frank Lloyd Wright.  This became Bob and Delores Hope's second home, used frequently for entertaining.

Later, after a fire during construction destroyed the uncompleted house, the Delores Hope made modifications to the house, such as extending the dining room and making it possible to get to the front door from the bedrooms without crossing a patio, the architect distanced himself from his clients.  Linda, the Hope's daugher, said, "My Dad used to say every time he went away he needed a road map to get back through his house."
 

 

 



3/06/2013




LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

In town, very short walk to beach and ocean, this Palm Beach “compound”  with a 180’x100’ lot size has 4770 living sq ft, 7 bedrooms, 6 ½ baths, built in 1929 with a guest house built in 1932.  Perfect for renovation, tear down, or move right in.  Address is 149 Brazilian Avenue.
 

The main home has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, fireplace, rich wood floors, secluded garden vistas, easy floor plan and mature landscaping.  Guest house has 3 bedrooms with 2 sitting rooms and is set back from the main house.



Listed for $4,750,000 in 2008 with interim reductions, the property sold in October 2012 for $2,850,000.