The lavish Cold War Connecticut estate once owned by an heiress to a copper mining fortune has hit the market for $25.5 million.
Huguette Clark was born in Paris, daughter of American businessman WA Clark and his second wife, and grew up in the largest house in New York, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, facing Central Park, with 121 rooms for a family of four.
At the beginning of the 20th century, WA Clark may well have been the richest man in America, for while oilman John D. Rockefeller had more cash in the bank, the “Copper King” had more assets in the ground.
During the early days of the Cold War in 1951, Huguette purchased the 1937 estate as a place of refuge for friends and family in the event of a Russian attack and later expanded it to 25 acres.
Surprisingly, he never furnished the property and spent his final days in a hospital.
During the early days of the Cold War in 1951, Huguette Clark purchased the 1937 estate as a place of refuge for friends and family in the event of a Russian attack and later expanded it to 25 acres.
Clark was born in Paris to WA Clark and his second wife and grew up in the largest house in New York: 121 rooms for a family of four.
The property was eventually purchased by fashion designer Reed Krakoff, former president and chief creative director of Coach along with his wife, Delphine, founder and president of Pamplemousse Design for $14.3 million in 2014.
‘We searched the house on Google out of pure curiosity to see what it was like. We feel a great connection to his story,” Delphine told the Wall Street Journal.
The designer also noted that the property was in excellent condition when they purchased it, as Huguette had renovated it to the highest standard.
Over the years the estate was updated with a “light hand” to ensure its original beauty was maintained.
The property was eventually purchased by fashion designer Reed Krakoff, former president and chief creative director of Coach along with his wife, Delphine, founder and president of Pamplemousse Design for $14.3 million in 2014.
‘We searched the house on Google out of pure curiosity to see what it was like. We feel a lot of connection to his story,” Delphine said.
The main residence spans about 14,300 square feet and the entrance to the property is flanked by two front doors: one used as a caretaker’s cabin and the other as a gym.
“When we approach a house that has an interesting history, the idea is to serve the house and restore it rather than turning it into something it’s not,” Delphine said.
The Krakoffs spent approximately $10 million on their renovations, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The main residence extends over approximately 14,300 square feet and the entrance to the property is flanked by two front doors: one used as a caretaker’s cabin and the other as a gym.
Aside from this, the house has nine bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and multiple fireplaces in every room.
On the third floor, the couple added a game room, which was later converted into a TV and gathering room, and has a theater on the lower level with a stage with vintage movie theater seats.
Aside from this, the house has nine bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and multiple fireplaces in every room.
On the third floor, the couple currently has a game room, which was later converted into a TV and gathering room, and has a theater on the lower level with a stage with vintage movie theater seats.
Over the years the estate was updated with a “light hand” to ensure its original beauty was maintained.
The couple also replaced the curved banister on the main residence’s grand staircase.
Surrounded by open meadows, gentle streams and woodland, this extraordinary property has been carefully enhanced between rolling meadows, wildflower gardens, specimen trees and a tennis court.
The property has a garage for four cars, slate roof, balconies and geothermal and propane heating.
The designer also said they landscaped extensively around the main residence, adding an approximately 1.25-mile running path.
For lounging, the property also features a 60-foot pool lined with antique granite, inspired by a design Delphine saw around a pond in New York’s Central Park.
Surrounded by open meadows, gentle streams and woodland, this extraordinary property has been carefully enhanced amidst rolling lawns, wildflower gardens, specimen trees and a tennis court.
The designer also said they designed extensively around the main residence, adding an approximately 1.25-mile running trail.
She explained: ‘The deer know me. The idea was to make it look like a park and less like a house in the middle of the forest.’
For lounging, the property also features a 60-foot pool edged in antique granite, inspired by a design Delphine saw around a pond in New York’s Central Park.
“We get a little obsessed and stubborn about really thinking about what’s right and what will feel like it’s always been there,” he said.
According Listing agents Rob Johnson and Mary Higgins of Brown Harris StevensThe property is unusually large and, if sold all together rather than on smaller acreage, could be among the most expensive transactions in the area.