Originally known as Virieux, the property was once the glamorous 19th-century gathering place where Antoine Foster and his wife, Victorine du Pont, entertained weekend guests. Today, vintage architectural features and modern-day conveniences live harmoniously within the manor house’s stout walls. The home’s crowning glory is a newly installed Vermont slate roof, ready for its next owners and generations to come. The property is on the market, a rare occurrence in its long and storied history. The price: $4.3 million.
A true eat-in kitchen is equipped for gourmets with professional-style appliances, a large copper range hood and granite countertops.
The legacy of gracious entertaining continues, with a formal dining room that comfortably seats 12. The south-facing red brick terrace has multiple seating and dining areas and is accessible from the family room, kitchen and living room. A stocked pond by the gazebo guarantees guests will catch a bass or blue gill every time they drop a line.
Opulent moldings and millwork and pegged random-width hardwood floors can be found throughout the house. Of the five fireplaces, some have punch-and-gouge mantels and rare King of Prussia marble surrounds. Even the servants’ call system has been preserved.
Opulent moldings and millwork and pegged random-width hardwood floors can be found throughout the house. Some fireplaces have punch-and-gouge mantels and rare King of Prussia marble surrounds.
A true eat-in kitchen is equipped for gourmets with professional-style appliances, a large copper range hood and granite countertops. The island and a raised-panel upper cabinet are crafted from tiger maple, an exotic species prized for its wavy, striped grain. A service room between the kitchen and a large sunroom provides storage and beverage fridges.
His-and-her dressing rooms feature custom built-in storage
A spectacular primary suite encompasses a fireplace, his-and-her bathrooms (“the secret to a happy marriage,” the homeowner says) and his-and-her dressing rooms with custom built-in storage. The gentleman’s bath boasts original inch-thick mahogany panels and brass fixtures.
The second floor also is home to large secondary bedrooms and well-appointed baths. The floor above includes an au pair suite, and bedrooms and a bath for guests.
The country estate has been known and admired for its historic stone water tower, visible to passersby from Kirk Road.
A second staircase connects all three stories. Window wells are a foot deep, all gutters and downspouts are copper, and arched passageways and opulent millwork are a testament to craftsmanship. The basement offers lots of head space. It’s outfitted with a workshop that can be converted back to a large climate-controlled wine cellar with its existing cooling unit.
All in all, it’s a house built to last.