$65M UES mansion is a showcase of Gilded Age history, updated for a new era of grand-scale living
![$65M UES mansion is a showcase of Gilded Age history, updated for a new era of grand-scale living $65M UES mansion is a showcase of Gilded Age history, updated for a new era of grand-scale living](https://thumbs.6sqft.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/13002538/4-East-79th-Street-parlor-2.jpg?w=1560&format=webp)
Photo credit: Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty
On a Central Park-adjacent block near Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, the 35-foot wide limestone mansion at 4 East 79th Street is a historic testament to Manhattan’s Gilded Age; asking $65,000,000, it’s among a handful of the most expensive townhouses to ever be listed in New York City. The six-story home with over 15,000 square feet of interior space offers an opportunity for living and entertaining befitting a new era of opulence, including two elevators, a professional-grade catering kitchen, a security office, a wine cellar and reception room, a grand center stair hall, and a top-floor skylit gym.
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Commissioned by James E. Nichols in 1898, the distinctive mansion was originally designed by renowned architect C.P.H. Gilbert, who was known for the chateau-inspired buildings that rose along the city’s “gold coast” during the same period. More recently, the home has seen a complete renovation by its current owner, helmed by prominent architectural, design, and preservation professionals including Peter Pennoyer and Theodore Prudon.
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Gracious, high-ceilinged rooms are framed by stunning architectural details like solid mahogany doors and windows, hand-selected marble paneling and floors, rich brown oak paneling, parquet de Versailles and herringbone white oak floors, and carved plaster crown moldings. Modern systems are in place throughout, including state-of-the-art HVAC, humidification, domestic water, leak defense, and security. A passenger elevator services all floors, and a service elevator accesses the home’s lower three levels.
Behind a tall set of wrought iron gates and two sets of bronze-and-glass doors, the main entry to the townhouse opens into a gallery and a marble-paneled hall. The home is anchored by a wide center stair that rises to four stories, topped by a massive circular skylight. The entry floor offers an oak-paneled reception room with a wood-burning fireplace that opens onto a terrace with limestone walls and a hornbeam-tree border. Gatherings of any magnitude can be managed via administrative offices, a powder room, a coatroom, and access to both elevators.
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The parlor level begins with a landing gallery beneath 13-foot ceilings. The home’s main entertaining rooms, a living room and formal dining room, both with wood-burning fireplaces, gently curved plaster walls, and Central Park views, can be found here. This level is served by a convenient pantry and service elevator which accesses the main residential kitchen (above) and the catering kitchen (below).
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On the third floor, the home’s less-formal quarters designed for everyday living begin. An English brown oak-paneled library has a fireplace and park views. Adjacent to the library is a second, more casual dining room, also paneled in brown oak, with mahogany French doors and high ceilings.
At the heart of this suite of rooms is a beautiful, timeless kitchen with custom oak millwork, state-of-the-art appliances, a large dining area, and a capacious butlers pantry. Nearby, the service elevator accesses the formal dining room below as well as the catering kitchen on the lowest level.
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The fourth floor–the highest level accessed by the home’s grand central stair–is entirely occupied by a luxurious primary bedroom suite, lit from above by a circular skylight atop the staircase. With its own separate entrance hall, this tranquil chamber is framed by 12-foot ceilings, herringbone white oak floors, and a wood-burning fireplace. Adjacent is a home office–or small bedroom–with a full bath. The primary bath is a massive marble affair. Two large dressing rooms offer custom closets, shelving, a built-in dressing table–and more park views.
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On the mansion’s fifth floor–accessed by the elevator or secondary staircase–are three more bedrooms, one with access to a wrap-around terrace. Also on this floor are a home office and a full bath.
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At the pinnacle of this peerless property are two more bedrooms and a bath. You’ll also find a small convenience kitchen on this floor–no need to go all the way downstairs for morning coffee or snacks for the kids. The highlight of this level, though, is a large skylit gym with an ergonomically designed floor and a full bath.
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On the home’s lowest level are the engines that run this grand-scale entertaining powerhouse: Served by the secondary staircase that directly accesses the administrative office and both elevators, the basement level contains storage rooms, a laundry room, a firewood storage room, and a wine cellar. The central feature on this floor, however, is a fully-outfitted all-stainless-steel chef’s catering kitchen with direct access to the service elevator and staff and delivery entrances.
[Listing details: 4 East 79th Street at CityRealty]
[At Sotheby’s International Realty– East Side Manhattan Brokerage by Serena Boardman and Susan Baker]
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