279 Pondfield Rd

AUTHENTICALLY RESTORED MEDITERRANEAN ESTATERomantic and enchanting, this splendid property offers a one-of-a-kind lifestyle experience. Built in 1926 by the celebrated Bronxville architect Lewis Bowman, the 6-bedroom villa has been immaculately restored and sensitively renovated by the current owners. Fastidious attention to detail honoring the original architecture and interior features has created a luxurious home that hums with 21st Century technology, yet captures every nuance of its charming pedigree. Each original motif--the patterns in the decorative ironwork, the acanthus leaves on the original sconces, the whimsical tiles in the entry floor inlay, the gracious arched doorways--has been replicated to ensure continuity throughout the house. No detail has been overlooked, no expense has been spared, and the results are breathtaking!In addition to the brilliant interior remodeling, the entire .64 acre property has been re-landscaped to bring expanded outdoor living space to the hillside setting. A retaining wall and expansive terracing has transformed the steep property into a garden of delights, with a broad stone patio accessed from all the main living rooms, a fountain, gentle pathways, and lush plantings and lawns. Remarkable!First Floor: Magical Entertaining Space Amid Everyday ComfortThe original front door, framed by a stone archway, opens into an impressive entry hall with a magnificent curved stairway to the second floor. The iron chandelier is an antique candelabra, selected to complement the original sconces that climb the stairway. Individual tiles in the decorative floor inlay, also original, feature animal silhouettes--a nod to the home's first owner who was an international explorer and naturalist. The inlay inspired a design motif, rendered in Ann Sacks tile, that is carried throughout each of the imaginatively updated bathrooms.To the left, a picturesque archway overlooks the sunken living room - a fabulous space for entertaining and laid-back relaxation. Original features include the 14 ft vaulted ceiling with meticulously preserved exposed beams, multiple sets of French doors, and the hand-pegged random width floor. The intricately carved mantel over the fireplace also reflects the first owner's love for the natural world. From the living room, summer guests can drift out onto the terrace and wander back inside through the adjacent library, solarium, or formal dining room, all of which now open onto the terrace. Throughout the first floor the architecture's exquisite symmetry is expressed in elegant curved archways revealing one gorgeous vista after another. An archway off the entrance foyer leads down to the living room; another opens into the gallery introducing the rest of the living areas. Twin sets of double doors from the gallery access a handsome library with fireplace and custom cabinetry, and the bright sunny solarium. Originally a screened in porch, the solarium is now an inviting casual space for relaxation year-round. The radiant heated bluestone floor warms winter days; multiple arched teak doorways frame lovely views over the property and open onto the terrace for indoor/outdoor summer living. The very elegant dining room glows with richly hued Venetian plaster walls - a departure from the textured stucco throughout the rest of the house. It is large enough to host dinner parties for 20+, as well as exuberant holiday gatherings and celebrations. The kitchen is a masterpiece of functionality, designed for today's lifestyle with top of the line appliances, a large center island with counter seating, plus a pantry annex with storage galore. Custom cabinetry, hand-painted on site, pays homage to the original kitchen and reflects the commitment to preserving the home's authenticity. Even the new hardwood floor was precisely matched to the gallery's original hand-pegged floor.