Inside An Unequaled Equestrian Estate

Sotheby's Extraordinary Living Blog

Respecting the past while embracing the future, award-winning architect Rich Granoff brought his creative talents to bear at this extraordinary estate in the midst of Greenwich’s glorious greenery. The 16.11-acre property is an unprecedented private getaway and an equestrian’s dream, featuring a five-bedroom 10,800-square-foot residence, a swimming pool and spa with a pool house, stately stables, a guesthouse or caretaker’s quarters, paddocks, vineyards, gardens, an orchard, and a superior-caliber riding arena.

The home feels pulled from the pages of a storybook, a travelog, or Architectural Digest, with larger-than-life dimensions and dramatic finishes. Sturdy woods and striking stone create an ambience at once rustic and refined, in spaces reminiscent of Wild West lodges, alpine havens, French country châteaux, and indulgent spas. Throughout, oversized windows and glass doors admit floods of light and offer verdant views.

An antler chandelier suspended from a vaulted beamed ceiling serves as a centerpiece in the great room, where a stacked-stone fireplace delivers warmth and the rugged character of the Old West year-round. The window-wrapped formal dining room has its own fireplace along with doors to a wraparound deck—accessed via nearly every room on the main level. The French country kitchen is a spectacular space with stone walls, a one-of-a-kind John Yarema wood floor, two islands, a custom collection of four La Cornue ranges. The dining area is warmed by a fireplace and enjoys a clear view of the enveloping greenery through folding glass doors. Steps away is a covetable collection of spaces for recreation and entertaining: a billiards room with two double-door wine refrigerators, which it shares with a lounge and fully equipped cocktail bar. A nearby game room overlooks the breakfast area.

Restful bedrooms and baths arrayed in distinct color schemes—green, orange, and blue—share the main level yet are consummately private. The primary suite is accented by a white Zebrino marble fireplace and includes a bath with a dazzling stone shower wall, uniquely backlit vanities, and a dazzling marble soaking tub. A secluded aerie with a sitting area and rose-hued bath occupies the uppermost level. The busy professional will appreciate the office and a paneled library with a fireplace, doors to the deck, and a western view into the leafy trees—both ideal spaces for quiet contemplation.

Paths meander throughout the enchanting grounds. A short stroll from the main residence is a pool house and finely appointed one-bedroom guest apartment with a garage. It accompanies a sun-washed terrace with a stone fireplace, a pizza oven, and a refreshing pool and spa surrounded by tufty grasses and tall trees—with nary a neighbor in sight.

The guesthouse or caretaker’s quarters is a five-bedroom French country–inspired haven featuring an elegant living room with wide-plank hardwood floors, a dining room with a soaring pitched ceiling, a cook’s kitchen, and a generous office. A tack room and an après-riding lounge with a kitchenette complete the compelling picture. The Provençal inspiration persists at the impressive stables, which center around a paver courtyard with an Old World fountain and accommodate up to 12 horses.

The property feels surprisingly self-sufficient, with merlot and cabernet vineyards; an orchard of apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees; dedicated vegetable gardens; a pastoral pond; and coops for all manner of birds. Further afield are the estate’s raison d’être: grassy paddocks with run-in sheds, a laser-leveled dressage arena with dust-free footing, and a stone-paved viewing area. Among the things for which Greenwich is beloved is its historic trail system, easily accessed from the rolling expanses of this peerless property. Giddyup!