Classic Bedminster Estate

Estate living in Bedminster reaches a whole new level in an exceptional Colonial home that embraces the traditional New England architectural styles of Cape Cod and Nantucket.  A gated entry marks the sweeping five-acre property set along a private lane.  Deer fencing around the perimeter ensures that the fabulous gardens will bloom throughout the season.  An innovative dark-toned Gunite swimming pool is surrounded by Ipé decking and stone walls.  The climate-controlled barn is ideal for horses since the acreage offers direct access to Bedminster’s network of riding trails.  Alternately, the barn can be used for a car collection.

An intense renovation using careful attention to detail was recently completed, including behind-the-walls wiring for flat screen televisions.  Other interior highlights are extensive millwork, arched room openings, custom paneling and intricate moldings.  Of special note is the stylish all-white kitchen balanced by black countertops of honed absolute granite.  Custom finishes also detail the gracious master suite of rooms which offers two baths.  A total of four bedrooms, four full baths and a powder room enhance the meticulously-designed floor plan.

A jewel among Bedminster homes for sale, this grand estate is close to equestrian facilities, recreational pursuits and golf at Hamilton Farm or Trump National.  Historic and cultural offerings are a short drive away in Morristown.  Bedminster Township is about 45 minutes from New York City and about 35 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport.  A network of local roadways includes Interstates 78 and 287 for commuters.

Four Oaks Farm in Branchburg was listed and sold through Turpin’s Far Hills office in 2004.  Constructed during the Revolutionary War Era of the 1700s, Four Oaks Farm began as a simple clapboard farmhouse.  Today’s main dwelling has been transformed over several centuries in to an elegant country home styled in the neoclassic Greek Revival tradition.  The three-story home contains 15 rooms, seven fireplaces, four main bedrooms, three staff rooms, five full and two half baths.

An incredible New Jersey real estate acquisition, Four Oaks Farm contains over 400 acres of unspoiled woods and open pastureland take in vast countryside views.  Professionally landscaped grounds feature perennial and cutting gardens in addition to mature shade trees and an established apple orchard.  A brick-walled terraced, designed by landscape architect Nelva Weber, overlooks a babbling brook.  Bordered partially by the confluence of the Lamington and North Branch of the Raritan Rivers, there is over 3,000 feet of water frontage and a six-plus acre island in Bedminster Township. 

While this exceptional property stands alone as a grand country estate, its owners were equally compelling.

Born in 1912, Mary Morley Crapo was raised in Detroit, Michigan. She attended Vassar College and Columbia University. In 1939, she married Donald Hyde, a New York lawyer. The couple bought Samuel Johnson’s silver teapot in 1941 and threw a tea party in its honor. Over the next 25 years, they became avid collectors of Johnson’s belongings, including hundreds of his letters, several of his diaries and a collection of his poems.

Mary Hyde—as she was then known—purchased Four Oaks Farm in 1943. She added a library to the property, filling the house with the couples’ Samuel Johnson collection. After Donald Hyde’s death in 1966, his wife wrote several literary volumes and developed an Oscar Wilde collection that was second in size only to that of the University of California.

Mary Hyde married David Eccles, first Viscount Eccles in 1984, becoming Mary, Viscountess Eccles. Lady Eccles housed her collection at Four Oaks Farm, a place she readily granted access to researchers, writers and scholars from all over the world. She contributed important scholarly works on a variety of subjects and generously loaned her items from her collection to exhibitions.  Lady Eccles died at the age of 91 in 2003.

This refined Bedminster estate was listed and sold by Turpin Real Estate in 2009.  As a recent Bedminster home for sale, this listing reminds us that homes in all price ranges are selling, even during challenging economic times.

Designed by New York architect Eric J. Smith and constructed in 1992, this custom-built stone Georgian Colonial is beautifully situated on over 21 acres. 

Among the stunning architectural details within the 16-room interior are high ceilings, intricate crown moldings, extensive custom cabinetry and eight distinctively-manteled fireplaces. 

Spanning the back of the house is an expansive bluestone terrace overlooking formal English gardens and a two-level man-made pond accenting the colorful garden views.  A hard surface tennis court and a 50-foot pool are positioned on the side of the residence, adding to the resort atmosphere of this property.  Climbing vines and an extensive rose garden surround the tennis court, while a grassy lawn edged in bluestone surrounds the pool. 

Fieldstone, white clapboard and slate roofing adorn the traditional façade.  A 30-foot gallery hall welcomes guests and connects to a series of grand public rooms to the kitchen wing.  French doors in the living room, library, media room, dining room, family room and breakfast room open to the terrace.

Each of the six bedroom suites features generous room proportions and unique bathrooms with luxury appointments.  Dual fitted dressing rooms and private bathrooms adjoin the master bedroom, offering organized storage for clothing and accessories.  Two of the bedroom suites are located in the kitchen wing, providing private accommodations for guest or staff.

Turpin Real Estate sold Sky Acres Farm in Bedminster for over $5 million in 2007.  Turpin’s  Oldwick Office was involved in the sale of this exquisite equestrian property set on 50 acres of preserved land in the heart of the Somerset Hills’ celebrated Hunt Country.  Located near the banks of the Black River, this property was a unique offering among Bedminster homes for sale that year.

The centerpiece of Sky Acres Farm is a gracious farmhouse built in 1999.  This home was designed by Jack Beyer of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners, the same group that planned the restoration of many famous New York City landmarks like Grand Central Station and South Street Seaport.  Classic exterior details such as cedar siding, a slate roof and front and rear porches enhance the welcoming feel of this inviting farmhouse.

A long winding gravel drive crosses over a rustic fieldstone bridge to the farm’s private setting which overlooks fenced pastures and pastoral countryside.  Extensive fieldstone walls, bluestone walkways and patios, and professional landscaping are enhanced by mature trees, native plantings and perennial borders.

An open floor plan features a gourmet kitchen, dining and living rooms anchored by fireplaces, two home offices, a spacious mud/breakfast room and laundry room.  Among the three bedrooms is a privately-situated master suite on the first floor.  Three full baths and one powder room serve this country property. 

Additional interior features call for hardwood floors throughout, custom paneling and cabinetry, central air conditioning, electric thermal heat, central vacuum and a back-up generator. 

As a true working equestrian farm, Sky Acres Farm has several outbuildings such as a six-stall horse barn with wash stall, tack room with washer/dryer, half bath and outside pressure washer.  Other dependencies are a two-bedroom cottage, a three-car detached garage, tractor shed with heated office and a chicken coop.

Monday is Girls’ Day Out at Natirar

Here’s an idea for a delicious and unconventional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day: Ninety Acres Culinary Center at Natirar is hosting a Girls’ Day Out cooking class on Monday, February 14 from 11am to 2pm.  This workshop will cover the skills and techniques for making a crab and brie bisque with roasted garlic crostini, shrimp and scallops en papillote with fresh oranges, baby spinach with spicy pine nuts and warm pancetta vinaigrette, and a decadent chocolate cherry fondue with cream cheese pound cake and fresh fruit dippers.  These popular workshops sell out quickly, so call for availability.

This hands-on workshop is sponsored by Viking appliances, and a percentage of the $85 tuition will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  The Valentine’s Day program is for students 16 and older.

Natirar (named for the Raritan River, and “Raritan” spelled backwards) is located within the borders of Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone and Bedminster.  The former grand estate of Kate Macy Ladd, it is now home to the acclaimed Ninety Acres Culinary Center at 2 Main St in Peapack-Gladstone.  Ninety Acres is owned by the famed international businessman Richard Branson.

A regal landmark in Far Hills real estate, Natirar was sold by Turpin Real Estate in 1982 to H.M. King Hassan II, Sovereign of Morocco.  The $7.5 million transaction set a record in the state of New Jersey that year.  It was acquired by Somerset County in 2003 and a large portion of the property is used for public recreation.

This striking ca. 1911 English Tudor estate has been featured on a recent HGTV video as a Classic Tudor Revival.  Meticulously restored by the current owner, great detail is evident throughout this wonderful country property.  Gracious and inviting rooms feature 7 plus bedrooms, 10 fireplaces, updated kitchen and baths and new heat and air conditioning systems.  Additionally, this elegant home set on 13± acres offers exceptional views, from inside or from the expansive bluestone terrace.

It is conveniently located near schools, restaurants, a network of local and interstate highways, and represents the very best of Bedminster homes for sale in today’s marketplace.

Turpin Real Estate managed a wonderful Bedminster home for sale in 2002.  The transaction was both listed and sold by Turpin’s Far Hills office.

This exceptional property is situated on about 27 rolling acres with magnificent long views of the Somerset Hills.  A sweeping drive passes open hay fields and a large gray barn, culminating at a private parking court.  Designed by New York architect Henry Jessup and built in 2000, this exceptional shingle style home is thoughtfully positioned on a gently rising knoll.  The elevated vantage point provides dramatic panoramas from every room.  Stunning architectural details range from high ceilings and quarter-sawn white oak floors to custom moldings, a wraparound staircase and three distinctive fireplaces.  The 16-room floor plan contains four bedrooms suites with uniquely-appointed baths.  Additionally, a private one-bedroom apartment provides comfortable staff or guest accommodations.

Close attention to detail also characterizes the handsome exterior.  Copper gutters and leaders, a hand-split cedar shake roof and traditional shutters adorn the home’s classic façade, while manicured boxwoods and brick pillars define the formal entrance.  Professionally landscaped acreage was designed by well-known local landscape architect Walter S. Carell, Jr.  Mature plantings, established perennial gardens and flowering fruit trees surround the residence and provide bursts of color.  To take advantage of the amazing views, outdoor spaces include covered bluestone porches, open lawns and grassy terraces.

Turpin sold a magnificent Hunt Country estate for $7,350,000 in 2004.  Approximately 44 rolling acres provided a scenic backdrop for this stately 27-room Bedminster home for sale.  The majestic wooded and open property on Long Lane has distant views of the storied Somerset Hills.  A host of distinctive features characterize this expansive seven bedroom, eight full and two half bath country manor, a classic country property where no detail was overlooked.

Built in 1999, the Colonial Revival style home is reminiscent of the grand estates that were constructed in the area at the turn of the 20^th century.  An artfully detailed exterior is a graceful combination of whitewashed brick and painted cedar clapboard.  Traditional porticoes flank the main entry door, while the impressive exterior employs innovative details such as open colonnaded porches and a rounded brick tower.   The home’s interior seems to glow with the many windows illuminating its generously-scaled rooms. A gourmet kitchen is designed with state-of-the-art appliances and an inviting country ambiance.  Formal living and dining rooms, a game room and library each feature fireplaces as a focal point.

Located in its own wing, the master suite of rooms includes a spa-like bath with tub and steam shower, a dressing room, fireplace and two balconies.  In addition to the secondary bedrooms on this level, a guest wing on the third floor features a bedroom suite with a walk-in cedar closet.

Casual living space defines the finished lower level with an exercise room, recreation room, professional climate-controlled wine cellar, wine tasting room with fireplace, and workshop.

An oversized, heated in-ground pool and countless other fine details result in a one-of-a-kind estate home that brings luxury living to a whole new level.

As far as we know, Turpin Real Estate’s record-breaking sale of Dunwalke still stands as the most expensive home not only for Bedminster real estate, but in all of New Jersey. 

Dunwalke was originally built for renowned Wall Street financier Clarence Dillon and his wife, Anne.  Dillon headed the successful investing firm of Dillon, Read & Company, Inc.

Completed in 1928, the construction of Dunwalke took two years and was built by the Matthews Construction Company of Princeton.  John Cross, a friend and chief architect of the New York firm Cross & Cross, was chosen by Dillon to design the home.  Dillon proposed five rooms arranged on the first floor so that no room opened onto the other.  When Cross created a pencil sketch on the tablecloth while the two were having lunch, Dillon hired him on the spot. 

Nearly five years was spent in the planning and design of Dunwalke as well as searching for the materials to complete it. A grand curved staircase looks deceptively as if it is suspended in air, although it is actually attached to the wall at two places.  Anne’s morning room had Colonial period paneling from a house on the James River in Virginia.  Six bedrooms featured mantelpieces imported from England, and some of the exterior bricks are historic, having been rescued from the ruins of an 18^th century home in Virginia built by George Washington.

The Georgian Revival style home contains impressive room sizes: the dining room measured 36 by 20 feet, and the music room has equally spacious dimensions. The finished mansion encompassed 20,000 square feet of living space with seven bedrooms and seven baths.  Among the many outbuildings on the estate is athletic building with indoor tennis courts and a swimming pool pavilion. 

 More detailed information about Dunwalke can be found in New Jersey Country Houses, The Somerset Hills, Volume 2, by John K. Turpin and W. Barry Thomson.

Turpin Real Estate is one of the sponsors of Beyond The Walls’ 5K race and one-mile walk/fun run tomorrow.  This event takes place at Natirar, called “A Crown Jewel of New Jersey’s Open Spaces.”  Making the race extra special is the fact that this is the first such event to be held at Natirar.  Adding to the festive atmosphere will be live music by Scrambler.  There are plenty of seating areas throughout the course from which to observe the beauty of Natirar while cheering on the racers.

Spread out among the neighboring municipalities of Far Hills, Bedminster and Peapack-Gladstone, Natirar is the historic 411-acre former estate of the King of Morocco.  It was originally occupied by Kate Macy Ladd (heir to the Macy’s department store) and Walter Graeme Ladd.  The property features panoramic vistas of open lawns, forests, as well as farm buildings, residential structures and outbuildings dating from the mid-18^th to the mid-19th centuries.  The Peapack Brook and the North Branch of the Raritan River run through the property.  Today, the land is owned by the Somerset County Park Commission.

Registration begins at 10:30am and the one-mile fun run/walk is scheduled for noon.  Dogs are welcome to accompany their owners on this fun run.  There will be awards for the top three male and female finishers under the age of 13. 

 The 5K race begins at 12:30pm.  Awards will be given for the top three male and female runners overall.  Specific age group winners for the 5K race will be for the top three male and female runners 14 years or under and those age 15 to 19, and for those in five-year increments from 20 to 80 and above.  The awards ceremony will take place as soon as the 5K race is completed.

Beyond The Walls is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making substantial long-term impact in the lives of the poor and disadvantaged through focused opportunities in the community, the country, and the world. They believe meaningful impact is achieved by focusing on the physical, relational and spiritual needs of those they serve. This holistic approach addresses a variety of needs: education, food, housing, medical care, micro-enterprise, job training, and mentoring.

In addition, Beyond The Walls encourages, empowers and inspires volunteers “to whom much is given” to be the agents of change in these under-resourced communities by connecting them to relational, hands-on-service.

Turpin is proud to sponsor this exciting event and welcomes all observers and attendees to visit their nearby Far Hills office for the latest information about Far Hills real estate.