54 East 64th Street

The Internationally known designer couple who own this house have spent decades creating several masterpiece homes, in both country and urban settings.

To present their philosophy in their own words: "Each home follows a story, taking cues from what a property once was, and what it might have been The challenge is to reimagine a place - not to be historically precise - but to blend its past with our personal view of the present."

Their latest totally renovated work is spectacular: Imagine a house with a staircase drawing inspiration from the Guggenheim Museum. Imagine huge square rooms and high ceilings on every floor. Imagine a serene white environment - with the latest mechanical systems artfully hidden - and massive wide windows affording exceptionally bright sunny interiors.

Imagine this environment now containing a collection of furnishings and art that are chronicled in a Rizzoli artbook by an internationally acclaimed photographer.

FLAGG & CHAMBERS, Original Architects

After inspecting every possible property available, in the end they chose a mansion originally created by two earlier master architects, Ernest Flagg & Walter B. Chambers - both educated at Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris - a mansion built to a grand proportion and yet remarkably true to its original residential floor plan

THE NEWLY GUT RENOVATED MANSION NOW

The MAIN ENTRY on the SECOND LEVEL is a passage through two sets of huge double doors to an entry hall with 11’ ceilings that extends 60 feet

The main eat in KITCHEN has 18 century antique marble pavers reclaimed from a chateau in the Loire valley. The decorative fireplace with an antique English white Carrera marble mantel circa 1830 is from Chesney’s. The custom integrated kitchen is by the German manufacturer Leicht.

There is a Waterworks faucet and plaster decorative beams.

Sub-Zero built-in refrigeration on one wall includes 2 full height refrigerators plus 1 full height freezer hidden behind white doors. The stainless-steel Viking stove has 8 burners and there are 2 built-in Miele dishwashers flanking the sink.

The wide white STAIRCASE resembles a piece of sculpture as it ascends upward culminating in a huge skylight.

Its custom polished nickel handrail was handmade in Paris.

The LIBRARY/DINING ROOM has 18 Century French antique oak floorboards reclaimed from a hotel particular in Paris. There are two fireplaces, one working and one decorative, with a pair of 19 century English Carrera marble mantels, also from Chesney’s. There are custom LED lights in the library shelves and a plaster coffered ceiling.

The effect of the various design elements in the room are fascinating.

The BUTLER’S PANTY adjacent to the dining room/library facilities smooth service and has an additional Miele dishwasher.

The POWDER ROOM on this floor has wood and plaster wall paneling, a custom glass and polished nickel vanity, handmade in Paris and a waterworks faucet.

THIRD FLOOR - 12’4" Ceilings

The 22’ SITTING ROOM to the north is a large perfect square with a 12’4" ceiling. Its antique oak floorboards are 18th century French. The decorative fireplace has a vintage classic Edwardian English mantel in Saint Anne marble.

The three huge windows have custom polished nickel "Cremone" window hardware, handmade in Paris. The windows are exceptionally tall and wide for a luminous effect on the white walls and ceiling whatever time of day.

POWDER ROOM on this floor is covered in gray wool upholstery.

31’ deep south facing LIVING ROOM also with 12’4" ceilings has antique 18th century French floorboards.

The working fireplace has a vintage monumental English Stone mantel, early 19 century. The various shades of white create a remarkable atmosphere.

FOURTH FLOOR

Beautifully arranged as 4 bedrooms and 4 full baths, 3 bedrooms with full baths en-suite, and 1 bedroom also with its own terrace. Three bedrooms have decorative vintage Greek revival painted fireplace mantles and built-in loft beds.

All en-suite bathrooms have custom and polished nickel shower doors, custom medicine cabinets handmade in Paris, and waterworks faucets.

FIFTH FLOOR

The PRIMARY BEDROOM facing south is another exquisite creamy white space. There is a decorative fireplace with antique English white Carrera marble mental circa 1830. There is a dressing room and a half bath just adjacent.

The main bathroom is 22’ x 13’ 10" with a 9’10" ceiling and contains arabescato marble slabs on the both floor and walls.

There is a large decorative fireplace. The custom polished shower door and medicine cabinets were made in Paris and there are waterworks faucets in the double sinks. The larger Dressing room and closet contains gray lacquer cabinets, custom German engineered rolling ladders. Upper cabinets and the jewelry cabinet facing the bathroom doors are locked for confidentiality and safety and can be unlocked with a code on a hidden touch panel.

SIXTH FLOOR

The Sitting Room has a decorative fireplace with an antique Federal painted mantle, a huge skylight overhead, and opens to a southern planted terrace with dining.

There is a half bath and both the main staircase and elevator serve this floor.

To the north is a 22’ deep ivy-covered terrace with rooftop views of CPH Gilbert designed mansions.

Both terraces have Ipe wood decking and irrigation for all plantings.

LOWER LEVEL - FIRST FLOOR

A separate entrance from the street leads to a staff or guest apartment with a full kitchen, full bath and bedroom.

There is massive storage and a powder room.

Both the elevator and interior stairs serve this level.

The laundry has 3 stainless steel Miele pro line washing machines and 3 stainless steel Miele vented pro dryers. There’s also a PRO 48 Sub-Zero refrigeration stainless steel refrigerator and freezer.

At the southern end there is a gym with two huge windows which leads to an ivy-covered outdoor space with a basketball hoop.

SYSTEMS

Heat, Ventilation, Air Conditioning + Humidification

10 separate zones with thermostats tucked away and remote sensors in the rooms themselves

No visible grilles (air supply and return is hidden in plaster cove moldings)

Security System: Central Station Monitored System

State of the Art Security System: all doors protected + window breaks on all windows, motion sensors throughout the house

CO + smoke detection by VESDA system (invisible system originally developed for museums where air is constantly sampled and tested). Was over $500K to install, but avoids any unsightly detectors on the ceilings.

Lighting System

Lutron HomeWorks System with all on/all off switch near front door Audio/Visual

Savant Pro controls all TVs and music through the house

Invisible/plastered-in speakers throughout the house, to once again avoid unattractive elements cluttering the ceilings

Mini iPads next to elevator door on all floors (with custom polished nickel frames)

AV racks in lower-level hallway

Access

Intercoms with cameras at front door, airlock door and lower-level apartment door

Doors can be opened with hotel-style key cards or via the Savant Pro app on phones (or of course with standard keys)

Irrigation System

All plantings are irrigated with drip system (1st and 2nd floor on the street; all floors in the back; front and back roof-top terraces)

Fire Protection

Sprinkler system throughout the house

In conclusion, there is no house on the market that has been totally renovated in the way this one has.

If you prefer to dispense with a renovation, or if you are simply too busy, this may be a perfect answer. And if you have a unique art collection, it may solve another difficult question of where to display it. Co-Exclusive

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