Up the Hudson River, the Hudson Valley is a hideaway for many who seek more land and peace than New York City has to offer. Stars from Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds to Glenn Close to Matt Damon have all owned homes here, or currently still do. But, it draws many more people in, too. Manhattan-based interior designer Sara Story owns a stunning 13-acre estate in Snedens Landing. Centered by a Victorian Gothic-style manse and filled with dazzling design elements, the residence known Niederhurst is now on the market priced at $28.5 million.
As you meander up the winding driveway, views of the river and the circa-1874 manor enchant. From the outside, you may assume that the 8,040-square-foot home holds antique or Gilded Age-era decor, but it’s quite the contrary. Historic architectural details have been preserved, but the talented seller put great effort into giving the spaces new life considering the home was in disarray when she found it.
To say that the designer restored the estate is an understatement. In 2016, she told Architectural Digest that when she first saw it “there were mushrooms growing inside, the front door was nailed shut, the shutters were dangling from their hinges, and the grounds were completely overgrown. And I loved it.”
After her diligent renovations, the 19th-century is now a vision of artful, contemporary beauty. From the graphic black and white design of the dining room to the home’s many fashionable light fixtures, exciting surprises await at every turn. Minimalism, organic materials, and clean lines also have their moment. The kitchen and bar check those boxes, while the primary suite’s unique bathroom answers the maximalist call. Outside, the grounds unfold elegantly, too. There’s a stone shed, a small observatory converted to a cote for birds, an antique barn, and, of course, a pool.
If Story sells Niederhurst for full ask, it will be a record sale for the area. Richard Ellis of Sotheby’s International Realty can tell you more if you’re interested in the one-of-a-kind estate.
