Historic Pyne Mansion Renovated with Bold Vision 211 Winant Road, Princeton, NJ
Contents Historic Pyne Mansion The Pynes & the Pallats Renovating “The Grande Dame” Architects, Artisans, & Craftsmen Living in Pyne Comfortably Bestowing Contrast This impressive Princeton residence is a specimen unto itself: a remarkable convergence of esteemed pedigree, modern design, and thoughtful everyday practicality that coalesce to make this one of the area’s most extraordinary offerings.
1 Historic Pyne Mansion
Original plaster ceiling was restored
The main stair—fabricated by M. Cohen & Sons was designed to be transparent, allowing light to come into the space
Those who appreciate history and can discern quality will love the abundant period details which include plaster walls, ornamental ceilings, ten fireplaces, and solid wood doors. Yet, the home has a decidedly contemporary feel. New York City loft-like spaces, rarely found in a house of this age, are plentiful in this stunning home and modern amenities such as low voltage lighting and a geothermal cooling system are just the beginning.
3 Historic Pyne Mansion Custom, temperature-controlled 4,000 bottle wine storage
Historic Pyne Mansion The Pyne Mansion was designed by the celebrated architect Raleigh Gildersleeve in the late 1800’s for Albertina Taylor Pyne, daughter of Moses Taylor, one of the wealthiest men in America and president of what is now Citibank. Unencumbered by budgetary constraints, no expense was spared in the construction of her home. The construction quality goes beyond “they don’t build them like they used to” as the home was built with 18” thick floors and exterior walls. The finest materials of the day were sourced from all over the country. The foundation was laid using Stony Creek granite of Connecticut—the same granite used for the Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, the Smithsonian, and Grand Central Station. Roof tiles were made by Ludowici, the renowned Ohio company whose tiles cover the Plaza Hotel and the NY Life Building. The home was framed with steel I-beams from the famous Carnegie Steel company of Pennsylvania. The lower level dubbed by many as their favorite floor of the house
Unfortunately, Mrs. Pyne was not able to enjoy her home for very long. She passed away suddenly of pneumonia in the early 1900’s. After her death, the house was occupied off and on by family members and others. But eventually it fell into disrepair and was abandoned.
5 Historic Pyne Mansion Paris Metro-inspired custom iron canopy topped with antique corrugated glass that formerly graced the Brooklyn Museum
The foundation is laid with Stony Creek granite—the same granite used for the Smithsonian, Grand Central Station, and the Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty
Although it is surprising that a home of this beauty and grandeur would become deserted, the Pyne family collectively owned many estates and was not in need of either occupying or selling the home. The house stayed in the family 85 years after Mrs. Pyne’s death. In 1985 it was sold to a developer for the land. Betty Jablonsky, Princeton Building Inspector at the time, recognized the magnificence of the house, and nicknamed it “The Grande Dame.” Under her watch, the buildings department endeavored to protect
the property, hoping someone would come along to restore it to its former glory. In 1995, John and Carrie Pallat were planning a move to Princeton to start a family. In search of a unique property, they were shown the Historic Pyne Mansion. Without even setting foot in the house, John Pallat peered in the windows of what is now the front living room. Looking past the decaying floors, crumbling plaster, and fallen ceilings, he declared, “It’s perfect!”
The property is largely secluded from neighbors
Original Stony Creek granite slab walkway
7 Renovating “The Grande Dame” Hand-troweled Venetian plaster façade by Orazio De Gennaro using traditional materials of marble dust and beeswax
Renovating “The Grande Dame� Limestone fireplace surround and polished stainless steel dog grate (c.1860) from Oliffs Antiques of the UK
The Pallats hired David Abelow, of Abelow Sherman Architects to help them renovate the home. He, in turn, assembled a team of world-class architects and artisans to help him with the project. David, who has designed homes all over the world for notable clients such as Bono (U2), Tommy Mottola (Sony), and Michael Steinhardt (legendary hedge fund manager), has been featured in Architectural Digest, New York Magazine, and the New York Times. Creatively juxtaposing wood, metal, stone, plaster and glass, it is David’s sensibility that was instrumental in transforming the historic Pyne mansion into a home that is unlike any other in the Princeton area. He seamlessly blends the old and new, using materials and techniques ranging from old-world Venetian plaster walls to floors of recycled aircraft tires.
9 Renovating “The Grande Dame�
Many rooms in the house boast original Carnegie Steel I-beams, double-height ceilings and exposed brick walls
Period staircase was designed by Raleigh Gildersleeve and restored by the Pallats
One of the most timeless of roofing materials— Ludowici terra cotta clay tiles—are as sustainable as they are beautiful
The front driveway is constructed of Belgian Block in a traditional fan pattern
Chuck DiSanto of Walter B. Melvin & Associates was brought in as the exterior restoration architect. One of the foremost experts in the field, WBMA specializes in the restoration of historic and landmark buildings. Their projects have included The New York Public Library, the Queensboro Bridge, The Plaza Hotel, and The Park Avenue Armory. The firm has received dozens of awards for their work. Working with West New York Restoration (WNYR) as the contractor, WBMA created a plan to stabilize the structure and completely restore the exterior. Based in NYC, WNYR is one of the Big Apple’s most experienced façade restoration experts, having completed nearly a thousand projects including The Cloisters, the Cast Iron Building, and The Frick. The
skilled craftsmen who work for WNYR were responsible for repointing and restoring the exterior of the house. The roof was completely reconstructed utilizing the original Ludowici tiles and additional reclaimed Ludowici tiles. WNYR installed all new flashings and a full roof waterproof membrane. New copper gutters, in keeping with the era of the original structure, were custom designed and hand-forged. The exterior restoration took more than a year and a half to complete. The structure, by the time Pallats found it, was essentially a shell—a blank slate—ready for all the details to be filled in. Once the exterior was restored, the interior was ready to be transformed. Designers, technicians, and artisans from as far away as California and Florida were hired to return the home to its former glory.
11 Living in Pyne Original restored shutters hidden in wall pockets
Living in Pyne In the heart of the home is the great room / chef’s kitchen. This grand loft-like space was transformed from a series of small rooms originally designed as work areas for servants. Measuring approximately 1,000 square feet, this exquisitely designed space is perfect for preparing family dinners or full-scale entertaining. It is equipped with a spacious center island and abundant cabinetry.
Original heart pine flooring, reclaimed and restored
The adjacent formal dining room can host intimate dinners for four or banquets for as many as two dozen. It features a hand-troweled Venetian plaster façade by Orazio De Gennaro, an artisan from NYC who specializes in the ancient craft of Venetian plaster. Unlike the ready-made resin processes often used today, Orazio uses original materials and techniques and has been perfecting his craft for 50 years. Every step of the process is done by hand. Over the years Orazio has been hired to do projects throughout the US and Europe and has worked at the residences of Lenny Kravitz, Jimmy Buffet, and Gracie Mansion. Orazio has been featured in Architectural Digest, House and Garden, and Elle Decor.
13 Living in Pyne Antique zinc panels form backsplash at wet bar
Floors are heated using energy-efficient radiant heat
The conservatory is cooled by an energy-efficient geothermal system
After dinner, spend the evening in the incredible lower level, sampling the offerings of the 4000-bottle wine cellar in the adjacent lounge. Many people have dubbed the lower level as their favorite floor in the house.
of Honduran Mahogany by Ed Sarcia of Colebrook. Traditional linoleum blinds transform the light of the sun into a soft, dappled light, perfect for creating a relaxing ambiance. It is the perfect space for enjoying the view onto the grounds during any season.
The generously proportioned spaces, which include a state-of-the-art theater with a 15-foot wide Cinemascope projection screen, have ceilings as high as 9 feet and are perfect for entertaining or for spending time with family. The floors are all heated using energy-efficient radiant heat. Rooms include a wood-paneled billiard room, a catering kitchen, and a garden area with natural light.
Loft-like spaces are found throughout the second floor. Several of the rooms feature double-height spaces with exposed beams. The master suite has his & her dressing rooms, a gym, a loft, and a sunroom-turned-yogaroom. The spectacular second-floor studio has several adjacent spaces including a lofted office. In addition to these suites of rooms, there are three other bedrooms and baths on the second floor. A private suite that is ideal for guests can be found on the third floor.
If quiet is what you seek, restful grounds are celebrated by a two-story conservatory custom-built
Custom metal stair designed by Abelow Sherman architects and fabricated by Boston Stair
15 Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes Eventually the house fell into disrepair and was abandoned When Albertina Taylor Pyne decided to build a country home in Princeton in order to be closer to her children, the celebrated architect Raleigh Gildersleeve was hired to design the mansion. Mr. Gildersleeve, the favorite architect of her son Moses Taylor Pyne, worked extensively in the Princeton area. He was already designing many of the buildings for Drumthwacket and Princeton University. Gildersleeve’s work in Princeton includes McCosh Hall, Upper and Lower Pyne, and three eating clubs: Cap and Gown, Elm, and the Campus Club. It was during this period in the late 1800s that wealthy New York City families were beginning to build grand estates outside of New York City. Besides escaping from the crowded city, they liked the idea of building extravagant “country homes” in which to showcase their success. Several of Princeton’s mansions were constructed or enlarged at this time: Moses Taylor Pyne was expanding Drumthwacket, Junius Spencer Morgan had commissioned the construction of Constitution Hill, Archibald Douglas Russell began building Edgerstoune, and Allan Marquand had purchased Guernsey Hall.
Living Room, April 1996 Without even setting foot in the house, John Pallat peered in the windows of what is now the front living room. Looking past the decaying floors, crumbling plaster, and fallen ceilings he declared, “It’s perfect!”
Over time, many of these country estates were subdivided and their mansions were re-purposed as institutional buildings or turned into condominiums. A century or so after they were completed, it is now rare to find one of these mansions still available as a single family home. The mansion built by Mrs. Pyne was one of the few. Unfortunately it had been vacant for decades and was in need of a lot of work. Seeing this as an opportunity to breathe life back into a formerly glorious home, the Pallats purchased the house and hired David Abelow, of Abelow Sherman Architects to help them restore and transform the structure into one ready for twenty-first century living. Abelow and his associate, David Younglove, assembled a team of worldclass architects and artisans to help with the project. Chuck DiSanto of Walter B. Melvin & Associates was brought in as the exterior restoration architect. Teaming up with West New York Restoration as the contractor, WBMA completely restored the exterior. Working on the interior, E. Allen Reeves was hired by the Pallats to serve as general contractor. Specializing in high-end residential and institutional properties in the Mid-Atlantic region, Reeves has been the recipient of over 50 “Excellence in Construction” awards and was named “Contractor of the Year” multiple times.
The expertise of many talented people contributed to the transformation of the home. The most distinctive feature of the house—the main stair—was created by Allen Cohen of M. Cohen & Sons. Designed by Robert Price of Abelow Sherman Architects, the stair is a collaboration of multiple craftspeople under the direction of both Robert and Allen. It is constructed primarily of steel, but incorporates Cohenfabricated solid brass newel posts, ultra-clear sculpted glass railings by Bent Glass Design, mahogany handrails and tiger oak treads by Mike Saienni. Allen Cohen and his firm have extensive experience working in all kinds of metal processes. The list of noteworthy projects they have worked on is nothing short of impressive. A few examples include: the MOMA, the Barnes Foundation, Burberry, Chanel and the amazing 11-story metal façade of the Zaha Hadid building in Chelsea. Allen’s work also features prominently in other parts of the house, including portions of the master bedroom, the master bath, and some exterior elements. Knowing that the main stair would make a bold and modern statement, David made the decision to restore the traditional plaster ceiling in the entrance hall back to its original condition. The result is a grand entrance hall and an ingenious contrast to the steeliness of the main stair. It’s worth noting that although the shell of the building was in fairly good shape when purchased in 1995, much of the interior was not salvageable. Some of the interior had been damaged by years of neglect, while other elements were either vandalized or stripped away over time.
Main Stair, April 1996 The lower level was originally not designed to be part of the living space so the stair only connected the main level to the upstairs. It was not a grand structure and the surrounding space was dark since light could only enter from the second floor..
Rear Loggia, 1998 This photo was taken during restoration of the roof. Although some work had been done to the structure already, this photo shows the original rear loggia design, which was north facing and covered by a solid roof. It was quite dark and not an inviting space. The lower level of the conservatory was a similar covered space.
Entrance Hall, April 1996 Knowing that the main stair would make a bold and modern statement, Abelow made the decision to restore the traditional plaster ceiling in the entrance hall back to its original condition. The result is a grand entrance hall and an ingenious contrast to the steeliness of the main stair.
17 Behind the Scenes
Bestowing a contrast to the metalwork of M. Cohen & Sons is the more hand-fabricated metalwork by two much smaller shops—those of Norm Campbell and T Johnson Design. Norm Campbell of Campbell Ironworks is a self-taught artist, sculptor, blacksmith, and furniture designer. Many of the hand-forged metalwork elements of the house were designed and fabricated by Norm. These include the massive wine cellar gates, the hand-hammered copper fireplace hood, portions of the metalwork on the exterior of the property, and nearly all of the handmade window hardware. An artist as much as a craftsman, Norm’s work has been shown in galleries around the country. Terrance Johnson of T Johnson Design is a local artisan from Hopewell, and a very talented craftsman. He has worked extensively in the NY/NJ area, most recently working on projects at The Printing House and The San Remo in NYC and the restoration of the cupola and weathervane on the iconic Nassau Hall at Princeton University. Terrance created the fireplace screen in the main entrance foyer. He was also the fabricator of many of the metal elements of the master bath such as the handmade mirrors and lights. A man of many talents, Terrance helped restore a number of the antique lights in the house.
Exterior, April 1996 The rear loggia and “sleeping porch” at time of purchase.
One of the more dramatic spaces that David designed was the rear loggia, also built by Allen Cohen. Inspired by the entrances to the Paris Metro, the 35-foot long iron canopy covering the loggia was fabricated in Cohen’s factory and transported to Princeton in one piece to be installed atop a concealed steel frame and then topped by antique corrugated glass panels. These panels, also dating from 1897, were reclaimed from the McKim, Mead & White designed glass passageways of the Brooklyn Museum Greenhouses, which were removed in the 90’s after they had fallen into disrepair.
M. Cohen & Sons Factory, April 2004 Metal canopy for rear loggia under construction
Library, April 1996
Master Bedroom, April 1996 Although the shell of the building was in fairly good shape in 1996, very little of the interior was salvageable. Some of it had been damaged by years of neglect, while other elements were either vandalized or stripped away over time.
Master Bath, April 1996 Vacant for decades, the home was a hangout for local teenagers.
Lower Level, April 1996 The most puzzling area of the house was the lower level. It was completely open to the elements with large open areaways that would allow rain and snow to get into to the house. The floor was dirt and the ceilings were fairly low. The space was obviously unused, except as a place to shovel coal for the heating system or perhaps to store root vegetables.
Lower Level in progress, February 1998 The lower level was dug out to make room for electricity and radiant heat, and to increase the ceiling height. The walls were cleaned or sandblasted, but otherwise remained mostly unchanged.
One of the advantages of starting with only an exterior shell and an interior “blank slate” is that all of the electricity, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning would be brand new and state-of-the-art. There are several heating and cooling systems that interface with each other, including extensive radiant floor heating and multi-zone heating and cooling systems, which can be programmed for maximum enjoyment and efficiency. Radiant heat, which is more comfortable and healthier than forced air, is used throughout the home. The home is extensively wired to accommodate programmable low voltage lighting controls, a fiber optic network, a full security system, and a house music system. In addition, a 625 square-foot dedicated theater room, which comfortably seats 18, is the highlight of the lower level. Bradford Wells of Los Angeles designed and installed the theater. Brad has decades of experience creating private screening rooms for Oscar and Emmy awardwinning movie producers and directors. In this room, one enjoys an authentic movie theater experience in a stateof-the-art facility boasting a 15-foot wide Cinemascope projection screen and recording studio-quality speakers. The projection system is located in a small booth directly behind the screening room, eliminating the distracting sound of the projector during movies. Unique to the system is a custom-built lens sled that moves an anamorphic lens in and out of the projection beam to produce the super-wide cinemascope image. The main speakers are located behind the perforated screen and the surround speakers are built
Kitchen, April 1996 In the original design, the kitchen was a small room with a dumb-waiter and adjacent walk-in closet, butler’s pantry, etc. The walls of these rooms were demolished to open up the space and create a contemporary kitchen / great room.
Kitchen in progress, October 1996
Garage and Breezeway, February 1998
into the custom wall panels at the side and the rear of the room. A custom designed curtain was created and installed. Because the house was built in 1897 and not updated until the Pallats purchased the property, the house needed a garage. Built new in 1999, the adjacent two-car heated garage utilizes similar materials as the original mansion so that the two structures look as if they were built simultaneously. Brick and limestone of the same color and texture were used to build both a garage and the connected covered breezeway. The roof of the garage is constructed of Ludowici tiles to match the tiles found on the house. Hand-forged copper gutters and an antique weather vane complete the look. Inside the garage, a staircase can be easily pulled down to allow access to an attic that contains ample storage space. The garage also comes with a 240-Volt electric Tesla car charger. All of the tile-covered loggias are heated to alleviate the need for shoveling snow. The front driveway is constructed of Belgian block in a traditional fan pattern. The side and rear driveways are a combination of crushed stone, macadam and Belgian block. With mature trees and well-planned landscaping, the property is shaded and largely secluded from neighbors. The result is a home with an estate feel without the maintenance a large estate would require. The house is situated on 1.1 acres with an adjacent 0.81 acre buildable lot available.
Painting Studio , April 1996 At the time of purchase, there had already been some significant floor and wall damage in portions of the house. As a result, many of the spaces in the house already were double-height with the original Carnegie Steel I-beams and brick walls exposed. In the original design, these third floor rooms would have been living quarters for the servants.
Designed in 1897 by celebrated architect Raleigh Gildersleeve, this stunning Jacobean-style masterpiece has been meticulously reconstructed and updated to perfection. The award-winning renovation, by noted NYC architect David Abelow, flawlessly combines the past and present, refashioning the home into one of Princeton’s most extraordinary residences.