RY N W O O D O L D
B R O O K V I L L E
L O CATION This resplendent estate is close to fine dining and shopping, golf courses, cultural venues, beaches, museums and a lifestyle where exceptional living can be enjoyed. Rynwood is located in the Village of Old Brookville, New York within the Town of Oyster Bay on the North Shore of Long Island just 25 miles from Manhattan.
PROPERTY Completed in 1927, Rynwood is a consummate 51-acre Gold Coast estate replete with a breathtaking mansion that is a masterful interpretation of Tudor Cotswold architecture. Commissioned by the President of the American Viscose Corporation, Sir Samuel Agar Salvage, the residence and outbuildings were designed by the notable architect Roger H. Bullard as a country home for the English knight. The property has been stewarded by its current owner since 1979. Their two-year restoration investment preserved the historic integrity and glorious beauty of the property. The estate reflects a timeless grandeur where classic architecture and artistry have been meticulously restored and interior spaces have been seamlessly repurposed to create a unique and unparalleled property of distinction.
RESIDENCE Striking wrought iron gates, attributed to Samuel Yellin Ironworks, open to welcome guests to a long drive past a handsome two-bedroom gatehouse that is in keeping with the architecture and cohesive design of the cottages, greenhouse and outbuildings of this splendid estate. The drive is lined with old growth pine and an understory of flowering mountain laurel and rhododendron. It unfolds to cross a lovely stone bridge and reveals stunning views of the magnificent mansion. The home undulates around courtyards and gardens that beautifully complement the baronial residence. The façade is composed of Indiana limestone with an impressive graduated pattern Vermont slate roof. Carved stone frames exquisite leaded glass windows – many of which feature a classic Tudor diamond glazing pattern with colorful stained-glass medallions woven into their design. Substantial limestone chimneys, triangular gables and pediments, stacked bay windows and arch-topped entrances add interest to the composition. Lead gutters and downspouts with twisting leaf embellishments, decorative filigree, sundials and a copper topped cupola over the attached six-vehicle garage add whimsy and artistry to the design. Two sets of Yellin wrought iron gates flank the north facing front facade. One introduces a courtyard with a paved cobble and flagstone circular motif that surrounds a majestic black oak tree, and the other, delightful formal gardens originally designed by the American landscape architect, Ellen Biddle Shipman. Built to last, the residence is solidly constructed with a steel frame and the finest materials and finishes. There is an interplay between grand and intimate scale throughout that adds to the sensibility that this is, at its very essence, a warm and inviting home.
From a low walled rectangular forecourt, guests are drawn to the simple gabled porch entry that opens into a welcoming hall. A hewn oak beam and board ceiling, superb leaded-glass windows, arched doorways framed with stone and a staircase with rich English oak paneling grace the hall. A delightful carved lion sits atop the newel post at the base of the balustrade. An intimate paneled receiving room with a cozy fireplace is adjacent to the hall, and a circular stone stair leads down to a lower level wine cellar with a 6,000-bottle capacity protected by a steel vault door. The formal living room is to the right of the hall. Wrapped in gleaming oak paneling adorned with masterfully carved filigree and figures above the triple width fireplace, it has room for grand entertaining and many seating vignettes. There are views of both the gardens and the front courtyard through leaded-glass casement windows. An enclosed light-filled loggia runs parallel to the living room. Its vaulted ceilings and stone floor have a monastic quality that invites pause and reflection. Repeating floor-to-ceiling arched glass-paned iron French doors frame garden vista views of the serene rear courtyard, expansive terraced lawns and lush surroundings. The loggia arrives at a sunroom with captivating views of the formal gardens to the west.
The spectacular library is a wing unto itself. Massive carved oak trusses span the cathedral ceiling that soars to a height of 28 feet, and light streams through double height leaded-glass windows imported from England. A triple width fireplace and attractive wood paneling add warmth to the space. Like a choir loft, a balcony provides a wonderful vantage to appreciate the room’s magnificence, and it also provides access to the main master suite on the second level.
Ready for elegant gatherings and celebrations, the gracious formal dining room features an attractive plaster frieze with an ornate depiction of flora and fauna within a repeating circular filigree pattern. A prominent fireplace with a carved stone mantel is integrated into the room’s design. Gleaming wide plank peg oak floors and paneled wainscoting adorn the room. French doors are oriented to views of a covered stone porch and formal garden in the distance. Two box bays with stacked windows provide room for relaxed seating, and one provides access to the gardens through French doors. With broad arched windows and French doors that mirror those lining the loggia, the lovely breakfast room is a light-filled and airy space overlooking a fountain garden. Rough hewn oak beams span the ceiling of the spacious billiard room, and intricately carved frieze molding adds depth to the room’s design. Paneling is masterfully executed and joined. Stained glass leaded casement windows add beauty to the composition. The kitchen/den complex is equipped for large scale entertaining. It has vast storage, commercial appliances, pantries and offices. Powder rooms and a rear staircase complete this level.
Natural light streams into the interiors through arch topped stacked leaded-glass windows at the main staircase landing. The splendid second level opens to a long hall with seven large and well-appointed bedrooms. Each bedroom has a fireplace and en suite bath. A master suite sits at either end of the main wing. The first master suite features a sitting room with built-in cabinetry and shelves, a fireplace with carved marble surround, panoramic views of the formal gardens and a charming Juliette balcony overlooking the rear grounds. Through the bath, there is access to the library balcony. At the opposite end of the wing, a serene second master suite has a fireplace and an intimate outdoor porch. The balance of the second level includes several smaller bedrooms, and a spacious separate wing over the garages has been repurposed as office and storage areas. There is stair access to the vast and open third level that features a large skylight.
Carefully manicured and maintained by in-house staff, the gardens are a transformative complement to the residence. A perimeter of woods offers seclusion and a perfect blend of forest and landscape along the main and service approaches to the residence. Terraced garden rooms to the west open from both the covered porch that is adjacent to the formal living room and the sunroom. The porch is embellished by a sundial. Perfect for entertaining, a stone patio is framed by manicured hedges. It offers wonderful long views of the terraced gardens. Statuary and steps lead down to the enchanting walled tea garden where lush green grass surrounds a centerpiece fountain. Pretty flowering crabapple trees stand in rows, and a carved stone balustrade at the far end gives definition to the space. Exuding charm, a turret-topped dovecote sits on one side of the garden. On the opposite axis, an open sided tea house is constructed with limestone and arched timbers. It is topped with a slate roof featuring a delightful cherub figure. Windows enclose the back of the tea house, and a fabulous fireplace wards off the chill during cooler seasons. Marvelous hand painted tiles above the firebox depict figures engaged in bullfight adventures. Massive wood beams support the roof structure and hand cut stones make up the floor. The whole arrangement gives a sense of being enveloped by nature’s elements while providing a wonderful place to gather and enjoy the lovely garden. Taking advantage of the natural slope of the land, curved steps arrive at a second terrace garden that boasts a pool surrounded by grass and flanked by bathhouses on either side. A walled formal garden has manicured boxwood hedges, beds of hostas and pachysandra and an arbor at its center for flowering roses to climb. This garden transitions to broad terraced courtyards and lawns on the rear southern side of the residence. These open spaces with their stone balustrades, provide unobstructed views of the majesty of Rynwood’s marvelous design.
In addition to the two-bedroom Gatehouse and main residence, a three-bedroom cottage is attached to the home. A two-bedroom Cottage sits adjacent to the Greenhouse, and there is another two-bedroom Cottage that was originally designed for a caretaker. A detached wood framed maintenance garage has five-bays. The main residence has an elevator, central air conditioning and a generator. Landscape lighting highlights the home and lush gardens at night. Rynwood’s gracious beauty has been restored and repurposed under the stewardship of its current owners. Its uniqueness lies in the fabulous history and artistry of its past and the creative reinvention of its present. It is a quintessential and treasured Gold Coast estate of distinction.
Watch Property Video
RYNWOOD | NORTH SHORE SD #1 | MLS# 3149593 | $19,000,000
DEBRA QUINN PETKANAS Associate Real Estate Broker Global Real Estate Advisor Charter Member, Gold Circle of Excellence Glen Head/Old Brookville Office 240 Glen Head Road, Glen Head, NY c.516.359.3204 debrapetkanas@danielgale.com
A Masterpiece Collection Listing | Photography by Tyler Sands | danielgale.com This material is based upon information that we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes, including price, or withdrawal without notice. ©MMVIII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. SIR1