This unparalleled estate represents a pinnacle of the notion of home: a European-inspired manor, built in 1900 and spanning some 15,900 square feet, that stands sentinel over nearly 270 acres of sylvan land that unfurls along the border of Connecticut and New York.
In the northern reaches of Stamford, Connecticut, the unparalleled estate known as Hillandale stands sentinel over more than 268 acres of sylvan land that unfurls along the border of Connecticut and New York. This European-inspired manor, built in 1900 and spanning more than 15,900 square feet, was once owned by the Sulzbergers, a prominent media family that has owned The New York Times since 1896. The compound encompasses formal gardens, a private lake, and four staff or guest residences in addition to the main house.
Stamford, Connecticut | Leslie McElwreath, Joseph Barbieri | Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage
Lovingly maintained and masterfully rejuvenated and expanded over the decades, the manor house is grand in scale, boasting exquisite formal rooms. The pièce de résistance is the spectacular mosaic-clad natatorium, which houses an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool and spa. Among the eight bedrooms and 10 baths is a majestic owner’s suite featuring antique French paneling, a marble fireplace, two dressing rooms, two lavish baths, and a private balcony overlooking the grounds and the lake.
The living room, with its ornate millwork and marble fireplace, brings to mind a French salon. The dining room features an eye-catching tracery ceiling and hand-carved antique English pine paneling. The kitchen will impress both cooks and gourmands with its Calacatta countertops; generous island; and appliances from Miele, Bosch, Viking, Sub-Zero, Dacor, and Thermador. An adjoining breakfast and family room has a French limestone fireplace, and the butler’s pantry offers an additional refrigerator, a dumbwaiter, and wine storage. The library has a fireplace, a bay window, and paneling dating to the 1750s, while the foyer showcases a Tiffany stained-glass accent. A lounge with a bar also has a stately stone fireplace as well as a coffered ceiling and a retractable projector screen.
Contemporary comforts include two elevators, a security system, 11 fireplaces, and a generator. A handsome slate-tiled roof, a façade of stalwart granite, and ornate iron entry gates exemplify the undeniable Old World classicism and convey the enduring nature of the estate. An attached two-car garage and a detached four-car garage with an apartment above complete the estate.
The delights continue outdoors, from a terrace overlooking five-acre Lake Susan and formal gardens that include a hedge maze and parterres to a greenhouse, a cutting garden, a stone chapel garden folly, and a fenced vegetable garden with a peafowl coop. Entertainment abounds thanks to a swimming pool with a pool house, a lighted Australian-style-surface tennis court, and an outdoor chess set. In addition to woodland trails, more than five miles of private roads wind through the property, affording easy access to four additional residences for guests and/or staff on the property.
Much like the historic European estates after which it was modeled, Hillandale surpasses the mere notion of “home.” Whether destined to continue its legacy as a peaceful private hideaway with an impressive pedigree, a nexus for fabulous festive fêtes, or a generational retreat, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed.
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