232 East 61st St

TREADWELL FARMS HISTORIC DISTRICT
Designated in 1967, Treadwell Farm Historic District is one of New Yorks oldest historic districts, named for the Treadwell family who purchased the undeveloped land in 1815. The neighborhood is positioned on East 61st and East 62nd Streets between Second and Third Avenues, composed mainly of four or five story single-family townhouses built from 1868 to 1876.

HOME AND HEARTH
This particular house exudes grace and comfort in its perfectly proportioned rooms and outdoor space, with the building bathed in sunlight caused by the mid-block height restriction in Treadwell Farms Historic District. Even with 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, and staff suite with a separate entry, the overall impression of this house definitely exceeds the sum of the parts.

From the high-gated forecourt, enter the first of two garden level entries, stepping into a spacious front hall with a large coat closet and powder room. The second entry leads to a private staff suite with full bath. At the end of the entry hall an elegant stair curves upward to the parlour floor while two steps lead down to a media room. The media room has a large window looking onto the L-shaped garden, a wood-burning fireplace, and a wet bar. In the garden level extension, a conveniently placed rear stair leads to the kitchen above for easy access when dining outside. Three doors in the extension open onto a private high-walled rear garden.

The elegant parlour floor landing with seating alcove carries light from one end of the floor to the other. With 12 3 ceilings, the living room features three tall windows, a curved ceiling, and a wood-burning fireplace. In the rear, a formal dining room with wood-burning fireplace and huge window overlooks the garden. In the large extension, a solarium kitchen features a hooded Wolf range, marble countertops, ample room for an eat-in table, and a wall of glass facing east which captures the sunrise.

The third floor master bedroom suite has a large dressing room and office in the front with extensive custom mahogany millwork. With twin sinks, steam shower, and a large bathtub, His bath has two doors for entry via the dressing room or bedroom on the opposite end. The master bedroom features a wood-burning fireplace, a small balcony overlooking the garden and in the windowed extension, a second dressing room and Her white marble full bath.

Two bedrooms joined by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom complete the fourth floor, each with a wood-burning fireplace. The rear extension becomes a large terrace with views of the coveted Treadwell Farms gardens and tremendous southern light. The fifth floor has two bedrooms, two full baths, and an exercise room. The front bedroom includes an en-suite bath and bright light cascading in over the tops of the lower houses across the street. The rear bedroom is a unique duplex with an upper living space on the rooftop level, accessibly only from this bedroom. There is a second full bath off the corridor and in the southern end of this floor, flooded with light, a large, sun-flooded exercise room with views of the rear garden. The roof garden is fitted with Brazilian Ipe-wood decking.

ARCHITECTURE & INFLUENCE
Built in 1868 for builders J. & G. Ruddell at estimated cost of $15,000 each, architect James Y. Pirrson created Numbers 232 through 240, with 232 East 61st Street as the gold standard for the row, especially as it was later expanded by one-and-a-half floors and enhanced interior finishes.