A 19th-Century Home on a 70-Foot Bluff in Montauk Can Be Yours for $18 Million
The Hamptons often makes headlines for its splashy, brand-new mansions with Himalayan salt rooms and bowling alleys in the basements, but some of the South Fork’s most impressive and coveted properties are much simpler, more free-spirited, and happily rooted in the past. The latter group includes Stone House in Montauk, a renovated 19th-century residence perched on a craggy cliff and recently listed for $18 million by Kyle Rosko and Marcy Braun of Douglas Elliman.
Stone House, located off of Old Montauk Highway, dates back to the early 19th century, when it was used as a storage building for the Montauk Point Lighthouse. It was officially converted into a private residence in 1912, and over the years it has drawn many famous faces; in the 1960s and 1970s, it hosted a slew of celebrities such as Andy Warhol, John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Mick and Bianca Jagger, and Truman Capote, among others.
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The lore doesn’t end there. As the stories go, Stone House has attracted several prospective A-list buyers over the years, including Woody Allen and Richard Gere, though neither purchased the historic home. While this is only hearsay, it’s safe to say that Stone House is one of a kind.
The notable home, which looks plucked from the coast of Ireland, was purchased in 1987 by interior designer Tony Ingrao, co-founder of global design firm Ingrao Inc. Ingrao fully restored and renovated the home but had to rebuild it after a fire devastated the property in 1991, according to the New York Times. The acclaimed designer outfitted the re-built home, featured in the May 1995 issue of Architectural Digest, with timeless interiors and furnishings that paid homage to the original structure. The current owner, Linda Ehrenwald, purchased the home in 1998 with her late husband, diamond expert Jerry Ehrenwald.
The residence represents an amalgamation of architectural styles and design elements, like Colonial and Arts and Crafts architecture, dictated by rough-hewn timber ceiling beams, dormer-style windows, leaded glass windows, hand-painted cabinetry, and other handcrafted details. Still, Stone House certainly lives up to its name, with stone floors and stone walls. The home spans more than 4,000 square feet and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and one powder room across two stories. As you walk through, each room feels like a new adventure; no two rooms are alike.
The home is perched on a 70-foot-high bluff that is protected by a rock revetment to protect the shoreline from coastal erosion. There is more than 178 feet of beach and ocean frontage, which can be accessed via a rambling wooden staircase.
While many elements of the original structure have been maintained or recreated, there is no shortage of modern conveniences. At first glance, the kitchen might look plucked from the 19th century, but there are marble countertops and stainless steel appliances that bring it up to date. There’s also a handy nearby powder room, which is decked out with a vintage toilet, sink, and vanity. Common spaces include a living room, a formal dining room, and, in another nod to contemporary lifestyles, a media room. Upstairs is where you’ll find the primary suite, with 14-foot-high vaulted ceilings, a private bathroom, and a balcony. Another notable feature is the antique wooden staircase that leads from the media room to one of the guest bedrooms for added privacy.
The property also includes a 600-square-foot detached loft space with a bedroom and a porch; a pond-shaped saltwater pool; a 186-square-foot pool house with an outdoor shower; an expansive lawn along with gardens sprinkled throughout.
Click here for more photos of the historic Montauk home.
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