Wednesday, October 28, 2009
When 'Haut Bois' Was For Sale
A brochure advertising 'Haut Bois', the Walter Effingham Maynard estate designed by Ogden Codman Jr. c. 1916 in Brookville. Maynard was a Francophile and had known Codman for some time, the two of them collaborating to create the house. Jacques Greber designed the garden, reflecting pool and fountain. Click HERE to see 'Haut Bois' on google earth.
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I'd like to think that this charming house, despite it's far too formal and fussy furniture, remains standing and in marvelous condition. Tell me Zach that this one is 'safe?'
Thanks, Robert
It is indeed a private residence today.
Looking at the house on Bingmaps.com bird's eye view, it would appear that the house has been rehabilitated after a period of shabbiness....unfortunately, the grounds are much reduced, and the restoration of the gardens has fussed them up. The old Diana Vreeland line "Elegance is refusal", just doesn't seem to have had much currency in the last gilded decade...But, nevertheless, what a controlled, elegant design...
My bad. I was being a bit churlish. Actually it is clear that the central tapis vert of the main garden and its pool were restored to the original design....
is it that yellow one just below 4th st near that big industrial building?
I have seen this house in person and it is very well done/restored. It has lanterns that have real flames burning inside them on the gates leading up to the house. House is very tall.
Zach,
I am pretty sure this one was owned by famous Opera singer Patrice Munsell and her Husband, (Robert?) Schuller..in the 60's to early seventies.Lots of kids running around that house then.
Adam
My family owned the gardener's cottage to this estate. The barn and some garages, the tennis court, and the greenhouse were part of our property. We lived in the gardener's cottage from around 1963 until around 1981. Patrice Munsell, her husband Robert Schuler and their children did live in the main house in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, a family named Maddocks lived in the main house. I used to babysit for the Maddocks family when I was in high school. When Patrice Munsell and the Maddocks lived in the main house, the main house was pink. I think it had gray shutters.
yes, it was Munsells, etc...as i was friends with the Tildens, and they were friends with Munsell, etc. She tells stories of the time when they had pool parties [that pool is too small for today's standards]...house is kept to it's true form, but the gardens are too self conscious even for the arch gardens that has always been there. over done in my opinion....there is not nough sprawling lawn for contemplation, etc. even though there is enough land for such.
My boss owns this home. Its a diamond.
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