Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Carroll Alker Estate

 The Carroll B. Alker estate designed by Bradley Delehanty c. 1930 in Brookville.  Alker, a stock broker and yachtsman, was a member of the firms of Harris, Winthrop & Co., Toerge & Schiffer and later Wellington & Co.  In 1924 he built 'Ca Va' in Brookville following his marriage to Katherine Ingalls.  The two were divorced in April 1928 and Alker remarried that June.  He then went on to construct this residence and at some point between 1930 and his death in 1946 he moved to a c. 1923 residence on Ryefield Road in Locust Valley.  The Delehanty designed Alker residence along with 2.3 acres is currently for sale for $7,495,000, click HERE to see the listing via Daniel Gale Sotheby's.  Click HERE to see the Alker estate on google earth and HERE on bing.


MLS listing photos via Daniel Gale Sotheby's.

12 comments:

The Ancient said...

It's hard to understand why someone would do that to the interior on purpose.

The Devoted Classicist said...

Originally a handsome house, now a showcase of misguided interior renovation billed as historic restoration. Fortunately, a lot of great features remain.

The Down East Dilettante said...

I find this one a bit 'off' from Delahanty's usually sure hand with proportion and massing (the entrance front is too symmetrical for its style, and the wings overwhelm the main block; the window spacing on the garden front is off. However, The place is beautifully detailed---but OMG, those interiors---one does see beautiful detail and fine proportions under that blinding decor, which hovers between palace in Dubai and casino in Las Vegas, with a soupcon of 'Real Housewives' thrown in for good measure.

A sobering reminder that what pleases me is not necessarily what pleases someone else.

Kellsboro Jack said...

Rather heavy handed with the French influenced interior. Some really went to town there with the drippings of gilt this and that.

Images also seen here:
http://www.seetheproperty.com//99605

archibuff said...

Loads of great brick details and nice scale make this a charming house overall. Interiors still have plenty going for them and offer great potential. Unfortunately has lost a great deal of its surrounding landscape and at one time had two very attractive gatehouse structures now separately owned.

l'il gay boy said...

Blame the decor on the current owners -- I recall the last time it was up for sale the photos showed much more original detail, to the opint where it was obvious some restoration was in order.

As for the scale, it seem much more well-proportioned in person; these photos just seem to be off.

Zach L. said...

Off topic...but if anyone has seen the History Channel's series entitled The Men Who Built America...you'll notice scenes where they show an elderly J.D. Rockefeller riding in an open air automobile (going back and forth down the same road). The road is actually the driveway to Deramore, the Edgar Bateson estate in Cold Spring Harbor:

http://www.oldlongisland.com/2009/04/deramore.html

Kellsboro Jack said...

Zach, just curious but what was the connection of Rockefeller to Bateson or his estate of Deramore?

To go off topic further, we lamented how the soon to be released remake of The Great Gatsby was filmed entirely in Australia. You can add to that another oddity with the soon to be released film ... "Hyde Park on Hudson" featuring FDR and the Royal Family visiting Roosevelt's Springwood. The movie was entirely filmed in England and not on the Hudson ;>

Zach L. said...

Perhaps I should have noted that it is the actor portraying the elderly Rockefeller in the show that is shown. There is no relation other than a scene for the series was shot in the driveway.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear God.
It makes me
ashamed" to be a decorator!

"Down East" described the decor perfectly!
I have never seen any of the "wives of...."

I know that shoe fit!

All those can lights......that is the least of it!

Lord have mercy!!!

Anonymous said...

At least it's not torn down! This is such a lovely house- also lovely is Charlton Hall next door. At least it was next door when they were built :)
Taxes in this area are a ma zing! The taxes on this house would be less than half in Greenwich.

Anonymous said...

"At least it's not torn down!" yes with all the criticism it seems we tend to forget to appreciate the survivors. It is lovely