It Isn't the Size of the House

This house in Upper Brookville might beg to differ. Listed at 12 million dollars and boasting 11,000 square feet, this house is a pastiche of architecture styles: Mediterranean, Georgian, Italiante-- you get your money's worth in the finish work alone. Handcrafted clay tile roof, nine marble bathrooms, marble tiled basement, sauna, steamroom-- you get the idea. It's a showpiece for sure.
Last night James and I attended a magazine launch/open house at this residence hosted by Shawn Elliott Real Estate. We were not alone. 300 people turned out to check out the Gatsby-eque scene, replete with models and musicians. It was the perfect setting for people-watching of both those who attended and those hired for ambience. My favorite staging was the couple in the hot tub, who sat in the sweltering water for four hours. Newsday covered the event-- check out their video report featuring our very own James Bouler playing the reporter in a round of Pac-man. (and check out the picture of the wallpaper in the 'game' room-- not an option for your foyer, modernemama!)

I know there is a market for this type of home, and certainly the opulence was staggering. But for me, the house became less of a home in its quest for luxury. Few spots invited me to sit and stay. In fact the best spot in the house had to be the third story observatory, which overlooked the five acres of beautiful gardens and trees. Even at night, it was all about the view, which was the true luxury.