Luxury Real Estate

By Douglas E. Lierle

DENVER – Harman Hall, a historic property prominently located on the corner of St. Paul Street and East 4^th Avenue just steps from Cherry Creek North, presents a very rare opportunity for a visionary buyer to create a spectacular custom residence. Listed by Jim Rhye of Kentwood City Properties, the beautiful brick exterior of Harman Hall has been fully restored, and windows have been installed where originally located. Offered at $3 million, the buyer has the option of finishing the property with a huge yard or splitting off a north lot and selling it or developing the parcel.

“The old white stucco on the building has been removed and the exterior is now restored to its original beauty,” said Rhye. “The original tin cornice at the top has also been restored. The property is on four lots totaling 12,500 feet. The north lot is a total of 6,250 square feet. Harman Hall is also available finished for $7 million with an addition from the Semple Brown Design Group making the property 8,000 square feet above ground with a 10-car garage with lift in the basement. It’s truly a rare property that presents amazing opportunities.”

The history of Harman Hall is rich and colorful. Edwin and Louisa Harman incorporated their 320-acre farm as the town of Harman in 1886. Kidder & Humphreys Architects designed the original Town Hall which was built in 1891. After Denver annexed Harman in 1895, the building served as the Mayor’s office; the Police Magistrate’s office, courtroom and jail; the volunteer fire department’s headquarters; and a grand hall which could seat 300.

The award-winning Semple Brown Design firm was commissioned to develop an innovative design concept that demonstrates how beautifully the original Town Hall can be reshaped and expanded into a grand custom residence. The property may be gated as an option to provide a very private, European-style ambiance with a motor court, expansive outdoor terraces and gardens. The Harman Town Hall represents a rare opportunity for a unique client to realize the satisfaction of obtaining and customizing one of the most artistic properties in Denver through Kobey Construction, a general contractor who refuses to compromise. Kobey is known for its precision engineering, innovation, and fine details.

The location adjacent to Cherry Creek North is also highly prized. This 16-block shopping and dining destination showcases one of the nation’s finest collections of one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Cherry Creek North is considered by many to be Denver’s most desirable walkable neighborhood with more than 320 shops, salons, spas, coffee shops, and places to dine. Much of the synergy surrounds Fillmore Plaza, which is highlighted by numerous events, including Films on Fillmore during the summer, and the widely acclaimed Cherry Creek Arts Festival.

For more information on Harman Town Hall and to arrange a personal appointment, contact Jim Rhye with Kentwood City Properties at 720-436-9864, or contact Jim via email at jimrhye@aol.com. Additional information is available online at www.comassociates.com/ko.

Kentwood City Properties, formed in 1999, is the newest member of The Kentwood Companies, known nationally as Denver’s premier real estate company. The company’s street-front office at the corner of 17^th and Wynkoop streets, directly across the street from Union Station, is comprised of nearly 50of metro Denver’s most experienced real estate professionals serving residential buyers, sellers, and developers. For more information phone 303-820-CITY (2489), and visit online at www.Kentwoodcity.com.

The Kentwood Companies is comprised of Kentwood City Properties, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, and The Kentwood Company in the Denver Tech Center. View all Kentwood listings at www.DenverRealEstate.com.

By Melody Brown of Zephyr Real Estate

Former residence of prolific San Francisco artists, Frank Brown and William Campbell, is for sale.

San Francisco, CA – June 4, 2009 – More than a century after its humble beginnings, when cows grazed the hilltop separating NoeValley from Eureka Valley, this dignified Victorian home offers a colorful glimpse of neighborhood history unique to San Francisco.Now part of the Dolores Heights Special Use District, a designation established in 1980 to preserve the unique character defined by the historic architecture and dramatic topography of the area, 3733 21st Street occupies a doublewide city lot at the crest of the hilltop. Appreciated as much for its sunny microclimate as for its architectural diversity, Dolores Heights has emerged as a premiere neighborhood, positioned close to the heart of the city, yet easily missed by both tourists and natives.

Based on available records, the Victorian structure was apparently built around 1885. The home is noted in two local publications including Here and Now and Painted Ladies, San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians. While its dignified symmetrical façade with center entry and brick stair captures the hearts of any passer by, the story of its inhabitants is even more compelling.

In 1955 the home was purchased for $9,500 by Frank Brown and William Campbell, both artists and lifelong companions who probably met first at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland where Campbell was teaching after World War II. While it is known that Campbell had exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Art in the 1930s and 40s, their engagement in the art community likely ended in the mid 50s, yet they continued to work. Only after Brown’s death in 2000, was it learned just how dedicated these men were to their art.

When the current owners took occupancy of the home in 2000, along with the house, they inherited a lifetime collection of artifacts and personal belongings. Among these belongings, stored in furniture, closets and the home’s full-length walk-around attic, were the life’s work of the two artists. After years of careful excavation and cataloging, a collection of 793 paintings was recovered.

The collection documents a diversity of styles that reflected the decades of the painters’ lives. Frank Brown’s work includes illustrations, traditional still lifes, landscapes and figuratives, as well as cubist, abstract, fantasy and surreal. William Campbell’s work encompasses early muted-palette still lifes, vibrant Mexican landscapes, traditional figuratives and nudes, and surreal/abstract forms and renderings. After years of research, documentation and editing, the current owner is publishing a catalog in honor of the extraordinary body of work left behind by these talented individuals.

The same level of respect has been given to the structure as to the paintings. In 2001 a new roof was installed to protect the building and its contents followed by numerous upgrades including the addition of a driveway at the east side. A new concrete perimeter foundation was completed in 2005 along with other seismic upgrades.

At the interior, the spacious central entry hallway still functions as a gallery. Off the central hallway, the double parlor, illuminated by a square bay window, features a well-preserved carved marble fireplace surround, original six-panel doors and softwood flooring. Tall Victorian-era ceilings and substantial turned woodwork, suit the scale of the living spaces. Two gracious bedrooms connected by a walkthrough closet, common in that era, remain intact at the opposite side of the entry hall. In the back, the kitchen and dining spaces are now enhanced by a newly-created opening to the adjoining sunroom, providing a lovely vista of the expansive and lush backyard. The top floor living space, previously a painting studio, now provides gracious guest quarters with wonderful southern vistas.

Having housed this emerging collection of work for more than half a century, the property will be offered for sale by Zephyr Real Estate in mid-June. Though the personal belongings will be edited to accommodate visitors, excerpts from the Campbell & Brown collection of paintings will remain on display as a tribute to the wonderful heritage that makes this residence an important part of the Dolores Heights community.

For further information the sale of this remarkable property, please contact the listing agents, Harry Clark at harry@getreal-sf.com or Danny Fernandez at danny@getreal-sf.com, or visit their website, www.GetReal-SF.com.

About Zephyr Real Estate

Founded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco’s largest independent real estate firm with $1.1 billion in gross annual sales in 2008 and a current roster of more than 250 full-time agents. Zephyr has seven offices strategically located in San Francisco and serves a large customer base throughout the City. For information, visit www.zephyrsf.com.

By Melody Brown of Zephyr Real Estate

Former residence of prolific San Francisco artists, Frank Brown and William Campbell, is for sale.

San Francisco, CA – June 4, 2009 – More than a century after its humble beginnings, when cows grazed the hilltop separating NoeValley from Eureka Valley, this dignified Victorian home offers a colorful glimpse of neighborhood history unique to San Francisco.Now part of the Dolores Heights Special Use District, a designation established in 1980 to preserve the unique character defined by the historic architecture and dramatic topography of the area, 3733 21st Street occupies a doublewide city lot at the crest of the hilltop. Appreciated as much for its sunny microclimate as for its architectural diversity, Dolores Heights has emerged as a premiere neighborhood, positioned close to the heart of the city, yet easily missed by both tourists and natives.

Based on available records, the Victorian structure was apparently built around 1885. The home is noted in two local publications including Here and Now and Painted Ladies, San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians. While its dignified symmetrical façade with center entry and brick stair captures the hearts of any passer by, the story of its inhabitants is even more compelling.

In 1955 the home was purchased for $9,500 by Frank Brown and William Campbell, both artists and lifelong companions who probably met first at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland where Campbell was teaching after World War II. While it is known that Campbell had exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Art in the 1930s and 40s, their engagement in the art community likely ended in the mid 50s, yet they continued to work. Only after Brown’s death in 2000, was it learned just how dedicated these men were to their art.

When the current owners took occupancy of the home in 2000, along with the house, they inherited a lifetime collection of artifacts and personal belongings. Among these belongings, stored in furniture, closets and the home’s full-length walk-around attic, were the life’s work of the two artists. After years of careful excavation and cataloging, a collection of 793 paintings was recovered.

The collection documents a diversity of styles that reflected the decades of the painters’ lives. Frank Brown’s work includes illustrations, traditional still lifes, landscapes and figuratives, as well as cubist, abstract, fantasy and surreal. William Campbell’s work encompasses early muted-palette still lifes, vibrant Mexican landscapes, traditional figuratives and nudes, and surreal/abstract forms and renderings. After years of research, documentation and editing, the current owner is publishing a catalog in honor of the extraordinary body of work left behind by these talented individuals.

The same level of respect has been given to the structure as to the paintings. In 2001 a new roof was installed to protect the building and its contents followed by numerous upgrades including the addition of a driveway at the east side. A new concrete perimeter foundation was completed in 2005 along with other seismic upgrades.

At the interior, the spacious central entry hallway still functions as a gallery. Off the central hallway, the double parlor, illuminated by a square bay window, features a well-preserved carved marble fireplace surround, original six-panel doors and softwood flooring. Tall Victorian-era ceilings and substantial turned woodwork, suit the scale of the living spaces. Two gracious bedrooms connected by a walkthrough closet, common in that era, remain intact at the opposite side of the entry hall. In the back, the kitchen and dining spaces are now enhanced by a newly-created opening to the adjoining sunroom, providing a lovely vista of the expansive and lush backyard. The top floor living space, previously a painting studio, now provides gracious guest quarters with wonderful southern vistas.

Having housed this emerging collection of work for more than half a century, the property will be offered for sale by Zephyr Real Estate in mid-June. Though the personal belongings will be edited to accommodate visitors, excerpts from the Campbell & Brown collection of paintings will remain on display as a tribute to the wonderful heritage that makes this residence an important part of the Dolores Heights community.

For further information the sale of this remarkable property, please contact the listing agents, Harry Clark at harry@getreal-sf.com or Danny Fernandez at danny@getreal-sf.com, or visit their website, www.GetReal-SF.com.

About Zephyr Real Estate

Founded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco’s largest independent real estate firm with $1.1 billion in gross annual sales in 2008 and a current roster of more than 250 full-time agents. Zephyr has seven offices strategically located in San Francisco and serves a large customer base throughout the City. For information, visit www.zephyrsf.com.

By Doug E. Lierle

DENVER – Designed by renowned Denver architect Robert S. Roeschlaub in 1899, the historic Clayton Stevens Elementary School in Congress Park was beautifully renovated and converted in 1996 to modern residential lofts. Many of the building’s original design elements and original structure remain intact. Today, a rare opportunity is available to purchase a distinctively finished loft at this historic venue. Listed by Leilani Renteria of Kentwood City Properties, the one bedroom residence is available for just $239,500 with a “priceless” historic ambiance.

The historic loft offers 1,088 finished square feet, one bath, and a complete appliance package with refrigerator and built-in microwave. The owners will enjoy window coverings, extensive hardwood floors, a kitchen island, and one off-street parking space. The formal classroom is highlighted by natural light and an open floorplan that’s perfect for intimate gatherings in a carefree loft lifestyle.

Robert Roeschlaub is noted for designing Trinity Methodist Church at 18^th and Broadway, the Central City Opera House, East High School, plus Carnegie Library and University Hall at Denver University. He was a pioneer in the design of schools featuring abundant natural light and healthy air flow.

Located just two blocks from Denver Botanic Gardens, Stevens Elementary School boasts panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and Denver’s skyline from the upper floors. Voluminous 38-foot ceilings and column-free spans of 55 feet characterize the units on the top floors. The conversion of classrooms as open lofts on the lower level reflects the thematic of the design intervention.

Niccolo Casewit was consulting architect to Charles Nash, the school’s developer and renovator. Casewit was retained to customize the interior design of the lofts and obtained Landmark Preservation permit approvals from the City of Denver.

For more information on this historic loft in the landmark Clayton Stevens Elementary School, contact Leilani Renteria at 303-908-9207 or via email at leilani@kentwoodcity.com. The loft is located at 1140 Columbine Street, No. 104.

Kentwood City Properties, formed in 1999, is the newest member of The Kentwood Companies, known nationally as Denver’s premier real estate company. The company’s street-front office at the corner of 17^th and Wynkoop streets, directly across the street from Union Station, is comprised of nearly 50 of metro Denver’s most experienced real estate professionals serving residential buyers, sellers, and developers. For more information phone 303-820-CITY (2489), and visit online at www.Kentwoodcity.com.

The Kentwood Companies is comprised of Kentwood City Properties, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, and The Kentwood Company in the Denver Tech Center. View all Kentwood listings at www.DenverRealEstate.com.

By Jock Langley of Abercromby's Real Estate

Australian Developer and Fund Manager Ashington has announced it will auction the historic Stables building in Malvern, Victoria – Australia, via a six week campaign to be managed by Abercromby’s Real Estate in Armadale. Located within the grounds of the Stonington Mansion, one of Australia’s finest historic homes, the rare and unique property is a first time offering as a standalone residence.

The Stables is located in Somers Avenue, Malvern adjacent to the Stonington Mansion, which reportedly sold for more than $18 million to art dealer Rob Menzies about 12 months ago.

The property is part of a 1.7 hectare site acquired by Ashington in June, 2008 and forms part of the site’s original three buildings, which include the historic Stonington Mansion as well as the Gatehouse.

The Stables building is located on 2046 square metres of land with 540m2 of internal space over two levels. It offers a “blank canvas” with the unique chance to create a contemporary home with huge accompanying gardens.

Abercromby’s Real Estate Director Jock Langley said that with the top end of the market still quite active in the Stonnington Region, he expects a result that will reflect the unique nature of the property.

According to Langley, property sales in the area of Malvern have seen moderate growth over the past year despite some turbulent market conditions and he expects to see more than $4 million for the Stables at auction.

Langley added that the New Year has seen a surge in property enquiry from overseas due to the weakening Australian dollar, as well as strong domestic enquiry due to the easing of interest rates.

“This may well be the stimulus for property enthusiasts both locally and from abroad,” he said.

Ashington Executive Director Craig Minahan said that the Stables property represented a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a part of history. “The possibilities that accompany this property are endless and we are expecting it to be hotly contested,” he said, adding that early enquiries have even filtered through from expats offshore.

Arranged around a central courtyard of dramatic dimensions, the Stables currently features two separate wings as well as expansive upstairs proportions, living and entertaining areas.

The building itself exemplifies Victorian architecture with expansive central courtyard and features coachwork brickwork and a bluestone foundation.

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

Buying your second or third homes are not just happening in the Caribbean. We have now discovered that many of our clients are buying in Italy, too.

Timbers Resorts, a leader in the emerging category of luxury, boutique resorts are completing the final work on beautifully restored and reconstructed farmhouse villas on 4,200 acres in the Tuscan region of Italy near Siena. For those who are wanting to enjoy the Tuscan lifestyle, Castello di Casole is a five-star luxury resort and residence club. These villas are being painstakingly restored and reconstructed to their original charm and further enhanced with modern amenities.

The Castello di Casole residences are organized around a series of glass-tiled, infinity-edge pools and hand-set stone patios complete with wood-burning ovens. Outside and in, one can trace the centuries across the hand-set loggias, terracotta vaulted ceilings and attention to exacting detail which makes each villa an individual expression of art and architecture. The farmhouse villas range from 3 to 5 bedrooms and include a private infinity-edged pool, with 4,000 to 7,000 square feet of living space. Furnishings are a collection of the finest interior appointments from local artisans and antiques gathered from throughout the region.

Located within easy access to Siena and Florence, this historic estate is also home to the 18th century Castello, opening in spring of 2010 as an intimate 41-suite, plus luxurious penthouse, hotel. Formal and casual dining venues, terraces, pools, artisan shops and a world-class spa and fitness center will be available for an Owner’s enjoyment

Some Of The Features and Benefits:

• Traditional Tuscan architecture and interiors
• Concierge team
• Airport transfers, private chefs and dining upon request
• Language and cooking classes
• Daily housekeeping
• Pre-arrival Grocery
• Extensive private trail system
• Guided regional day trips
• Grape and Olive harvesting
  

The pricing for fractional ownership starts at just over $300,000 for a 1/12 deeded interest. Your fractional purchase entitles you to three planned vacation weeks each year, plus usage as residences are available, and short notice vacation weeks. There are also whole ownerships available. Please contact me for further details. If you have an interest in owning a piece of Tuscany, this is a project you will want to seriously consider. Until next time…your lifestyle detective is on duty…

By Kimberly Fulwyler

My favorite kind of home is one that has a little bit of history behind it. There is nothing like walking into your home and thinking about the life it had before you. In my opinion a historical home has a story to tell that is multi-faceted and intriguing in a way that new homes with blank slates can’t quite compete with.

If you are currently looking for such a home, my wonderful members Piping Rock Associates have a “new” listing for sale in Old Westbury, New York that fits the bill. This 12,000-square-foot historical home, once owned by steel magnate Henry Phipps, was built in 1930 and was designed by the Manhattan architectural firm of Delano & Aldrich. See below for the picture and description of this one-of-a-kind home.

MAGNIFICENT DELANO & ALDRICH brick manor on 20 acres of zoned Old Westbury. This architectural gem boasts 16-foot ceilings, elaborate moldings, parquet floors and carved mantles. There is also a charming paneled library with French doors that lead to a screened pavilion porch.

The grand master bedroom includes a fireplace overlooking the pool and pool house. Upstairs includes 6 bedrooms with 4 fireplaces and 4 baths plus servants quarters. There is also a 4-car garage with an apartment, and caretaker’s house. Last but not least, the beautiful landscaping includes a woodland garden with a waterfall.


Editor’s Note:
Kimberly Fulwyler is an Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com, so she provides customer service and marketing materials to a variety of LuxuryRealEstate.com members. You can always find excellent properties like this one on LuxuryRealEstate.com in the Luxury Property Search section. By the way, many of our regular bloggers are away this week attending the 6^th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat in San Diego. I’m sure they’ll have great stories to share when they return.