451 Claremont Rd, Bernardsville, NJ 07924

Originally part of the celebrated Sunset House estate, this elegant stucco home was built in 1939 to house staff members for the main home. An extensive renovation, completed in 1985, and more recent renovations in 1992 and 2008 have created a warm, welcoming feeling to this gracious French-inspired residence, which is featured in New Jersey Country Houses, The Somerset Hills, Vol. II by Jack Turpin. Approached by a private curving drive, the turreted residence is sited on 5.83± open and wooded acreage with a greenhouse/studio. The beautifully landscaped setting includes a formal courtyard designed by landscape architect Nelva Weber, perennial gardens, stone walls, decorative fencing and bluestone terraces. The surrounding woodlands and fencing create wonderful privacy for the residence. Original details that would be difficult to re-create today abound in this sophisticated home. The fireplaces feature a French-style carved wood mantelpiece in the living room; a second mantle displays imported tiles. Turrets create a rounded wall in the dining room and an octagonal space in the kitchen dining area. Built-ins, window seats, and a mural are among the stylish amenities dating to the home's earlier reconstruction. The welcoming entry foyer is graced with a Mexican tile floor, a circular staircase and an antique wooden front door taken from an antebellum South Carolina plantation house. This foyer steps down into the large and sunny living room, which is anchored by an intricately carved wood mantle over the fireplace, inlaid mahogany floors, built-ins and window seats. The dining room features a mural of the garden and French doors that open to a secret garden. The family room/library features a fireplace with imported tiles, together with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and cabinets. Another door opens onto a bluestone terrace. The solid cherry floors lend both rooms warmth and charm. The bright and airy gourmet kitchen, completely renovated and enlarged in 2008, features a center island, granite countertops, decorative tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, a separate panty and hardwood flooring throughout the kitchen. A sunny octagonal breakfast room was added to the original home and is set under a soaring turreted ceiling. The kitchen entry door opens onto a bluestone terrace for outdoor dining and entertaining. Privately located at the end of a hallway on the first floor is a master bedroom suite, added in 1993. The bedroom has custom carpeting, deep crown moldings, a tray ceiling and an adjoining full bath. There is a second master suite upstairs with a dressing room and full bath with a jetted tub. The second floor also includes three more bedrooms and two full baths, one en suite. The upstairs hallway has been converted into a small and cozy library space with a window seat. Designed to reflect the architecture of the main house is an outdoor greenhouse/studio featuring a potting room, a second room for a workshop or studio, and a glass-roofed greenhouse ideal for the gardener. The entire greenhouse structure is built on a below-ground foundation with a partial basement.