If you have ever been tempted to peek behind that stately brick wall, or sneak down that private lane to glimpse the private sanctuaries that lay tucked away in Rye, now’s your chance!
By Kathleen Durkee
{gallery}housetour5.2.14{/gallery}
If you have ever been tempted to peek behind that stately brick wall, or sneak down that private lane to glimpse the private sanctuaries that lay tucked away in Rye, now’s your chance! You are cordially invited into five of Rye’s most enchanting properties for the 32nd bi-annual Rye House Tour, Friday, May 16 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and enjoy a waterfront luncheon and boutique at Manursing Island Club.
This year’s event, co-chaired by Wendy Nagle, Alicia Baldwin, and Courtney Bennett, is on par to be one of the best in recent memory, not only because of the spectacular homes featured — one of which was recently featured in House Beautiful — but also because the selected homes are convenient to one another making touring a breeze.
Guests can begin their day in Indian Village and visit two of the neighborhood’s most elegant gems. Though the family of the first lives abroad much of the year, they eagerly return to Rye in the summers to enjoy their slice of “Americana”. The home has been expertly renovated and redesigned since it was last on the house tour in the 1990s.
Visitors will be struck by the symphony of vibrant color and sleek style that has been updated to transform this home into a unique amalgamation of the classic and contemporary. When visiting this home there is a feeling of being on vacation at a luxurious resort, with its sumptuous and inviting comforts, and its indoor/outdoor style of living.
Visitors will be tempted to dally, but if they take a quick walk around the corner to the Brick Tapestry home, they will be glad they did. Upon entering this extraordinary walled property, guests will immediately appreciate the beauty and privacy of this family compound. It will be abundantly clear to tourgoers that an active family enjoys living there, and uses the property to its fullest extent. Glorious landscaping surrounds the grassy sports field, which doubles as a hockey rink each winter. The youthful air continues inside the home where a whimsical and colorful interior abounds with vibrant artwork and a fresh take on traditional style.
On Milton Point, leave your car at Wainwright House and hop on one of the continuously running shuttles that will ferry you between a home on Stuyvesant Avenue and one on Pine Island.
At the Stuyvesant home, guests will not only admire the sleekly renovated and classically modern home, but also fall in love with the beautiful backyard. Uniquely large by Rye standards, the backyard includes multiple flagstone terraces and also boasts an outdoor fireplace, lovely pool area, and a stylish pool house filled with all of the latest amenities. Guests may find it difficult to transition from this poolside paradise, and will undoubtedly wish to linger here the rest of the afternoon, but they would be remiss in not visiting the spectacular waterfront home.
Enjoying some of the finest coastal views in all of Rye, visitors might imagine commuting to work by motorboat each day as the owner does. The openness and stunning water views captured in each room of this lovely home provide its design inspiration, and guests would be wise to visit the widow’s walk on the third floor to take in the magnificent views of Playland and the sparkling waters of Long Island Sound.
After a seaside lunch and a little shopping at the club, visitors can head out to Manursing Island to visit the last home. Recently renovated from top to bottom, the home’s tranquil colors and modern design elements set a serene tone for this island retreat, and provide a luxurious backdrop for the couple’s prized artwork and waterfront views. The owner, an interior designer with 914 Interiors, has skillfully combined both formal and informal design elements to create a stylishly elegant yet comfortable home for her family and friends to enjoy.
For further details and to purchase tickets for the House Tour, visit ryehousetour.com. Tickets can be purchased online through the website via PayPal, and since Rye High is “going green” your PayPal receipt is your ticket! The proceeds from the Rye House Tour help to fund innovative academic programs, classroom enhancements, technology advancements, and faculty professional development. Spend a lovely day with your friends exploring some of Rye’s private treasures, while supporting Rye High School.
Rye native Wendy Nagle, whose mother Peggy Nelson ran the tour some 30 years ago, sums it up perfectly, “Everyone looks forward to and enjoys supporting this enduring Rye tradition.”
