Speaking of tea, I just found a home that actually has a tea house!  As I began daydreaming about hosting Mighty Leaf tea parties (with scones and clotted cream, of course) in this English manor’s tea house, I read more about the property and discovered there are even more things about it that I love.

First, it’s in my hometown, Summit, New Jersey.  Allow me to wax poetic about this perfect town:  It is the best place in the world to raise children, with some of the highest-ranking public schools in the country (read: Ivy League breeding grounds), a non-existent crime rate, a warm sense of community and a picturesque downtown with boutique shops and fine restaurants (chains are discouraged).  Perhaps more importantly, Summit is close to New York City - just a comfortable 40-minute train ride to Midtown Manhattan - and all its cultural offerings.  My childhood friends and I are always amazed at how lucky we were to grow up there - and many of us plan to move back someday with our own children.

…But back to the house.  It was built in 1930 by the original owner, C. Henry Jagels, as a bridal gift to his daughter.  He wanted it to be a beautiful, secluded haven for her - and he certainly succeeded.  Gorgeous formal gardens with patterned brick paths lead up to the home - a great space for quiet contemplation or lively outdoor fêtes. It’s the kind of picturesque backyard in which one might have a wedding - following the bridal shower in the tea house, as I like to imagine.

The inside of the home is also full of lovely surprises - such as the living room with antique pipe organ, or the exceptionally designed cook’s kitchen with painted hardwood floors, Dutch tile wall, granite counters and butler’s pantry.  The bright and spacious master bedroom suite has vaulted ceilings, a fireplace and French doors that lead out to a mahogany deck overlooking the gardens.  And of course, what luxury home would be complete without a temperature-controlled wine room (perfect for all those wine-tasting parties, as I like to imagine)?

This one-of-a-kind manor is listed with Lois Schneider Realtor.  Read more about it here - and for more photography, click here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Hot Luxury Markets/Properties, Luxury Lifestyles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.