There’s a 13-acre equestrian paradise on the Ridgefield/South Salem border that not only caters to those with a love of horses but those with a love of gracious living, all centering around a meticulously updated farmhouse.
Banish any thoughts of rustic living at Orchard Hill Farm, though.
The property, now on the market, is the quintessential gentleman’s farm, complete with a respectful nod to an earlier era while fully integrating most every modern convenience.
Built by George Doubleday, who chaired the industrial manufacturer Ingersoll Rand, as a wedding gift for his son, Orchard Hill Farm carries its own bit of sporting history. Harold “Pinky” Gillum, who went on to acclaim for developing a bamboo fly-rod, was one of the crew members on the farmhouse back in 1937. Today, his fishing rods remain prized among collectors.
Over the years, Orchard Hill has seen its share of renovations. Among them was the 2012 addition of a stunning glass conservatory, a year-round “retreat at home” that opens to a bluestone patio and offers sweeping views of the property.
Among the farm’s amenities are a stone guest cottage, organic gardens, a saltwater pool and spa, an outdoor kitchen, a six-car heated garage, a horse barn, a putting green and, adding a most bucolic touch, an apple orchard.
Inside, the main floor of the six-bedroom, seven-bath (five full, two half) single-family home offers a formal foyer with high ceilings, custom millwork and fireplaces throughout.
The heart of the 7,500-square-foot home, though, is the spectacular kitchen, a tour-de-force space completely redesigned in 2015 by noted New Classicist architect Dinyar Wadia. It’s filled not only with state-of-the-art appliances but also encompasses a family room, charming breakfast nook and butler’s and food pantries.
The master suite continues the atmosphere of understated elegance and has been likened to an oasis of luxury complete with master bath and windows on three exposures.
Again anticipating a modern family’s needs, the house — which is situated in the Ridgefield school district — also features a welcoming play area, a first-floor mudroom and a porte-cochère.
For the equestrians, there is no shortage of amenities, including a nine-stall barn with a hayloft, a wash stall, a heated lounge, a tack room, five paddocks and a Lawton Adams riding ring.
The property, the listing agents note, would serve as a stunning Northeastern base for equestrians who otherwise live in Wellington, Florida — or the garage and barn facilities could just as easily adjust to accommodate the needs of a serious automobile collector.
Whatever your fancy, the agents say, Orchard Hill Farm offers the rare combination of premium equestrian facilities with an expansive and warm home atmosphere in which most every desire seems to have been addressed.
Orchard Hill Farm is exclusively represented by William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty’s Ridgefield Brokerage. For more, contact listing agents Joanna Rizoulis and Amy Smith-Sroka at 914-921-9501.
— Mary Shustack
