This is the Ellen Biddle Shipman Residence located at 21 Beekman Place in New York City, NY. Ellen wasย one of the most prominent landscape architects of her time and her husband was a playwright. They purchased the home in 1919 and then spent 7 years renovating it. They sold it in the 1940’s and after changing hands a few times, it was purchased in 2001 by Florida businessman William Rupp for $8.8 million.ย Rupp installed monogrammed gates and feuded with his neighbors, eventually constructing a two-story-tall “spite wall” to block their views of the East River. Those offenses and the offenses of the previous owners were corrected by the house’s current owner, Peter Novello, who bought it in 2008 for $10.6 million and restored it to a state largely similar to Shipman’s original renovation. He recently re-listed it forย $48,500,000. It features approximately 7,226 square feet of living space spread over 6 floors with 6 bedrooms, and 5.5 bathrooms. The 1st floor (ground) features a front hall with curved staircase and wood burning fireplace, elevator leading to all floors, formal dining room with antique oak flooring and a gourmet kitchen with Jerusalem limestone flooring. The 2nd floor features a library with antique pine paneling with wood burning fireplace and a formal living room with 3 huge picturesque windows and fireplace. The 3rd floor features the master suite, a conservatory and a landscaped terrace. The 4th and 5th floors each boast two bedrooms suites. The basement features a wine cellar and a gym. There is also a rooftop garden.
