If anyone wished to trace the arc of New York society, they could do so by visiting the penthouse at 1 Sutton Place South. The Rosario Candela-designed cooperative, one of the city’s most exclusive, was commissioned by the Phipps family, the patriarch of which was a friend of Andrew Carnegie. The finished product was topped with a penthouse built for Amy Phipps, who would marry British politician Frederick Guest.
Mrs. Phipps’ son, polo star and descendant of the Duke of Marlborough Spencer-Church family Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, would later live in the penthouse with his wife, American socialite and style icon C.Z. Guest. The couple wed at the Havana home of Ernest Hemingway, who was the best man, and their social circle included Cecil Beaton, Truman Capote (who considered Mrs. Guest one of his “swans”), the Maharaja of Jaipur, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Diana Vreeland, and Babe Paley and William S. Paley. Moreover, Mrs. Guest had her portrait painted by Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dali.
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The penthouse would seem designed for art lovers - its most recent owners, hedge funder Richard Perry and his wife, fashion designer Lisa Perry, renovated the penthouse to accommodate their art collection. A source told Fortune magazine, “When you go to their house, they give you an art catalog and literally take you on a tour,” but a visit is not required to see the couple’s most famous piece: They purchased a green diamond sculpture by Jeff Koons in 2005, and installed it on their terrace in 2007, much to the chagrin of some neighbors.
The Perrys have listed the penthouse for $45 million - more than four times the price it is said they paid when they purchased it from philanthropist Janet Annenberg Hooker in 2000 - and will be holding onto a 12th-floor unit they also own in the building. It does not appear that any of the couple’s art collection will be included in the sale, but the penthouse is a masterpiece in and of itself.
The Perrys have listed the penthouse for $45 million - more than four times the price it is said they paid when they purchased it from philanthropist Janet Annenberg Hooker in 2000 - and will be holding onto a 12th-floor unit they also own in the building. It does not appear that any of the couple’s art collection will be included in the sale, but the penthouse is a masterpiece in and of itself.
Floor plan via Sotheby's International Realty
The penthouse has been updated with clean lines and a more contemporary aesthetic, but the soaring ceilings, voluminous space, and expansive windows make it timelessly stylish.
The floor plan has been divided into two wings - the southern wing for formal entertaining, and the northern wing for day-to-day living.
The living room is wrapped with gallery walls, and the oversized windows turn the river vistas into works of art.
Duck into the library for a moment of peace, or a quiet drink at the wet bar.
Artist Leo Villareal transformed a utilitarian powder room into a work of art.
A source remembers C.Z. Guest’s big buffets as her trademark even, and the dining room with postcard-perfect bridge and skyline views is ideal for entertaining.
In the central kitchen, a sunny breakfast area is a pleasing contrast to the professional-caliber stainless steel appliances.
With its wall of windows and access to the wraparound terrace, the owner’s suite seems to float above the clouds.
Even the primary bath enjoys spectacular views of the Queensborough Bridge.
The den enjoys built-in shelves, a curved wall of windows, and terrace access.
An office with built-ins and terrace views is ideal for remote work.
The entire penthouse is enveloped with a 6,000-square-foot terrace, accessible from every major room and facing spectacular river and bridge views.
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