22-acre property located in the Delaware Chateau Country
Long & Foster Real Estate, the No. 1 privately owned residential real estate company in the United States and the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate in the Mid-Atlantic, has listed a stunning luxury estate on Old Kennett Road in Wilmington, Delaware. The property is represented by Stephen Mottola, a sales associate with Long & Foster’s Greenville, Delaware, office, and is being offered for $5.5 million. It includes nine bedrooms, seven full and five half bathrooms, and 21,000 square feet on over 22 acres of property.
“Glamour, exclusivity and pedigree are combined in this extraordinary offering,” said Mottola. “The history of this estate is intertwined with the story of Delaware’s greatest dynasty, the du Pont family. In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, its legacy can now be yours.”
The home was built in 1936 by socialites Margaretta “Gret” du Pont, the daughter of the seventh president of the DuPont company, and her husband, Crawford “Greenie” Greenewalt, who served as president of DuPont for 14 years. Now known as “Stonehouse,” the house was designed by well-respected architect E. William Martin. Greenewalt was a stickler for safety, so he had the home constructed primarily of steel and concrete. Each floor was built with a 12-inch concrete layer and the walk-up attic has concrete steps and floors as well.
The exquisite home has French provincial flair with wrought iron balconies, arched dormer windows, circular window seats and deep windowsills. Greenewalt and du Pont built the home to accommodate their growing family, grand social life and their many hobbies—she was an avid gardener while he was a photographer and studied birds.
Arriving at the property, automatic gates open to a long curved driveway, lined with oak trees selected by du Pont. The panoramic views from this estate were intentionally preserved by the couple—they donated 550 acres to the Delaware Nature Society. This gift will provide the new owners with incomparable exclusivity in a peaceful setting.
Inside the home, you can greet your guests in grand style in the large foyer with turned staircase and arched dome ceiling. The east wing of the home was built for entertaining with an elegant drawing room, perfect for a grand piano and pianist to add ambiance to your next cocktail party. Pocket doors lead to the spacious living room with Italian marble fireplace. Family and holiday celebrations will certainly be remembered in the colossal dining room under the sparkle of its brass chandelier with gas fireplace and large windows.
The west wing of the home has a comfortable family room, which was formerly Greenewalt’s workroom and darkroom. The circular window seats are perfect for curling up with a good book and cup of tea. There are also two handsome offices on this side of the home.
The chef’s kitchen with large center island, butler’s pantry, wet bar and wine storage is perfect for cooking a family meal or for a catering team to prepare a feast for a crowd. The current owners have converted a screened-in porch into an elegant glass English conservatory with marble mosaic floor, French doors to the terrace and greenhouse panels that adjust the room for temperature and humidity.
Upstairs, the master bedroom is romantic with silk moire wall coverings, wet bar and Juliet balcony. The sitting room has a motif carved in the fireplace mantel by Irene Sophie du Pont, the great granddaughter of Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours, the founder of the DuPont company. The fine architectural details continue in the other four en suite bedrooms, with three of the bedrooms featuring French doors leading to Juliet balconies.
On the lower level, saloon-type wooden and glass doors open to a billiard room, game arcade and theatre. It features an English pub that seats six and is made of carved cherry wood imported from Manchester, England. There is also an inviting lounge area with striking stained glass ceiling.
The sweeping infinity pool area is designed to be both dramatic and glamorous. Imagine the fabulous pool parties you’ll have in the stone-and-tile pool house with a bar, family room and fully equipped kitchen. The pool house also includes a bathroom tiled in refreshing colors with stone vessel sinks and a laundry room.
If it’s not yet pool season, there are plenty of other areas for outdoor entertaining. Greenewalt, who was celebrated for capturing hummingbirds on film, chose many plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The back of the home with its manicured English boxwood garden is the perfect place for a spring garden party.
There is an attached two-car garage and a portico leading to a newer six-car garage with heated floor. Above the detached garage, you’ll find a two bedroom, one bath guesthouse with kitchen and sweeping views of the property from the deck. Last but not least, there’s a three-bedroom caretaker’s home with a four-car garage.
You can learn more about the property and see photos of this exclusive property at www.LongandFoster.com. For additional information, contact Stephen Mottola at 302-437-6600.