A Navesink River estate finds harmony between architecture and landscape, where old-world details, layered luxury, and panoramic water views shape every moment of daily life

BY EMMA FLOYD  •  PHOTOS BY MOTION CITY MEDIA

At 734 Navesink River Road, the river comes into view the moment you walk through the front door. The main hall opens directly through French doors onto a bluestone patio, and the Navesink is right there in front of you. It is a dramatic introduction to a home that was designed around this view from the start.

Architect Rafael Amuchástegui completed the house in 2014, and its construction reflects the kind of attention to detail often lost in modern builds: four stories connected by a private elevator, ten-foot ceilings on the main level, wide-plank old-world walnut floors running throughout every room, and cedar clapboard siding on the exterior. The millwork and built-in cabinetry are custom, with Emtek hardware throughout. Schonbek crystal lighting illuminates the common areas, while cove lighting adds warmth in the evenings.

The kitchen is built around a grand 58-inch La Cornue Château Series range with a French top, four burners, a built-in grill, and two ovens, one gas and one electric, all finished with matching La Cornue cabinetry. A Wolf electric wall oven, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, a beverage refrigerator, and two dishwashers give the room real capacity. Teak and Calacatta marble counters, copper and farmhouse sinks, a walk-in pantry, and a wet bar complete the space.

The kitchen opens to the family room, anchored on one side by an arching wall of oversized Marvin windows that look out over the yard to the river, and on the other by a Rumford wood-burning fireplace. The view from the room changes noticeably with the season and time of day.

The living and dining rooms sit adjacent to one another, connected but distinct, with a coffered ceiling, decorative moldings, custom bookshelves, and a second wood-burning fireplace lending a more formal character. A cozy library with custom shelving, a built-in window seat, and a Mendota gas fireplace with Rain Forest marble surround rounds out the primary living spaces.

The master suite occupies its own world on the upper level. A private east-facing terrace opens off the bedroom and catches the sunrise over the Navesink each morning, while a wall of south-facing windows brings in light as the day soldiers on. Automated drapes manage the morning light on a schedule. The bathroom is a self-care sanctuary, finished with a signature Stark whirlpool soaking tub, an oversized Calacatta marble steam shower with a waterfall faucet, and two custom vanities. A pair of walk-in closets and a dedicated shoe closet provide organization amid abundant space. Three additional bedrooms each boast their own en-suite baths finished with Waterworks fixtures and marble floors, and two of them open onto private terraces with pergolas.

Outside, bluestone terraces and patios appear at every level of the home, each thoughtfully positioned to face the water. Phantom screens on the French doors and oversized windows disappear when not in use, allowing the house to open fully when the outdoor breezes beckon. At the river, there is a beach, an Ipe dock, and a boat lift. The gardens that surround the property have been planted and tended to over the years, with kousa dogwoods, crepe myrtles, magnolias, black walnuts, and towering evergreens providing structure, while hydrangeas, lilacs, wisteria, roses, and a long list of perennials kiss the landscape with color. Pick fruit from a myriad of apple, pear, fig, and cherry trees for a refreshing taste of nature’s bounty while steaks and salmon fillets sizzle on the built-in outdoor grill.

The estate stretches across 2.5 acres of lush river frontage, treating denizens to postcard vistas from sunrise until the stars come out to play at night. Two guest cottages sit near the entrance of the long driveway before reaching the main house, and both are currently rented, offering income potential and tax advantages that carry over to a new owner. The walkout basement is approximately 2,800 square feet, with high ceilings and steel-beam construction, while the attic serves sweeping views from its own private terrace. Both spaces are currently unfinished, providing endless potential for a new owner’s vision.

The home is listed for $11,500,000.

734 Navesink River Road  —  Heritage House Sotheby’s International Realty  •  sothebysrealty.com/heritagehousesir