Vince Camuto is the genius behind the Nine West shoe empire. The affordable designer shoes bought Camuto a French chateau type mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. It’s now being sold at auction having been originally offered for sale at $26.6 million.
This is a look at the main gate of the property from the vantage of the driveway. This has a wrought-iron gate supported by a couple of stone pillars with outdoor lamps. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a nighttime view of the front of the house showcasing the warm glow of the main entrance. This is paired with the outdoor lighting that makes the flanking trees glow. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a front view of the large stone mansion showcasing the dormer windows, tall chimneys and a large courtyard in front. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Upon entry of the mansion, you are welcomed by this foyer with patterned tiles on its floor and a built-in console table topped with a mirror with golden frames and wall-mounted sconces. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This spacious living room has a large fireplace that warms the sofas adorned with wall-mounted artworks. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the music room with paneled walls, a chandelier in the middle, and a fireplace across from the sofa. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This family room has a tall cove ceiling with a mural of the sky. This is complemented by the paneled walls with rows of tall arched windows. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at one of the hallways of the mansion fitted with comfortable cushioned armchairs and adorned with console tables and a large golden mirror. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The spacious kitchen has a large wooden kitchen island in the middle topped with an iron pot rack that hangs from the wooden ceiling with exposed beams. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other view of the kitchen shows the brown tone of the flooring tiles that match the wooden molding and wooden cabinetry with superb craftsmanship. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This formal dining room has a light beige tone to its paneled walls that matches with the chandelier and the table cloth of the round dining table. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an informal dining area with small wooden dining table paired with a long sofa beside the large fireplace with a beige mantle. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bedroom has a dark-toned four-poster bed across from the fireplace with a wooden mantle. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bedroom has a beige bed across from the fireplace that is topped with a painting and wall sconces on a beige wall. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the set of elevators of the mansion with mirrored sliding doors and a small round table in the middle bearing a flower vase. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at the tall ceiling of the second-floor landing. It has a patterned and carved tray ceiling that hangs a large lantern pendant light over the staircase. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the covered patio fitted with an outdoor dining set that has a background of arches, and stone pillars. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This part of the outdoor area shows a covered area with stone pillars supporting trellises with creeping plants to provide shade for the wooden bench at the far end. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the pool area with multiple lawn chairs and large umbrellas with a background of trees and shrubs. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the covered part of the pool with a white coffered ceiling, arches and pillars of stone. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at the backyard garden from the vantage of the stone steps flanked with potted plants and low stone walls. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the backyard garden with well-maintained hedges of shrubs forming miniature gardens to form walkways in between. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This look at the garden showcases the planters placed in intervals among the shrubs flanking the walkway topped with a canopy of tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This concrete walkway leads to a side entrance of the house where the exterior walls are adorned with creeping plants and tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a closer look at the side entrance of the house with a set of French glass doors leading to the walkway flanked with shrubs and planters. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an aerial view of the mansion showcasing the large driveway flanked by tall trees leading to a large courtyard in front of the house. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other aerial view of the mansion showcases the outdoor areas at the back like the pool and gardens. These are all surrounded by a thick landscape of tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
When you’re talking 16,000 square feet on four acres with a drive lined with apple trees, a pool, and a tennis court, then you’re talking some serious millions. The house at 32 Chateau Ridge in the prestigious Round Hill section of Greenwich was formerly listed for $26.6 million but didn’t sell. It’s now up for auction with no limits or minimums.
What’s So Special About This Mansion
It’s the rare person who doesn’t drool over stone palaces dripping gold with marble all over the place, paneled walls featuring priceless paintings topped by coffered or beamed ceilings, or ceilings painted by hand with beautiful scenes. It’s the rare person who doesn’t long to walk the meticulously manicured gardens, gracefully dive into the pool, or admire the stunning grounds as you’re playing tennis.
On the other hand, you could sleep in one of the 13 bedrooms and use one of the 18 bathrooms twice in one month. You could use one of the dining rooms or sit in one of the sitting areas or family rooms if you feel the need. You could count the panels on the walls edged in gold and featuring hand-painted scenes or works by the Old Masters. Admire the antiques from all over Europe and the craftsmanship that went into the whole mansion.
Why You Would Love This Mansion
This house was built in 1927 but ran into a period of disuse. Camuto and his wife Louise bought the house in 1984 when they hired a “designer to the stars” to bring the mansion back to life. The designer, Jimmy Xhema, did a spectacular job of it, featuring as one among many amazing rooms a Constellation Room. This room features a 40-foot dome using fiber-optic stars to depict the sky the night Camuto was born on June 4, 1936.
It’s not precisely the things that are in the house nor its design that strikes me with awe. It’s the sense of going back in time to 17th or 18th century Europe. I can imagine men in knee breeches wearing hats with sweeping plumes walking the floors discussing the king’s business. I can picture women in majestic gowns sparkling with jewels and handmade lace managing their homes. These aristocrats would think nothing of paneled walls, sconces, picture frames, and fireplace accessories dripping gold or marble anything.
Vince Camuto died in 2015 at the age of 78 has given the world the Nine West and Jessica Simpson brands. Camuto was a pioneer in that he was the first to wholesale good quality shoes in cases of predesigned shoe sizes. Camuto also pioneered the concept of store or brand stores in malls and other places. Up to then, no one had done that.
