We all know the late Joan River to be the queen of comedy. However, the incredible comedian, television host, and actress was the owner and resident of a befitting gilded palace on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Joan’s penthouse could best be described as a little piece of Versailles nestled in the haphazard yet beautiful skyline of New York City.
Joan River’s Penthouse Goes on Sale!
When the legendary comedian passed away in 2014, her ornate penthouse, where she spent 28 years of her life was sold for a whopping $28 million. However, the home was again listed for $38 million earlier this year. With that said, the house has now been given a contemporary refresh, geared toward attracting a modern prospective buyer.
The East 62nd Street apartment is located in one of New York City’s last remaining Gilded Age mansions. Her penthouse was originally constructed for John R. Drexel, scion of a powerful Philadelphia banking family. According to the recent listing, the 42-foot-wide mansion was the creation of architect Horace Trumbauer, well-known at the time for designing expansive and luxurious residential manors.
The beautiful building has a neo-French classic architecture style that likely appealed to Joan, who leaned heavily toward the Gilded Age history in her life. Over the course of her life, Rivers made an active effort to preserve several of the ornate architectural details of the penthouse, including the formal dining room, paneled library, and many wood-burning fireplaces, which are still functional today. The mansion that features the penthouse is one of the city’s most notable limestone-sheathed buildings.
A One-of-a-Kind Property
Joan Rivers’ penthouse was a gilded property that is said to be one of Horace Trumbauer’s remaining masterpieces in the great city. Listing agents across the city and elsewhere firmly believe that this penthouse and the mansion are nothing short of palatial homes that are rarely available in the city or elsewhere.
It truly is a one-of-a-kind property, and once a buyer buys it, there will not be another property like this on the market for a while. In her life, Rivers always spoke affectionately about her luxurious penthouse. It features four bedrooms and five bathrooms, and gilded architecture. She also discussed the celestial spirit that she believed to have lived in the apartment. Don’t fret – the spirit has since moved out!
Rivers’ penchant for grandeur is evident in every aspect of the house. The penthouse has a private elevator that opens up to a two-story gallery, which leads to a beautiful ballroom. The house is surely an entertainer-s abode as it features reception rooms with 23-foot-tall ceilings and striking parquet-de-Versailles flooring. The stunning penthouse also has south-facing terraces that shine with sunlight during the day. The master suite overlooks the serene Central Park and the arresting New York City skyline.
The property that was once Joan Rivers’ penthouse certainly has appealing and meticulously preserved details and a storied past. It is a magical listing that will eventually have a lucky owner who will benefit from the little Versailles in NYC.