Above The Clouds, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 6th 2010 at 1:01PM

They call it Above the Clouds because on some days, this home, high up in the mountains in Vermont, has a view that looks down on the clouds as well the hills and valley below. This beautiful home is on perched on giant rock slabs on a 15-acre site. The home was built in 2001 and is listed at a four bedroom but has around 18,000 square feet of space. For a home of this size it's surprising green, eco-friendly features include passive solar heating and cooling, energy-efficient windows and a fire safety sprinkler system that uses the swimming pool water as an onsite reservoir. It has its own water treatment and storage that treats the well water with UV light and stores 600 gallons of potable water ready at all times.

The home uses white marble from Danby, Vermont, the same type of marble that has been used in the construction of the White House in Washington, D.C. The Mediterranean-style roof tiles are 80 years old, recycled from a hospital on Staten Island, NY and installed with a 30 year performance guarantee. It has hand carved wood doors, a cathedral skylight, a half-spiral suspended staircase and a "Phantom" chandelier. Light pours in from all directions, contributing to the airy feeling of a home in the sky. The main level includes the master suite, kitchen, formal dining room, living room and library. The second floor is given over to a couple of lavish guest suites. The entertainment level has an indoor pool and spa, theater, billiards room and large lounge and family area. This one-of-a-kind residence is listed at $16 million.

[Thanks, Billy!]

Gallery: Above the Clouds

Tags: above the clouds, estate of the day, stowe, vermont real estate

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

gregg May 6th 2010 3:09PM

Even tho some of the pictures are blurry and of poor quality (I'm very surprised the seller would let a photographer get away with that...it's very distracting), the house is gorgeous and the property is spectacular. I love the privacy and isolation.

reallytorkedoff May 6th 2010 10:42PM

I agree. It's really amazing how many multi-million dollar properties are listed with amateurish or truly crummy pictures.

For the kind of money they're asking, they could slip some high-school nerd a few bills to do some really quality photo work.

C.K. Dexter-Haven May 6th 2010 3:13PM

That place is kinda cool. The master shower, pool and theater are quite nice, IMO.

Spectacular Bid May 6th 2010 3:53PM

Interesting property and certainly the perched setting and views are spectacular. This estate was cited in a Jan 2006 article for being one of a new generation of new ultra luxury mansions in the state of Vermont. From that article:

"The property that crowns the grand list in Stowe is a white marble mansion with a spectacular veranda framing mountain views. The home and 15 acres are assessed at $6.15 million, the highest assessment for a single-family home in Stowe. Built in 2001 by retired Kellogg Co. Chairman Arnold Langbo and his wife, Martha, the house in the town's exclusive Robinson Springs neighborhood carries a fat property tax bill: about $92,000 this year."

Considering that was back in 2006 I'm sure that Vermont taxes have at least doubled that number. While that's peanuts compared to Fairfield or Westchester Counties and the tax burdens it is significant on what is largely a weekend home.

If this sold at $16 million, I believe, it would rank as the 2nd highest residential property sale in the State of Vermont. The late 2008/ early 2009 sale of Fraunces Farm in Barnard VT (292 acres and new 12,000 sq ft stone residence) sold for $18 million. Previously the record has been for $8.4M with the magnificent c1910 stone mansion 'Grosse Pointe' on Lake Champlain (Ferrisburg) with 435 acres back in July 2006.