If you can’t afford to buy artwork by Jasper Johns, you may be content to settle for his former abode. Now back on the market, after the previous purchaser was unable to close, is the Stony Point property Johns called home from 1972 and 2012 and, indubitably, it’s a palace fit for a painter. Earlier this year, the property was listed at $600,000, but Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty, says the new price of $750,000 “reflects the tremendous demand for the home following its brief time on the market.”
Jasper Johns is not just any painter, but the man whose canvas, Flag, fetched the highest price—like, ever, in history—for a work by a living artist. Over the course of his multitudinous, eight-decade career, Johns has been attributed as a private individual, and this is reflected in the orientation of this 1.3-acre homestead; the converted barn at 160 West Main Street sits on a forested slope, looking down on the garden, greenery, and babbling brook below. Within all the interior spaces of this two-bed, two-bath dwelling, there exists a boldness of character that elevates without upstaging the furniture and décor chosen by its inhabitants.
A key feature of this Rockland County home is its south-facing floor-to-ceiling windows that afford residents a view of the scenery from the kitchen, living room, and dining area. The kitchen and living room comprise handmade tile floors and hand-hewn ceiling beams, defining the spaces in a manner at once subtle and idiosyncratic. The simple, yet ample kitchen boasts plenty of storage space plus all the essential appliances, and the dining area is outfitted with a fireplace. On warmer days, however, residents will likely take their meals out on the porch, which extends across the entire backside of the structure.
The top floor, which is connected to the driveway via a staircase, is composed of several spatial vignettes. A vast, single-pane window doubles as a lookout and a source of illumination—the perfect spot for a reading nook. The main bedroom is as quaint as it is cozy, with windows that look out to the green tufts of the treetops. Across the hall is the second bedroom, from which the attic is accessible.
The detached studio space—which Johns added, and where he doubtless painted many a masterpiece in the late 20th century and aughts—is complete with a full bathroom, kitchenette, and workspace (meaning it can serve as a passive source of income for the homeowner). The south-facing windows open much like a garage door, transforming the studio into something of a soigné treehouse.
Not to be understated is the lushness and serenity of this property’s outdoor space. The garden area beneath the home is the perfect spot for an outdoor coffee table, where residents can enjoy their morning cup along with the sounds of the brook below. Further, trees and dense shrubbery furnish the yard with a sense of solitude.
Listing Agent: Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty
Asking Price: $750,000
Selling points: Beyond the fact that it was home to Jasper Johns, the house and studio at 160 West Main Street have the feel of a secluded retreat, while in actuality, the property is less than an hour away from Manhattan. It’s also just minutes away from outdoor destinations within Harriman State Park.
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