Tied up with a Beaux

In 1915, Samuel Riker built the Holly House Estate in Middletown, NJ. A descendant of Abraham von Rycken, for whom Riker’s Island was named, Riker was born in Paris in 1868. It’s no surprise then that he found inspiration in French architectural styles when building the home. The next stewards were Nicholas and Helen Rutgers, who helmed drastic changes to the house and grounds and gave the property its name: Holly House.

Perhaps the most notable aspects of Holly House are its architectural features, added by architect William Lawrence Bottomley in the late 1930s. A highly skilled American architect of the early 20th century, Bottomley trained at Columbia University, the American Academy in Rome and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Most of his residential commissions that stretch down the East Coast from Maine to North Carolina remain intact today. The fortuitous timing and consistently excellent quality of Bottomley’s career, as well as his blend of classical proportions with practical home sizes, have ensured the preservation of the bulk of his work and the continued popularity of his homes in the current real estate market.

Thus, when the most recent homeowner spearheaded an intensive restoration of the home 10 years ago, great care was taken to preserve the distinct features of the home that define it as a Bottomley project. With the help of architect Stephen J. Gassert of Gassert Design and builder Frank Losavio of Continental Construction, the homeowners gutted the house to its studs and outfitted it with modern necessities. However, several original architectural elements were preserved and re-installed to adapt to the changes, while others were carefully recreated to remain true to the home’s original style.

One of Bottomley’s signature elements incorporated into the house was the curved floating staircase, ascending from the first floor all the way to the third. The smooth underside of the stairs looks like a weightless ribbon, belying its inherent sturdiness. A mother-of-pearl call button on the terminus of the railing on the first floor adds a charming touch, reminding the owner of the home’s aristocratic character.

The elegant front entrance of the home, with pillars flanking the front door, is also a distinct product of Bottomley’s design. The current homeowner added two more columns and replaced the stair’s black wrought iron railings with aluminum replicas, creating the same visual effect but requiring less maintenance. Especially distinct are the two ocular windows flanking the second-story window directly above the entrance.

Few other homes on the Navesink River can boast this level of historic preservation without the sacrifice of modern amenities. Keeping with Bottomley’s emphasis on classical proportions adjusted for practical, everyday living, this comfortable and elegant estate will surely be a coveted home for the next hundred years, if not more.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HERITAGE HOUSE | SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY