FAR HILLS, N.J. – (May 28, 2008) – Burgdorff ERA hosted a Broker’s Open House at Froh Heim, a circa 1923 estate in Far Hills. The property, which is currently being marketed by the Summit Office of Burgdorff ERA, was chosen as the Mansion in May Showhouse to benefit Morristown Memorial Hospital.
This special event was hosted by Burgdorff ERA Realtors and Heritage Premier Properties, and took place on the grounds of Froh Heim. Guests enjoyed a tour of the historic mansion followed by music, cocktails and appetizers in an outdoor tent. Attendees included over 200 local brokers, real estate professionals and special guests on Friday, May 16.“Between the beautiful surroundings and the lavish Froh Heim estate tour, this was not only a successful event but a magical way to see this magnificently restored mansion,” says Pat Hoferkamp, president of Burgdorff ERA. “Our Summit Office is listing Froh Heim for sale, so this was a very different way to preview this architectural gem and also enjoy a festive gathering in the tent afterwards.”As the Showhouse for the 2008 Mansion in May benefiting Morristown Memorial Hospital, Froh Heim went through extensive renovations and décor updates installed by over 50 top interior designers and landscape architects from the New Jersey area. These design professionals transformed the interior and grounds of the home with their creative visions, while respecting the property’s integrity and character.
Froh Heim (German for Happy Home) is a Spanish-style stone and stucco house with a distinctive red tile roof. The residence was designed by architects Peabody, Wilson & Brown of New York. In the 1930s, alterations to the main house were made by architect F. Burrall Hoffman Jr. Froh Heim was originally built for Evander B. Schley, a mining industrialist and member of one of Far Hills’ founding families.Set on 11.4 rolling acres, the seven-bedroom, eight-bath Froh Heim features a stunning array of luxury appointments such as eight fireplaces, parquet flooring in the dining room acquired from a home in France, and library paneling imported from Czechoslovakia. Old World custom designed Leonardis kitchen, fitted with upscale cabinetry, appliances and finishes. This one-of-a-kind historic home has been restored to its former glory by Heritage Premier Properties, LLC.The mansion’s grounds include an eight-stall horse barn with two caretaker’s apartments, a smoke house currently used as a gentleman’s retreat/cigar room, and a well house.The gardens at Froh Heim were designed in 1926 by noted garden designer Ellen Biddle Shipman (1869-1950). Within the walled gardens, Shipman employed her signature style to create an intimate outdoor room using simple lines and carefully-proportioned layouts. Lush perennial plantings, a pergola, fountain, brick terraces and specially designed wrought iron elements enhance the impressive setting. Handsome stone carvings and statues include lions, cherubs and bell towers.An in-ground swimming pool is edged in Italian tile, and features an outdoor fireplace. The charming courtyard gardens and pergola have been redone by a Norwegian craftsman to include a fountain, staircase and antique bell from Barcelona, Spain.This is the second house in the area to be called Froh Heim, the original was an 1888 country house built by Evander B. Schley’s parents, Grant and Elizabeth Schley. Elizabeth is said to have exclaimed over the beautiful view of the “far hills,” thus giving the village its future name. Most of the original Froh Heim was demolished after Grant Schley’s death in 1917, and the new Froh Heim was built using part of the existing foundation.Froh Heim is an exclusive listing of the Summit Office of Burgdorff ERA. For further information, contact sales associate Cynthia O’Neill at 908-608-2305. Price upon request.About Burgdorff ERAFounded in 1958, Burgdorff ERA was the top producing ERA® real estate firm in dollar volume nationally in 2006, with 15 offices and over 700 sales associates in New Jersey. The ERA real estate network includes more than 38,700 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 29 other countries and territories. Burgdorff ERA (www.burgdorff.com), is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage office.