Armour-Stiner Octagon House in Irvington Now Available to Tour
The Armour-Stiner Octagon House, located at 45 West Clinton Avenue, is one of Westchester's most unique residences. The dwelling is on the National Register of Historic Places and features an octagonal design with a large dome that overlooks the water and the property's lush three acres. Now the home is opening its doors to design enthusiasts looking to tour the distinctive property.
Named for financier Paul J. Armour, who built the house between 1859 and 1860, and Joseph Stiner, an established New York City tea merchant who purchased the property in 1872, the home was redesigned by Stiner, who added the dome and veranda porch and topped it off with the charming pink hue.
The current owner, and a preservation architect himself, Joseph Pell Lombardi, explained his reasoning for opening up the residence to the public. “Over the years, the continuing and overwhelming interest in the extraordinary Armour-Stiner Octagon House compelled [me] to share it with the public," he says. "Zoning changes by the very forward-looking Village of Irvington, and its officials, ultimately made it possible.”
The Armour-Stiner House was recently renovated to more closely resemble its 1872 appearance, inside and out. The original 1870s home decor represents the American neo-Roman aesthetic that was prominent in the last quarter of the 1800s. The house contains an Egyptian Revival room, which includes 19th-century decor original to the home. Lombardi’s son, Michael Hall Lombardi, helmed the restoration of this room, along with the kitchen, the basement, the greenhouse, the studio, and most of the exterior.
The elder Lombardi says that the highlight of holding public tours of the Armour-Stiner Octagon House has been “the extraordinary enthusiasm of the visitors, their fascination, and sincere interest,” and he calls out the home’s “lyrical and exotic nature” as part of its appeal. The home has even made its way to the big screen, not once but twice: in the 2007 film Across the Universe and the 1981 horror movie The Nesting.
Guided tours are available to those ages 12 and older, with a fee of $24 per adult, and are 45 minutes long. Each tour is led by trained guides who cover the three main floors. Tours can be scheduled by appointment through the Victorian-style home’s website, armourstiner.com.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
