Boca Raton’s Priciest Listing Is an Understated Midcentury Jewel

Located in one of the most notable yachting communities in America, a midcentury architect-designed compound is being offered for the first time in 45 years. Right on the Intracoastal Waterway, the Carpenter Estate—owned by the late William DuPont Carpenter, a DuPont heir, and philanthropist Patti Carpenter—includes the sprawling main house, with 9,962 square feet; the guest/carriage house; and a large pool flanked by an entertaining pavilion with bar. The property is being offered for $41.5 million via Carmen N. D’Angelo, Joseph G. Liguori, and Gerard P. Liguori at Premier Estate Properties.

The main residence was designed in 1964 by Palm Beach architect Byron Simonson, a protégé of Addison Mizner and Maurice Fatio. Simonson designed this understated one-story residence for ease of entertaining. In 1977, the property was purchased by the Carpenters. Patti added the guest house ten years later, as well as the breezeway connecting it to the main residence. Featured in the November 1994 issue of W Magazine, the carriage house epitomizes classic American elegance. The foyer is turreted, while the materials used are simple, natural, and coastal: beamed ceilings, dark wood, marble and slate floors, and board and batten in the hallway.

In the main residence, the foyer opens to a living room with floor-to-ceiling windows for an outstanding water view, a vaulted wrap-around wood ceiling treatment, veined marble flooring, and a fireplace. The formal dining room boasts a vaulted planked ceiling, marble flooring, 70-candle chandelier, and service bar.

The south wing includes a waterside family room with barn-like vaulted tongue and groove beam ceiling and wet bar, two en-suite bedrooms (one currently used as an office) with wardrobes, a floor-to-ceiling glass-encased solarium clubroom, and a hallway leading to the two car garage.

As for the extensive primary suite, it flaunts its own foyer with wet bar, a courtyard-facing sitting room, an expansive bedroom with waterway and pool views, service bar, and a marble bath with Roman tub, and dual vanity with make-up area. A door leads to a full cabana bath with shower.

The north wing is devoted to staff. It contains a commercial kitchen with Sub-Zero refrigerator, 10-burner gas range, top-tier appliances, and custom cabinetry. There’s also a utility room, staff quarters or mother-in-law suite with full bathroom, sitting room and bedroom.

Outdoors, the new residents will enjoy verdant greensward with old growth canopied banyan trees. The expansive motor court includes three driveways for staff, guests, and owners. The house is located in the guard-gated Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club enclave. By invitation only, residents can enjoy access to a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, full-service marina, fitness center, swimming pool, tennis and croquet courts, and fine dining. Boca Raton’s private aviation facilities are barely 12 minutes away, while Palm Beach and Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale International Airports are only about 30 minutes away.