$9M Carnegie Hill House Is a Sunlit Gem With Literary Cachet

For the first time in more than 25 years, the lovely townhouse at 103 East 91st Street is on the market, asking $8.9 million. It was once home to the American author Patrick Dennis (aka Edward Everett Tanner III), the creator of Auntie Mame, and his family owned the house until the 1980s.

Still, many of the house's defining features, like the double-height living room and Palladian-style front window, are the work of Dennis. There are stained-glass windows, mahogany woodwork, wood-burning fireplaces, coffered ceilings, and two private gardens, as well as a kosher kitchen, four bedrooms, and a sun room.

Some highlights from the brokerbabble:

"With the amount of sunlight that comes in on a sunny day, between the copious windows and the four skylights on the top floor, you'll think you left the lights on."

"When Patrick Dennis lived here, he combined half the second floor with the garden level living room. The result is a dramatic, twenty-foot living room ceiling and a towering Palladian-style window (which mirrors a grand archway on the opposite wall) looking onto the street. The height and light really must be seen to be believed; white Grecian columns amplify the effect."

"With its high, ivy-covered walls, colorful flowers, and dedicated lighting and sound system, this garden is a perfect secluded spot for dining al fresco with guests or just enjoying a good book."

"With four different skylights, one of which is stained glass, [the fourth] floor is absolutely flooded with sunshine. The skylight in the master bedroom features electric remote-control shades, allowing you to sleep in a little longer when you want to."

"And just outside the elevator is the stained glass skylight, with a bold floral design. When the sun shines down, the rich color dances all over the walls."

· Listing: 103 East 91st Street [Vandenberg via StreetEasy]
· Tuesday Townhouse archives [Curbed]