Ornate Upper East Side home with hidden panic room seeks $26.5M

An opulent Upper East Side townhouse that dates back to 1866 has made its way to the market and is looking to unload for $26.5 million. The red brick and limestone home is located along East 78th Street and is less than a block away from Central Park.

Per the listing description, the 25-foot wide townhouse has a storied past: It has served as home to a cotton dealer named Michael B. Fielding, was the home of the president of a handkerchief manufacturing firm in 1904, and according to the New York Post, it is now the home of filmmaker Pia Getty.

The four-story abode spans 8,760 square feet and consists of six bedrooms (five of which are en-suite) and more than seven bathrooms. The decorated home is serviced by an elevator and features a plethora of classic details that include elaborate moldings and millwork; ornate ceilings, inlaid floors, wood-framed windows, shutters, ceiling medallions, built-in bookshelves, mahogany doors, and eye-catching wallpaper. The garden level is home to a formal dining room with a wood-burning fireplace and the eat-in kitchen, which is equipped with custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, a large island, and a service pantry. This level also features a glass-enclosed sun room that leads to a serene garden.

Throughout the abode, you’ll also find a wood-paneled library with a wood-burning fireplace, a study room, a family room on the fifth floor, a laundry room, and endless storage space. The English basement has been lauded as the “most striking feature of the house” and includes a gym, and a wine cellar. and though the listing doesn’t make mention of it, there is a panic room located somewhere within the home.

• Listing: 20 East 78th Street [Corcoran]