21 hours ago
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Forget the “King of Queens.” Why not live like the Baron of Brooklyn?
A former dentist imbued his passion for old-world architecture into every nook and cranny of this palatial Bay Ridge home. The aggressively gilded property listed for $25 million on Tuesday, the New York Times reported, which StreetEasy notes makes it the most expensive single-family home on the Brooklyn market.
“Ever since listing it, my phone has really been blowing up,” listing representative Alexander Boriskin told The Post. “A lot of people have questions, and they’re mesmerized by the photos.”
Boriskin, of Douglas Elliman, is marketing the one-of-a-kind home with fellow brokers Ammanda Espinal and Michael Lorber.
Dmitry Epelboym, a Ukraine-born dentist, purchased the Bay Ridge lot with his then-wife Lidia for $1.3 million in 2010, according to city records. A century-old Victorian, owned by Blondie keyboardist Jimmy Destri, occupied the property. Not for long, though.
Epelboym tore the old home down and spent the next eight years building the opulent European palace of his dreams. He sourced imported marble, handpicked limestone from Italy and hired artisans to apply gold leaf by hand. The cost was considerable.
Epelboym told the Times he “stopped counting after $10 million.”
The 14,000-square-foot home’s marble foyer quite literally reflects its owner’s style. Massive mirrors line the walls alongside immense gilded millwork. Twin marble staircases are complemented by gold-leaf railings and a stained-glass starburst on the ceiling lights up the room.
“This is unique. I don’t think anything has ever been on the market like this, certainly not in Bay Ridge,” Boriskin said.
The surrounding neighborhood is no stranger to large properties, Boriskin said, but they tend to change hands through families rather than the market.
He believes the home will sell to someone with an affinity for its current style, rather than a vision for change. The cost of building a comparable property today, Boriskin said, would be far more pricey than its $25 million ask.
The time and expense put into the opulent residence is on display in every room.
The dining and living room fireplaces are adorned with precious stones like lapis lazuli and green malachite, and the ornate chef’s kitchen is bedecked in burgundy quartz. Gilded floral reliefs and sconces held aloft by griffins decorate the stately office.
The listing advertises six large bedrooms, but it’s the basement where maximum relaxation is achieved.
Epelboym’s ambitious build included excavation for an 11-foot-tall basement level. The subterranean space features a personal spa with a sauna, a marble-lined Turkish bath, a hot tub and a rustic bucket shower. It also includes a home theater and a large ballroom. The latter boasts a chandelier rescued from a historic Tennessee riverboat, the Times reported.
Epelboym, an admirer of historic European architecture, filled the home with materials sourced on trips abroad. He told the Times he was particularly inspired by “the palazzos of Italy and iconic places like St. Peter’s Basilica.”
Epelboym’s successful dental practice of three decades ended in 2018 when he pleaded guilty to insurance fraud. He told the Times he was eligible for reinstatement a few years later, but chose not to pursue it. Epelboym, now divorced, spends his time abroad. According to Boriskin, his travels keep him away from home 10 months out of the year.
“This home is now ready for its next chapter,” Epelboym said.
English (US)