Mr. Jenrette, a native North Carolinian who is now 78 and retired from his business career, surveyed Edgewater — a colonnaded classical revival house built in 1820 — from the bank of the Hudson River. The house sits on a small peninsula, lined with weeping willows, just 50 yards from the river.


 

Edgewater affords views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains beyond.

Edgewater wasn’t Mr. Jenrette’s first grand old home. But, it is Edgewater, in Dutchess County north of Rhinebeck, that Mr. Jenrette fondly calls “the great love of my life.” Situated on 40 acres, Edgewater has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, an attic that has been converted into a 10,000-volume library, and two kitchens. Outside are a pool and two guesthouses.

 

Mr. Jenrette's personal library

Striding through his handsome drawing room, Mr. Jenrette pointed out period details — moldings, original glass windows, mantels and mahogany doors. A stribking sofa and four side chairs with curule form legs, upholstered in royal blue brocade, were made by Duncan Phyfe.

 

The dining room includes Duncan Phyfe chairs and French porcelain.

The riverside porch is a frequent haunt for Mr. Jenrette, who takes great pleasure in the panoramic views it affords of the river and the Catskill Mountains beyond. Inside, his favorite room is the light-filled Octagon Library, which has 26-foot-high ceilings and an octagon skylight.  

 

The view across the front porch.

The biggest change Mr. Jenrette undertook at Edgewater was transforming its interior. A local antiques dealer suggested furnishing Edgewater “to period,” with Federal-style or American Empire, and Mr. Jenrette bought a few pieces to experiment. Edgewater has pedigree has notably Southern characteristics — high ceilings, huge windows and a raised piazza above ground level — to which Mr. Jenrette felt an instant affinity.

 

The drawing room

Mr. Jenrette hopes to leave a legacy of beauty and grace, and everything is already in place. “If I keel over now, all of my houses will go to the foundation and be open to the public for posterity,” he said cheerfully. “That’s the plan!”