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During her prime, Patricia and Robert set their sights on creating a luxurious retreat befitting their success. In the 1960s, they purchased a grand estate on Long Island’s North Shore, named Haut Bois (“High Woods” in French). The estate was designed as a miniature piece of Versailles in America—a reflection of her artistic sophistication and personal taste.
Constructed in 1916, Haut Bois was crafted by architect Ogden Codman Jr., inspired by Louis XIV’s hunting lodge at Versailles. The mansion embodied French Renaissance architecture with its symmetry, brick and stucco façade, tall chimneys, and steep slate roof reminiscent of 17th-century France. Inside, imported wooden paneling and ornate detailing transported visitors to a European palace.