Four Daughters

Posted on August 5, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty vistits a very well thought out and beautifully presented home in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Broker: Houlihan Lawrence

Agent: Amanda Miller

Imagine the scene: a large and lovely Georgian styled house in over three acres and a handsome couple living there with four beautiful daughters. It could be something from a Jane Austen or Louisa May Alcott novel. But at least here at 37 Calhoun Drive in Greenwich, Connecticut there would have been little or no sibling squabbling about bedrooms. This is because each beautiful daughter had her own large bedroom, en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet – all big enough for the most clothes-conscious and privacy-seeking teenager.

No doubt there was some angst somewhere along the way, as in all families, but these beautiful daughters had two very sensible parents. Like Mr Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, who retired to the sanctuary of his library, they had given themselves some space between them and their beloved offspring. At the other end of this house they enjoyed a somewhat quieter life in a retreat which was less like a master suite and more like a luxurious private apartment. Clever them – and they were even smarter on the lower garden floor. Down there is a four-double-bunk-bed room with a huge fairytale stone fireplace – enough for four beautiful daughters and their four beautiful best friends to enjoy some memorable and noisy sleepovers. In fact you could house an army of beautiful daughters and their beautiful best friends here and still have room for more.

Paying for all this couldn’t be easier. The house is only a ten-minute casual stroll from the Greenwich rail station. From there Wall Street is a mere 90 mins away – so, the best of both worlds.

Take a look at the web page for a full inventory of rooms. There are many including a wine cellar, gym and yoga room. Outside there is a tennis court, swimming pool, half basketball court and guest/pool house. It is all here and looks magnificent. It is just the sort of place you could have a family wedding – or four!

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Approach With Pride

Posted on August 4, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty is unprepared for the superb welcome he recieved an extraordinary maritime estate in Connecticut.

Broker: Lila Delman Real Estate International

Agents: Melanie Delman, Catherine Cloney and Peter Goodwin

A tall flagpole is positioned at the head of the long stone pier, at Salt Acres, the coastal estate on the edge of pretty Stonnington in Connecticut. The current owners fly the Stars and Stripes and the flag of the US Marine Corps. They signal the seafarer home.

Coming home is always nice. But at Salt Acres getting back takes on quite another dimension. Whether by sea or road, returning to Salt Acres is not so much achieving an arrival as making an entrance.

From the small, elegant and historic town of Stonnington the road to Salt Acres crosses a long straight causeway with the house, standing in eleven acres of beautifully tended gardens, beckoning from beyond the trees. In a boat, clearing Stonnington Point from Long Island Sound or rounding Sandy Point from Little Naragansett Bay, the three storey house with its fine elevations salutes your arrival.

I adored visiting this house a hundred miles from Boston and a hundred and forty from New York City. Who wouldn’t? This is a spectacular property situated on a private peninsula overlooking Fisher Island Sound. It has some of the finest ocean views in south-eastern New England. And it’s not just a spacious and elegant period house, the estate also offers a charming three-bedroom guesthouse and a two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage.

The fabulous grounds have 2,500 feet of water frontage, 600 feet of sandy beach and a 450-foot breakwater pier with a dock and two moorings. The gardens are a tour de force of the art.

What on earth is there not to like? Even the owners are charming. Visit yourself and make your own entrance.

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Repeating the Past

Posted on August 4, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty puts on his tuxedo and steps back into the Gilded Age on the Long Island Gold Coast in New York.

Broker: Coach Realtors

Agent: Joann Fischer

Please do join me. Put on your finest evening clothes, step with me into the library and go back to America’s gilded age. Imagine martinis before dinner and escorting or being escorted into the candle-lit grand dining room overlooking the magnificent 37 acre gardens.

We are near the north shore – the Gold Coast – of Long Island, New York and about 33 miles from Manhattan. This is an era and area made famous by writers such as Edith Wharton and F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is the land of great houses, of uber-rich industrialists and bankers – the land of the Great Gatsby.

And here is a house that epitomises this age. To walk through it is to stir the ghosts of the past. They are good ghosts – great ghosts – just as this is a great house.

I am not going to list the rooms or try and guide you through them. I would need a book. Instead I am going to point out one major and two minor features that all speak of quality. First the library: this is a sumptuous two-storey-high galleried room in the high Art Deco style. Its blond wood reflects the fashion of an age when large ocean-going liners were the only way to cross the Atlantic. Here is a room containing thousands of books encased in large-scale cabinetry of the highest standard.

It may seem a small detail but the large doors that connect this room to the hall have the most amazing handles – original, Art Deco and almost impossible to find nowadays. This is important. You can’t judge a book by its cover but you can judge a house by its hardware and door furniture. This home is a class act.

And where on earth did they get those chinoiserie double doors into the dining room? They are utterly magnificent. I wanted to rip them off and carry them home. They are the type of thing a top New York, London or LA interior decorator would kill for.

All through this house are touches like this – of masterful and superior attention to interior detail. But this house is not simply a reminder of a lost age or lost art – because it is now of this age also. It has has survived into another gilded age. Large fortunes are still made down the road in Wall Street which perhaps is where the buyer will come from. If you are one of those people – with a lot of cash and a great deal of style – please look no further. And don’t think that the old splendour can’t be re-created. As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in The Great Gatsby, “Can’t repeat the past?… Why of course you can!”

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Rated

Posted on July 31, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International visits a house in New Canaan, Connecticut that give him a rather sleepless night.

Agent: Ruth DeVilliers

Broker: Barbara Cleary’s Realty Guild

My father, an architect, designed and commissioned our family home. My mother, a fashion professional, loved it and was heavily involved in the early consultation process; nevertheless she found minor faults and irritations. It persuaded me, at an early age, that the perfect house was impossible to find, that a nine out of ten almost impossible, an eight difficult and a seven about as good as it usually gets. I often like to rate houses I see. This is of course subjective but I have never yet found a ten.

When I drove up the sweeping drive of 70 Thrush Lane, New Canaan, Connecticut I found myself really appreciating the wooded environment and the imposing, elevated position the house occupied in its three acre grounds. I liked the look of this traditional house too. It seemed to be in two attractive parts – one timber and the other ivy clad stone – all under a slate roof. It looked very handsome indeed.

Inside, the separation suggested by the exterior elevations seemed to disappear through a very agreeable interior layout. The rooms were not that large, but they were not that small either, they were in fact beautifully proportioned. The decoration was not dated but comfortably contemporary with a neutral colour palette. The furnishings showed off the rooms perfectly. The kitchen and bathrooms were extremely well fitted. None of it shouted or argued. It just was.

Outside a rustic stone path led to a pool, fire pit and lovely garden/pool room which was also beautifully decorated. Manicured lawns with specimen trees and rhododendrons set off the house perfectly.

So then came the time for me to rate this property. On the basis that I would be looking for a house close to the excellent facilities of New Canaan (the rail time to Grand Central is just over an hour and you can always get a seat) and this was my correct price range, this house was clearly better than a seven. In fact it was really too good for an eight. Was this a rarer-than-rare nine? I had the beginnings of an uneasy feeling. I decided to try and sleep on it. This house was for me purely and simply a perfect home.  I came to the strange realisation that this was not a nine after all. It was a perfect ten. And the final test? My dad would have admired it and my mum would have adored it.

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A House for all Seasons

Posted on July 29, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty visits a Cape Cod home that tick all the boxes – whatever the season.

Agent: Debra Caney

Broker: Robert Paul Properties

Some people adore Cape Cod because summers are spent playing or relaxing on the beach, sailing, shopping in pretty, local villages and enjoying the company of friends, family and neighbours in great seafood restaurants and convivial bars.

Others enjoy Cape Cod in its more introspective mood. When the sea temperature goes down and the weather turns from sunny to grey, when the boats are in for the winter, when the light summer wardrobe is replaced with something warmer and heavier, and when the holiday crowds have disappeared back to Boston or New York, this is the time they enjoy most.

But I suspect that many enjoy both aspects of Cape Cod. If so then 19 Magnolia Avenue, West Hyannis Port is the perfect place to live. It ticks all the boxes.

From the rear of the house a path winds through the trees and down to the private beach. It only takes a few minutes. But they are important minuets. They make this not just a summer beach house but also a year round coastal house. From the windows of this traditional Cape Cod styled home with its shingle elevations and mansard roof there are far-reaching views over the beach to Nantucket Sound. In the summer the house opens up to welcome the salt-laden sea breeze and provide an inside/outside barbeque lifestyle. In the cooler seasons the house closes against Atlantic winds to create a warm and homely retreat after bracing seaside walks.

The renowned Kendall & Welch of Osterville built this house and they know a thing or two about creating homes in the area. But for interior style you need go no further than here. The interior is beautiful. It works. It says everything about living in Cape Cod. I wouldn’t change a thing.

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Hill Street Views

Posted on June 29, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty enjoys a fine house in a wonderful wooded setting yet within easy reach of beautiful Boston, Massachusetts.

Broker: Robert Paul Properties

Agent: Robert Kinlin

Just 25 minutes but a world away from Boston, Massachusetts is what New Englanders call an estate. In the UK an estate is either a heavily built up area of densely packed houses or conversely an enormous house with hundreds or thousands of acres of farmland, woodland, moor or mountain – the sort of thing you see on Downton Abbey.

But in the US an estate can be a fine house set in just a few acres with some outbuildings which could include a guest house, garaging, etc. Always tight for space we in the UK might call this a hamlet! So for those seeking easy access to Boston and its fine airport, and who want a little realm of their own not far away but screened off from the city’s hurly-burly by trees rather than houses, then 105 Hill Street could be for you. Let’s check it out.

You may like some age and the build up of a few layers of patina in your house – this one dates back to 1905. And you may prefer it to have been brought bang up to date by leading New York architects like Basil Walter – this home has been brought bang up to date by Basil Walter Architects. You may want it set in over six acres – check, with a 3 bedroom carriage house – check, an additional 3 bedroom apartment – check, beautifully landscaped gardens – check, and a wine cellar – check. Naturally you would want it to be sumptuously comfortable and superbly equipped – check, check.

With 13 bedrooms this house is set up for a family with some serious living to do. It is only a shortish drive away from the fabulous beaches of Ipswich Bay and all the cultural facilities and business district of Boston – not to mention world-class educational establishments such as Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

If you are in the market for a substantial house which is convenient and makes a stylish statement – but in a subtle New England sort of way – then this estate at Hill Street is well worth a view.

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Simple is Best

Posted on June 26, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty savours the California coastal lifestyle in Santa Barbara and asks, why make things complicated?

Broker: Village Properties

Agents: Grubb Campbell Real Estate Group

It can’t have gone completely unnoticed but big complicated houses aren’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea right now. It was probably the recession that finally did it. Now many owners don’t exactly want to flaunt wealth, and just how many bedrooms does one really need in this day and age of smaller families – especially for a second or even third home? If it’s over ten bedrooms perhaps it may better to buy a hotel! How may Lamborghinis does one need to stand in the garage. If it’s over three or four, buying a showroom may be the answer. How much land does one really need? If it’s over a hundred or so acres why not buy a farm? That way, at least, one gets some return on investment and a reason to own rather than just ownership for ownership’s sake. Anyway, that is how some are thinking.

Much the same thing happened after the Great War in the UK. Suddenly the big country houses – like the one featured in the TV show, Downton Abbey – were just not sustainable or credible in the post-war era. Things had moved on. Priorities had changed. Society thought differently.

Post great recession people think differently again. Also, tastes have changed dramatically. Out is the flounce and in are cleaner, simpler lines. In an ever-more complicated world many people seem to want a simpler way of living.

I was struck by all this recently when I visited a very attractive ranch-style house in Montecito. This is a simple home. It has a simply beautiful interior. It has a simply fabulous sunset view over the Pacific Ocean and it enjoys a simply wonderful location near to local amenities – but not too near.

Inside are light-filled rooms with clean lines that flow effortlessly from one to another – simple. Guests can be put where guests prefer to be – in their own guesthouse, which is just large enough to be comfortable but not large enough to tempt occupants to outstay their welcome – simple. Outside is a beautifully thought out garden with drought resistant planting that saves on irrigation, and terraces for entertaining just where they need to be – simple.

So for uncomplicated up-sizers, cross-sizers and downsizers not wanting to overdo on the space or clutter but not wanting to compromise on comfort and style either, here is the simple answer. Simple is best.

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A Borrowed Dream

Posted on June 25, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty looks at an enduring style in American architecture while savouring a beautiful home in New Canaan, Connecticut on the market with Barbara Cleary’s Realty Guild.

Broker: Barbara Cleary

I like American houses. They are done very well. They may borrow architectural styles from other places but, hey, everyone borrows architectural styles – the Romans borrowed from the Greeks and the Georgians borrowed from the Romans. Two hundred years ago this year, when Wellington was borrowing Germans, Dutch and Belgians to help him finish off Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, American architects were busy borrowing designs off the British – and the French. But then they did something else. They tweaked the Georgian look. This elegantly interpreted style became known as Federal and they have been doing Federal very well ever since.

In New England especially examples of this style both new and old can be found. They add to the elegant streetscape, they have become part of the vernacular.

So I was delighted to see this fine example of modern Federal – recently renovated under the watchful eye of the award winning local architect, Louise Brooks, of Brooks and Falotico. She has brought out the best in this beautifully proportioned house and dealt discreetly with all the things in a home that one wants to remain discreet and has, with élan, perfected a home that perfectly blends modernity with classicism.

Like many other American architects, Brooks adds something extra special to her homes that the Georgian architects of Great Britain missed – comfort. Old Georgian houses were draughty, damp affairs with miles of freezing corridor between the kitchen and the dining room. Typically an elderly retainer had to survive this marathon while whatever food was under the enormous silver-domed plate he was carrying became steadily colder. Perhaps this is where the UK’s erstwhile reputation for poor cuisine came from. But here in Brushy Ridge Road, New Canaan there will be hot food. That is because the beautiful dining room is where it should be – right next to the superb kitchen. But of course this is only the beginning

Here then is a house which brings together everything one really wants in a home – it is lovely to live in and beautiful to look at. In short it is fabulous to own. Put it on your list to see.

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Reno – I Kid You Not

Posted on June 24, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty unearths a rich seam of new wealth and opportunity in the old mining and gaming town of Reno, Nevada – and somewhere very special to live.

Broker: Chase International Realty

Agent: Sandi Solomonson

It is not only good to be writing about the most important house in Reno, Nevada. It is also good to be writing about Reno itself.

Now most may think of this desert city as a centre for mining, gaming and the seedier things in life that grew up semi-lawlessly from a Wild West frontier town. Some will also remember that Reno suffered more than most US cities in the last recession. But that is all old news.

The new news is of a city reinventing itself. In losing its less-than-wholesome identity it is building a new, young, exciting and highly entrepreneurial one. It has become an important college city. It is grasping with both hands industrial and technological opportunities that should draw over 50,000 workers to the city over the next few years, and create thousands of infrastructure and service sector jobs on top of that.

If you didn’t know it already there is next to no income tax in Nevada, which provides a powerful incentive to work here. The weather is sunny and hot, and Lake Tahoe – just over an hour away – must be the most beautiful place in the world in which to cool down.

So millionaires and billionaires, and many more hundreds-of-thousandaires are catching on that, right now, Reno is just about the most exciting city in the US in which to make a fortune – or another one. And they will all want somewhere to call home when they are in town.

Nowhere could be better than the Nixon Mansion. Built in 1907 for US Senator George Nixon, for years this house welcomed politicians and dignitaries before its slide from use and grace – almost reflecting the fall in fortunes of Reno itself. Unlived-in and unloved for about twenty years it provided an illicit meeting place for local teenagers who, no doubt, did there what teenagers do in illicit meeting places. But, remarkably, no one damaged the house. Even forlorn and largely forgotten, perhaps it still demanded too much respect for that. So the soot-laden fixtures and fittings where left untouched, creating a house frozen in time and grime.

Now this magnificent historic mansion standing on 2.03 acres has been meticulously restored. The 17,964 sq. ft. residence sits high up overlooking the winding Truckee River and has panoramic views of Downtown Reno with the magnificent Sierra Nevada Mountains as a backdrop. It is within walking distance of fine restaurants and the growing facilities of the Downtown district, and is just a short drive to Reno’s International Airport.

Reno saw a silver rush in 1859. Now there is a cyber/techno/industrial rush going on. Whether it is for the Nixon Mansion or anywhere else in this burgeoning town, get here quick or someone else will stake his or her claim before you do. I kid you not about Reno. The race is on.

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A Good Vintage

Posted on June 23, 2015 by mayfairblog
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Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty tastes the fruits of someone else’s labour in the Santa Ynez Valley, California.

Broker: Village Properties

Agent: Carey Kendall

For anyone who grew up watching westerns on the TV and at the cinema the Santa Ynez valley may, on the face of it, seem pretty familiar territory. Of course it hasn’t the haunting grandeur of Monument Valley but this dry-looking hill country of rocky gulches and ridges is the kind of place where a horse and rider can be spotted way off by a trail of dust.

But that is where the similarities today end. They may still breed horses in this place but something else thrives that never made it onto the screen – grapes. Over the past 45 years this valley has become verdant and one of the most highly respected wine producing areas in California – and therefore the world – with grape varieties including Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

So living here is a delicious pleasure. There aren’t that many neighbours, which also adds to the privilege. Scattered amongst the valley floor and flanking hillsides are some very fine homes indeed, many owned by names that certainly do make the film credits nowadays.

I went to see one of the best homes, La Bella Vista. This long, low, modern ranch-style house is very Californian yet it keeps its head well down. Set on top of a sharp ridge with outstanding valley and mountain views it hardly manages to make an impression on the natural ridgeline. But up close and personal this is a very distinctive and impressive home. In keeping with its low profile it stands at the end of a gate-protected mile long drive that snakes upward through mature olive groves to its lofty position.

The 9,837 sq ft 9 bedroom house also has a pool and spa, tennis court, 8 stall horse barn and guest quarters. There are 3000 olive trees producing about 38 tons of fruit a year and there is about 12 acres of irrigated pasture ready for the next owner to plant some vines and try and produce Châteaux La Bella Vista. So, La Bella Vista it seems is also La Bella opportunity. Saddle up and take a look.

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