KIM&ABIGAIL@REALINDARIEN.COM                            REAL ESTATE IN DARIEN & ROWAYTON

Archive for November, 2012

Getting ready for Christmas

Friday, November 30, 2012

The second Thanksgiving is over people move right into Christmas, and decorating for the holiday.  For a long time I resisted and waited until at least the first week of December to pass so I could feel the season coming on. The air changes and the leaves are truly gone after Thanksgiving.  It starts to feel like December.  Over the years I have given in, earlier and earlier, and now on December 1, I will start to DECK THE HALLS!   I felt inspired by some photos I have seen recently.

December will be a fun month for us here at Real in Darien.  We have a fun CONTEST coming up, and we will be showcasing the 12 PICKS FOR CHRISTMAS.  Maybe a set of house keys will find their way under your tree!

 

Welcome!

Merry Christmas. Nothing like lights to light up Santa’s path.

Great Idea for an outdoor urn. Thank you Martha, you always do come up with a Good Thing!

Gorgeous! and so welcoming.

Alessandra Branca’s signature red touch. Such a wonderful and welcoming hearth!

Stephen Sills…keep it about the spirit of giving. But, these presents do look so elegant and fabulous under the tree.

Focus on the ornaments! They make the best hostess gift.

LOVE LOVE this interior door. Christmas in California at Mary MacDonald’s.  One of my favorites.

Christmas… You can count on color at Tory Burch’s house!

Carolyn Roehm’s signature blue and white is gorgeous.

 

Ahhhh! Miles. Always fabulous.

rushing through the snow…Very excited for a fun and festive Christmas. With any luck it will be a white one!

 

 

 

Reward Yourself Luxuriously

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

If you’ve been extra good this year and can’t wait for Santa, reward yourself with this luxurious Michalian and Kohlberg rug. It’s exquisite in design and quality, with dimensions of 10′ width and 13′ length, and, it’s just been reduced from $3,950 to $2,950! The original purchase price was $12,000 so this is a steal the Grinch himself would love to roll up in his sack! What a festive way to warm and spruce up a room for the holidays, and who wouldn’t want to entertain with this beauty under foot.

E-mail mymfaulkner@optonline.net for assistance.

North Darien – where the land lies high and dry

Monday, November 26, 2012

Location and land that is high and dry. That’s something we can’t say about every property in Darien.  But this property sits high, and remains dry even after the worst of storms.  The property offers over 2 acres, beautifully maintained grass, and privacy on the beautiful and sought after Stephen Mather.

106 Stephan Mather

The house has 5 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and is approximately 4500 square feet.  Asking $2,575,000.  If you would like to see this property, please call us.

 

Sit and enjoy a family gathering. You can say ‘go play’ to the kids and mean it!

People work hard to make a flat back yard. Here, it is part of the package!

Bocce anyone?

Time for that sit-and-ride mower you were eyeing!

A flat open lawn is something to love!

This home is worth a look (or another).  Asking $2,499,000. Listed by Holly Hurd at Kelly Associates.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Wishing everyone a wonderful, safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Fabulous front door! What a way to greet friends and family on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite family holidays of the year.  There are so many ways to make coming home to celebrate beautiful and delicious.  Have fun with it.  Thinking we should do a Holiday Door Contest next year!  Any thoughts?

 

Beautiful maple leaves make a warm and festive table top centerpiece.

 

Maple leaves and other gatherings from your back yard can be dressed up as well

 

Even Mums look good when you put them in beautiful containers.

 

A nice alternative to the classic orange and brown themes of the season.

 

Then again, we do love our orange!

 

Another lovely country door. Very welcoming for all your family and friends. (Yes, even the Crows!)

 

Gobble Gobble!

 

Setting a beautiful table makes an already special family/friends gathering even better. (Gotta love that Christopher Hyland tiger stripe on the dining chair!)

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving…..Abigail & Kim.

Kensett – A very custom towhhouse to consider

Thursday, November 15, 2012

There is a new “community” in town called Kensett, and it is really NICE.  Up off of Hoyt Street, on 15 + acres, there will be 62 houses built, and developed into a new neighborhood. There is a pool, a club house, gardens, and services similar to what a condominium might offer, such as built in lawn care and road maintenance. They currently have two models to show.  A few have sold and they are aiming for a Spring ‘move-in’.

Kensett Club house. It has a gym, Great Room with a bar, and downstairs access to the pool.

We visited the newly styled model homes and were very impressed. Worth a look if you think that something like this would work for you. There are four townhouse layouts to choose from. Prices start around $1,300,000 for a 2/3 bedroom townhouse with fantastic finishes offered to make this a supremely custom home.

 

NORWOOD HOUSE – 3 Beds + Den /2 1/2 baths approximately 3300 square feet ( approx. + 775 square feet of finished basement if you want)

Dining area and living room are laid out to enjoy a chic yet casual lifestyle.

 

Beautiful open kitchen in the Norwood House. Gorgeous custom finishes are offered to make it your own.  No two houses are the same.

The island will be a wonderful work station or buffet for dining on the terrace.

Nice detail on the stairs. This townhouse has great flow for entertaining.  The sliding doors in the kitchen open up to a stone terrace.

 

Master walk-in closet

 

Living room in Norwood. Beautifully styled by Lynn Morgan, the chic and sophisticated decorator in Rowyaton, CT.

 

 

PIPER HOUSE : 4 bedrooms/3 1/3 baths (approx + 775 square feet of finished basement if you want).

 

Love the chalk board! Upstairs landing with a built-in desk are seating area.

 

Very chic the way they have painted the trim black. Love that detail! If you don’t love it you don’t have to have it. Remember – custom, custom, custom! French doors lead to the terrace off the living room.

 

L O V E the kitchen… The color, the lay out and the beautiful details in the finishes are gorgeous.  The ceiling height is fantastic.

 

Another angle of that “gorge” kitchen

 

A view to the living room.

 

A very serene  first floor Master Bedroom

 

Beautifully designed and built vanity off master which leads to bath and large walk in closet.

WOW! You can have any kind of tub you want.

 

Don’t bring your kids to the showing. You won’t get them out! A great way to handle bunk beds!!

 

That blue tile in the kids bath is fantastic.

 

Big fabulous laundry room. The tiles are sensational!

These townhouses really offer something different in Darien.  They are well done and could offer an interesting alternative to for you!  If you would like to see these townhouses, please call us.  We would love to show you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are currently working with an agent, this is not a solicitation.

Out on the trail…..

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

So much has been going on the past few weeks. Our Sister Parish Design trunk show was a great success.  If you missed it, check out the website!  It really is great stuff.  www.sisterparishdesign.com .

Then the hurricane!

It is time to get back to work and update you on what we have seen out “on the trail”.   Here are some highlights:

14 Park Place Victorian

A particularly good kitchen and family room. Has a nice Swedish feel to it.

14 Park Place is a really nice, sunny home listed for $889,000.  This 1990 square foot home has a wonderful kitchen and breakfast area that open to a spacious family room (with radiant heat).  On the 2nd floor are 2 bedrooms (was 3 converted to 2) and the third floor has a spacious master.  It has numerous closets and a spa like bathroom. It’s a winner! This price range has been limited so I am excited to show it to some clients this weekend. (This property is no longer available. Prudential CT.)

 

This picture is disappointing. 278 Noroton is amazing in person.

 

278 Noroton Avenue, listed for $1,285,000, is the home I used to live next door to.  It is a very distinctive green victorian with a unique garage portico and porch with a turret.  This home has a lot of rooms and space and with a good architect, could be a landmark in this area. Listing through William Raveis.

8 Fox Hill Lane entry

The kitchen is a very pretty hue of sage green. A nice diversion from the “white kitchen”.

Family room opens up the kitchen.

 

8 Fox Hill Lane is a cape with a ranch feel that has been fully supped up (listed for $2,195,000).  4516 square feet, 5 bedrooms and 1 lovely acre on a great in town street.  It has loads of gracious sun filled rooms and a very elegant feel.  The kitchen is on the smaller size but I loved the green painted cabinets. Listed by Leigh Finley at Kelly Associates.

 

 

 

Noteworthy Price reductions:

79 Hollow Tree Ridge Road

79 Hollow Tree Ridge Road has been reduced from $1,575,000 to $1,395,000.  Who can forget the Benjamin Weed House that is just a few homes down from 89 Hollow Tree. With its 4 foot high fireplace with beehive oven and modern updates, this home should not be overlooked. THIS PROPERTY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE/ Kelly Associates.

 

Both these homes are favorites of ours and we are surprised they are still available.  Quite an opportunity here!

 

 

 

 

 

If you are working with an agent, this is not a solicitation.

Wishing everyone a safe recovery

Monday, November 5, 2012

Hurriane Sandy, October 2012. A storm we will all never forget.

What an incredible last seven days we have all had. We have a lot to be grateful for, yet we remain shocked and saddened at the damage and the loss so many people we know have suffered.  Our hearts are with them.  If there is anything you need, please reach out. There may be something we can do to help. We have received information from several different sources on short term rentals and other housing options.

Things are still not moving all that fast here at Real in Darien.  Still no power (day 7).  I am told it will be tomorrow but I don’t see any of the CL&P trucks around.  I have no doubt they are working hard and as fast as they can, but this has been a long 7 days.  Stay safe and warm.

 

Abigail and Kim