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Archive for July, 2014

Two for Tuesday

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

This Stickley Audi & Co. club chair is truly versatile since it can be used anywhere and with two covers to choose from. The piece was originally covered in a stunning red chinoiserie with a custom down seat. In addition, a Good Goods neutral slip cover was created. Both are in excellent condition and rarely used.

Dimensions are 42″w x 30.5″h x 37″d.

PRICE:  $500

E-mail mymfaulkner@optonline.net for assistance.

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Tiger Lily of Greenwich: No Longer Available

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

This is such a great chaise, cozy and classic. Currently, it’s upholstered in a light blue and white quilted pinstripe by Robert Allen. Keep it as is because it’s in great condition or reupholster to suit your style and needs.

Dimensions are 32.5″w x 63.5″d x 31.5″h.

PRICE:  $600

E-mail mymfaulkner@optonline.net for assistance.
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Please welcome our first guest blogger – Louise Foerster

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Doorknobs and Destiny

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We came upon Darien after months of looking. It was time to move. We’d finished renovating our condominium in Valley Cottage, New York and were ready to sell it. The idea was to move to Westchester or Fairfield counties for an easier commute into New York City.

It was an exciting and aggravating time. Already, we had bid on and lost several houses in different towns. It was a red-hot market filled with avid buyers. No matter how fast we made up our minds about a house, we were too late to win.

I’d heard about Darien from a friend at work. While we’d never seen it, she was so enthusiastic about it that we decided to take a look.

It was a gray, dismal fall Saturday when we followed the directions to meet our broker. We weren’t hoping for much given our weeks of disappointments.          However, at the first house we toured, I felt a shimmer of excitement. It happened again at the second house. All morning long, I thrilled at the different styles of house and neighborhoods where children played street hockey and people said hello.

I was a child again. It was Christmas at Grandma’s house in Bedford. Her house was a small Cape Cod filled with laughter, cousins, and Christmas decorations. We ate fast at the kids’ table in the kitchen so that we could fly out into the foot-deep snow.

Grandma’s house had glass doorknobs. My family lived in new houses with raw yards and moved every few years. Our doorknobs were shiny, brassy and easily damaged. Her doorknobs were warm and sparkly.

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Once we saw Darien, there was no going back. We changed out the flimsy doorknobs in our condo with sturdy brass ones. In a market clogged with larger, better-featured units, ours sold in days.

We went back to Darien to lose several bidding wars. Ultimately, we won a treasure in an old, broken-down house that looked pretty from the outside. Inside was a different story. It stank with hardwood floors stained by dogs that couldn’t wait, water-logged wallpaper, and neglect. When we showed it to our parents, they asked if we could get out of the deal. Still, it had plaster walls, hardwood floors, and glass doorknobs

Several years later, the house glowed. We’d restored it to its original charm, keeping only the glass doorknobs. When we admired the newly painted floor in the garage, we knew that it was time to move on.

Months later, we found another under-loved older house in Darien. This time, the doorknobs weren’t glass. They were older ones, solid brass and warm to the touch.

We mentioned to a fellow old-house lover how it was strange that there were two very different types of doorknobs in the house: finely wrought ones in most of the house and thick, blunt ones in the kitchen and tiny rooms off a back hallway. She grinned telling us that this was social status made apparent; the nicer doorknobs were only for family and visitors. The housekeeper and gardener got the crude ones for the rooms where they worked and lived.

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Recently, a friend moved into an old house in Rowayton that she and her husband lovingly restored . In updating its flow, they changed doors and needed more glass doorknobs to match the rest of the house. They found them on e-bay. The “new” old glass doorknobs fit in perfectly with the original ones.

When I got home, I was so excited that I browsed for glass doorknobs all over the internet. I wandered through etsy as well as other house-focused sites. Everywhere I looked, I was stunned by the abundance of magical doorknobs.

Many of the doorknobs had stories. One seller apologized for a slight violet hue in her doorknobs, seemingly unaware that some old glass ages like that?

One story grabbed me by the throat. The seller had a single, exquisite glass doorknob in perfect condition, purported to be from an old farmhouse in upstate New York. I imagined it as the sole indulgence of an owner who needed one bright touch of beauty in a hard way of life. I had to have that doorknob. I sent in a bid, won, and days later ripped open a brilliant glass doorknob packed with great care.

Now that I know how to find perfect doorknobs, I am empowered. We can live anywhere, restore more sad old houses or delight in move-in-ready cottages. I know where to get the perfect doorknobs to make our house into our home.

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A door at 35 Sunswyck.

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The lock makes this door knob at 35 Sunswyck even move special.

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Thank you Louise for this blog highlighting the importance of doorknobs. Don’t ever skimp on the details that can make all the difference in a home.

 

Let’s take a drive north of the border-Pound Ridge

Thursday, July 10, 2014

I was recently at a friends home in Pound Ridge and thought it would be interesting to blog about it especially given how different our markets are. A recent addition to the market, “Cloverleigh” is gorgeous 7000 sq ft Colonial on 7.34 acres abutting preserve!    29 Threshing Rock Road is offered at $2,287,000 through Eric Rosenfield at William Raveis.

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Situated at the end of a private cul de sac, this grand home sets a presence early on.

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Tom D’Orio of Weston was the builder and has done several high quality jobs throughout Bedford, New Canaan and Pound Ridge. This home has everything you would expect, windows throughout, white oak floors, laundry room, closets and more closets, sound system and generator.  It has all those important details we look for.

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This pink living room reminds me of a House Beautiful issue. Supposedly everyone looks gorgeous in a pink room.

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Love the back to back sofa.

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The dining room has the most pleasing and beautiful green wallpaper.

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I was very distracted by this gorgeous Ralph Lauren piece. The glass shimmered.

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My favorite spot…the grasscloth covered, Vaughen lit breakfast room. This sun filled room offers you a serene place for coffee or a spot to enjoy the sunsets.

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Just loved this spot in the kitchen that hosted shells from the family journeys.

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What a couch…..room for everyone. It is perfectly scaled to the room.

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The dogs had a great time following me around. This is a hall from the breakfast room to the family room that runs across the back of the house.

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The bedrooms are large and perfectly scaled.

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OHHHH the fabric. That China Seas will take her all the way to adulthood.

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LOVE the Brunschwig drum nightstand.

 

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The master suite is super zen and sophisticated.

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Views from every room, even the dogs want to take it in.

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What an elegant landing.

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NEVER overlook the powder room. Just like 19 Sunnyside, it is a small spot that can make a statement.

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A large deck travels the whole back of the house.

 

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Site for a pool and tennis court. Imagine the pool and pool house here and you have created your own retreat.

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Uniquely sited on acres of flat lawn bordered by woodlands for privacy,The extensive lawns are perfectly suited for ball fields, play areas or cocktails at sunset.

We can’t forget the large walkout basement with sliding glass doors., an au pair suite, a hobby room and tons of storage.

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There is a peacefulness to Pound Ridge that is hard to match in the commutable tri state area. You can truly get away from it all without having to drive a few hours and fight traffic. No traffic, no traffic lights. Beware of turtles crossing the road during the spring mating season or the wild turkeys crossing.

There are great restaurants – DiNardo’s (the best pizza) with a casual front room and patio for family dining and a more formal dining room. North Star, great live music. Jean George’s, the Inn at Pound Ridge…..fab. Richard Gere’s Bedford Post. He is at the restaurant/hotel often and takes yoga classes at The Loft, which is on the hotel property. Superb fine cheese shop, Plum Plums in Scott’s Corners. Scott’s corners is what we call our town area. That is where DiNardis and North Star are located. Local farmers market in Pound Ridge on Sundays. Organic, non-GMO raised chicken and beef, veggies and baked foods.

We would love to show you this spectacular property. If you want to head north across the border, give us a call.

 

Pictures courtesy of Real in Darien and William Raveis.

 

“Krazy” for Kazak

Thursday, July 3, 2014

I am “KRAZY” for this Lillian August love seat, re-upholstered in Quadrille linen/cotton Kazak pattern. I could easily see this against a teal blue wall with splashes of vibrant color everywhere! This would make it in the Elle Decor color edition for sure. LOVE IT and you will, too.

Dimensions are upon request.

PRICE:  $1,500

E-mail mymfaulkner@optonline.net for assistance.

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