Property of the week: A luxurious and unique CT home

While touring this home at 2 Thatcher Terrace in the Devonwood section of Farmington, one thought comes to mind: Pictures will not do it justice. Christy Muller of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, who is handling the sale, described it as being “quite spectacular.”

“It is,” said the architect, David Quisenberry, “a conventional, unconventional house, It’s intended to be familiar to people, in the terms of where rooms are. [But] it isn’t a standard center hall colonial.” Indeed, it is not.

This shingle style home impresses even before entering with its bluestone steps to the welcoming and covered front porch. The entry hall, with its 10-foot high coffered ceiling is spacious without being overwhelming, and features beautifully crafted archways that define the entries to the formal dining room on the left and the living room on the right. Shadow boxing on the walls adds to the elegance.

The living room is ideally sized for smaller gatherings. It features a fireplace and an alcove that easily accommodates a grand piano. At the far corner of the room is a doorway that leads to a wet bar and a room that was originally intended to be a home office or library. However, it now easily handles a billiard table. Continue past the wet bar and you will arrive in the great room, which is open to the kitchen.

The view from the great room’s fireplace to the kitchen’s eat-in dining area covers 76 feet, and it is spellbinding, with half walls and columns defining the space. The owner does a lot of entertaining and this area is ideal for large gatherings.

A chef will find the kitchen ideal. “It’s a true galley kitchen,” the homeowner said. Its island is large, more than 10-feet long, and features a raised section that separates a sink from space for completing homework assignments, serving a snack, or having a quick breakfast. The view from the sink takes in a porch with mahogany decking at the rear of the home and mature trees.

In addition to this main kitchen sink, there is a vegetable prep sink along the extended counter behind the island. It also has a commercial grade gas stove, large refrigerator, microwave oven, and ample storage. A dishwasher is in the island. Off to the side is the entrance to a kitchen office with room for two people to work simultaneously. “People really like these kitchen offices,” the homeowner said.

The kitchen accesses the butler’s pantry, which has a second dishwasher, and a large pantry with ample storage for china, utensils, and food. The formal dining room, with a tray ceiling, is just beyond. It has more storage space for the serving platters, extra dishes and linens.

At the rear of the first floor is the stairway that leads to the basement and the second and third levels. It wraps around a fully enclosed elevator that has wainscoting and a floor of Brazilian cherry, which is used throughout much of the home.

The stairs leading to the basement are fully finished and end in a mudroom, which has direct access to the outside. This is, as would be expected, no ordinary mudroom. It has a tile floor, wainscoting, built-in closets, crown molding, room for a second refrigerator, and access to a full bath that is ideally placed for dog washing.

It also leads to a spectacular garage with room for six cars. Its 44-foot width means you can do a u-turn in a Mini without backing up, and a double wide eight-foot high door makes it easy to back in a trailer with a boat.

For buyers without a car collection, the homeowner noted that it would be easy to add a wall that would leave enough space for two or three vehicles, while turning the remaining area over to another function.

The second floor has the home’s five bedrooms. The highlight is the primary suite, which is large, has a fireplace and a luxurious spa-like bath. A dual sink vanity and separate rooms for a very large shower and the commode are featured. There is also access to a dressing room and a spacious walk-in closet. Beyond that is the second floor laundry, which can be reached from the suite’s walk-in closet, from the bedroom, or from the hall.

The second floor has four other bedrooms and a central activity room. Two of the bedrooms feature private baths, while two others share a bath. There is also an easily accessed cedar closet.

On the third floor there is a fully enclosed, climate controlled soccer field. Measuring 32 by 52 feet, it has a foam padded artificial turf floor, built-in goals and a basketball hoop. The ceiling is very high so as not to interfere in play by either children or adults. The home’s owner has coached soccer and used this area for practice sessions during foul weather. Beyond this “soccer field” is an exercise room.

Client requests on other projects were the source of some of the ideas for features in this home. People would ask the architect to do something, and if he thought, “that’s really cool,” he kept it in mind and included it, when appropriate, in his new designs. Those ideas, and his care in the design, have made this home unique. It is an example of what is possible when a skilled architect designs and oversees the construction of a home.

Info:

Built:                            2003

Price:                           $1,675,000

Style:                           Shingle Style with Victorian Influences

Rooms:                       13

Bedrooms:                  5

Baths:                          5 full; 2 half

Square footage:          6,730

Acreage:                     0.85

Mill rate:                      29.32

Best Feature:              A gorgeous gorgeous home with unique spaces and features rarely — if                                                    ever — found elsewhere.

Contact:                      Christy Muller

William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

860-463-7684