If you are looking for a traditional New England colonial, you’ll have to keep searching. However, if you have been searching for a majestic mansion that has recently been restored in its entirety while still retaining its 1920s history, this modernized gem in Weston, Connecticut, is for you.
Located just a few houses down from where Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald honeymooned during the summer of 1920, the 6,784-square-foot house sits on an acre parcel and offers a step back in history with all of the modern and luxury conveniences.
With gold fixtures and striking lines, the art deco design influence is showcased in the fine … [+]
Listing agent Maryann Levanti of The Higgins Group Private Brokerage shares that luxury home-builder CCO Habitats led the project, which brought the home full-circle following an extensive renovation. “CCO Habitats is a local builder that does lots of new construction, but one of their passions is saving houses. Restoring a house is much more difficult to do than to knock it down and build a new home. It’s been an incredibly complicated project to restore the home, but they did an amazing job and have created something really special in town. The neighbors are just so happy it was able to be saved.”
The house was built in 1926 and is located on a beautiful street in a very desirable location. “Everyone wanted to save the house but knew it would be a very complicated renovation,” she said. “We wanted to save the charm and character and knew if we couldn’t keep some of the original fixtures, we would keep the original style.”
One of the many versatile bedrooms within the home; bright and airy with plenty of ways to utilize … [+]
While they opened a few walls and moved some stairways, Levanti reveals, “it makes much more sense now. It’s a quirky home, but certainly a special one. It’s so open, airy, light and bright.”
The house now offers a versatile floor plan that could appeal to anyone from a couple to a family with several children. “It’s not your traditional layout,” she said. “The bedrooms are close to each other but scattered so you get privacy. The first-floor room could be a formal office, but it also has a full bathroom, so you could use it as a guest suite. The house could have anywhere from four to seven bedrooms, depending on how you use them. We have set it up with four formal bedrooms and one office.”
One of five of the original fireplaces that were kept in the restoration.
There are five fireplaces that can also be found throughout the house. “We kept all of them, but did seal two off,” the agent shares.
During the restoration process, they uncovered some surprises and worked painstakingly at times to preserve the home’s classic features. The floors, in particular, was a tedious project that involved removing 12 coats of varnish and bleaching the original boards individually, Levanti notes.
Vintage hardware contrasts with crisp white cabinetry in the kitchen.
“The floors are just the most amazing thing. There are white oak and red oak floors, all of different sizes and varying lengths and widths. We could have had new floors installed, but then it wouldn’t have retained its original historic look,” she adds.
In the kitchen, new cabinetry is adorned with the home’s original hardware. The vintage knobs and pulls, darkened over the years to a beautiful patina, provide a visual contrast against the crisp white fronts of the cabinets. Weeping brickwork was painted to match the aesthetic.
Densely packed waterfront homes reflect the popularity of the Gold Coast town, which is among the … [+]
As for the next homeowner, Levanti believes it will likely be someone with an appreciation for the fine details.
“When builders build homes, they don’t build totally different homes,” she explains. “They build to the masses and appeal to the most number of buyers, but there is a small population that wants the exact opposite. That’s who we are appealing to – the ones who want the charm, character and whimsy. We are looking for someone who thinks outside the box, who is looking for that charm and character that you won’t get from new construction.”
Westport’s Compo Beach is a popular spot in the area.
The Higgins Group Private Brokerage has the listing for 8 Mayflower Parkway in Westport, Connecticut. The asking price is $3.998 million.
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