|
HOME with a VIEW
by Joseph Pronechen, CT Post Correspondent
Queen Anne Victorian has a Sound outlook
When the Poli complex of villas sprung up at water's edge in the borough of Woodmont earlier in the century, this nearby Queen Anne Victorian had already seen many seasons at the cove.
While the
Poli complex was put up by a movie mogul, this residence was constructed in the 1890' by a member of the Merwin family, which traced its roots to the founding of Milford.
He built it for his daughter Abigail, the namesake for the street.
The views are lovely from many locations in the house, as well as from the bluestone patio along the aback, from the carpet-like
lawn leading from low hedges toward the water, and from the 100 feet of sandy beach fronting the breaker wall.
It's no surprise that the original orientation of the house's front was to the water
and, despite the streetside main entrance, remains so.
This later front entrance is in an arched porch with two columns and lattice trim. It hints at Queen Anne style, which in this case is
simpler, minus gingerbread after siding was added years ago.
Inside as well as out, the house melds styles that look like they've always been together even though the original entry might just be
"hidden" in the newer spacious foyer that stretches left to the 1965 addition, and right into a passway to the main house. Straight ahead, the bluestone entry also views and accesses both the patio
and the beach.
The passway leading into the living room has double closets and, opposite them, a half bath in white and black tile.
Immediately noticeable in the living room are the
refinished hardwood floors.
Throughout all three levels, they shine in both oak and pine for complementary contrasts. Just as noticeable are the arches, from originals to the newer shapes joining them unobtrusively, such as in the recessed display above the fireplace that replaces a mantle.
The marble fireplace, in swirl variation of sand, also has a wood surround with rope braid and hand-carved tops. Next to the fireplace is a matching recessed arch, also for displays.
Midway in the living room, a large alcove with a rectangular, walk-in bay for a sofa, angles off the side to view the cove and the Sound.
Where there are no arches, wider woodwork
outlines doorways and windows with such items as plinth blocks. But archways access dining room and natural flow into the Florida room-family room.
Once an outside porch, this all-season
room with glass on three sides follows the length of the main house. The windows are in character and have the added feature of being Connecticut-made, lock-down hurricane ones.
The wide
door, another path out to the patio and beach, is made to keep sand out. Everything is designed for enjoying sights of the cove and Sound. Because of the open view through arches, even areas
in the dining room on the street-side of the living room can see the water. A formal dining room, with fluted and petite crown molding and chair rail, has a 3-sided walk-in bay.
New French
doors lead to a former front porch now being closed in as a den. To the side, a door swings to the kitchen. Its plentiful white enameled cabinets, with thick wood doors, have some brass
hinges that likely date back at least 60 years. They're joined in this eclectic kitchen by features such as 50' Formica counter tops, a commercial stainless preparation counter with double stainless
sinks, crown molding, and large center island. Convenient for the chef, there's a Thermador cooktop set in the island's Formica top that simulates granite.
At the other end is a snack bar whose curve is the negative of the nearby archway to a secondary front entrance.
Steps away, another wide arch opens to a large breakfast area.
Subtle balances of this kind are built into the architecture. For example, some wood trim upstairs is the negative pattern of trim on the first floor. And the original and addition spindle staircases at either end of the house, both visible at the same time, are identical.
Upstairs, polished oak and pine floors brighten and unify.
Off the landing on the Sound side is the master bedroom whose ample closets have original brass hardware. The masterbath is well preserved with loads of white tile with cobalt blue tile borders. This tile continues into an original walk-in lighted shower, and into a linen closet behind a mirrored door. The wide sink adds to the décor. Off the bedroom is a private, copper-floored balcony that's shaped somewhat like a quarter turret.
This balcony is accessible to the adjoining bedroom also, which is reached from the landing by a passway with linen and clothes closets.
All of the closets have lights. This airy room has serene views of the Sound, a jalousie door to the balcony, and a white and cobalt blue tiled bath in similar style to that of the master bedroom's. In fact, the full hall bath between two bedrooms at the far end repeats the original white/cobalt blue design, with lighted walk-in tiled shower. It too is well preserved.
Many bedrooms glimpse the water. For example, instead of a walk-in closet, one has banks of closets on either side of a passway ending at a window.
The stairway on the third floor
has carved pecan posts and treads made of ship's wood.
Multi-angled walls, ceilings, and alcoves personalize the rooms here. One, with high views of the sound through triple windows, can be a sitting room for a suite. The original full bath repeats with antique fixtures for the tub and white and black tile.
The addition off the main entry's other side has garages, topped by an expanded studio/home office/family room with half bath, used by a magazine illustrator. Windows bring in beach sights
of blue and gray herons, egrets, swans, and bluefish – another connection of this cove house to a turn-of-the century era.
|
|
