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A Federal Case
Milford home blends in Greek Revival touches
By: Joseph Pronechen
Correspondent
In sight of Rolling Acres Orchard and with an open field unrolling across the street, this house in Milford harkens back
to the mid-19th century. With its shrubbery, ground cover, and trees soon to be in leaf (including two large birches), this house's mature landscaping in front and around the side
brings a settled, charming appearance to the center chimney Colonial.
Built around 1860, the exterior's primarily Federal style has hints of the Greek Revival style popular at the time.
Greek Revival touches are especially evident in the front gable architecture and the front door.
The door's fluted surround with dentil trim stands out against the new cedar
shingles in a natural shade. To the side, a glassed breezeway that joins the house with a large detached two-car garage blends comfortable into the federal/revival lines.
Inside a
neutral color scheme and abundant light show off the period details.
The front entry hall, for example, has one window at the bottom of the staircase and another half way up the
hall. And its wallpaper is patterned with delicate vining florals on a cream background. The cream color in turn is picked up in the neutral-painted molding in the rooms.
For example, the front parlor features a wide board floor fastened with square-head nails. The room is bathed in sun that filters through the house's six-over-six windows with then muntins.
The large fireplace, one of four in the house, has a mantle topping a wide surround with an atypical pair of deep flutes decorating both sides.
It is further framed by blue
wallcovering with a fabric-like texture.
Delicate crown molding and high baseboards outline the parlor's perimeter.
The front hall leads straight ahead to the formal dining
room, whose expanded proportions and large fireplace hints that the original kitchen was once part of this area.
The fireplace has a brick hearth and a big, simple mantle and
surround. Wallpaper in the dining room reverses the pattern in the front hallway. Here lighter florals twine around a colonial blue background.
Below the wallpaper is the
original wide board wainscoting set horizontally.
In one corner of the dining room there is a walk-in closet.
On the opposite side, louvered doors open to what was once the birthing room.
The cozy room has its own simple fireplace, wide board flooring in a deeper shade, and a step-in closet
whose plank door has prominent period hinges.
To the rear of the dining room, the new eat-in kitchen features cherry cabinets custom built on site by Italian craftsmen.
The cabinetry's Roman arch design and raised panels combine pleasingly with glass front accent doors.
The rich cherry is further enhanced by the new light strip oak flooring.
Deep green laminate countertops with faux marble pattern blend well into the overall picture, as do cream tile backsplashes with accent design.
Recessed lighting illuminates the entire
kitchen. A Whirlpool oven range and built-in microwave are conveniently located, and so is the window by the dining table across the room that frames a pleasing view of a graceful birch.
Most noticeable in this section is the chair rail and the dusty rose dado that bring an added measure of warmth to the area.
The kitchen features an enclosed rear staircase
that turns up to the second floor. Near it, a new pocket door slides open to access a laundry area plus a new bath with fully tiled tub/shower and light oak vanity.
Back in the
entry hall, the main staircase leads up to the three bedrooms. Halfway up, an attention-drawing arched window has clear center panes bordered by red, green, amber, and blue stained
glass. This detailed window appears added somewhere along the line.
In two of the bedrooms, carpeting covers the wide board flooring. The master bedroom is well-lit by three
windows and has a walk-in closet neatly adapted from a large alcove.
The second bedroom, also carpeted, features a chair rail that separates two kinds o wallpaper, a sailboat design on
top and a pin-dot pattern on the bottom.
The rear bedrooms share a full bath with tub/shower, tile floor, and a period pedestal sink.
The lower level has been transformed into a
pair of family rooms. The stairs leading from the kitchen to the rooms end at an informal anteroom with one stone wall left exposed as an accent.
There is also a half bath.
The first room skillfully combined original hand-hewn beams, some with bark left intact, and a few new additions.
Walls are covered in rough-sawn cedar.
One stretches out to feature built-in cabinets and shelving for books or entertainment.
The adjoining larger family room's focal point is a brick fireplace with stone hearth, oven,
and log storage.
Both rooms have plenty of windows and Berber carpeting. A door between the rooms leads to an enclosed patio.
The breezeway off the kitchen is turned into
a pleasant sunroom by its glass "walls" of windows with small panes. The window style blends well with the Colonial character.
To the rear, the breezeway accesses an oversized
deck that wraps around the garage and also steps down to the backyard's in-ground pool.
This house at 144 Stiles St. in
Milford is being offered at $325,000 by Erika Reti of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Broad St. at Green's End, Milford. For more information, call 203-878-7424.
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