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This elegant Georgian home,
built in the 1920's, takes a departure from strict Georgian principles with a
distinctive French flair, which can be seen in the roof line and the celadon
color of the window shutters.Georgian
elements include the front entranceway with its pilasters, Greek-inspired
pediment with finial, but walk along the driveway side of the house and the
irrepressible French influence beguiles the viewer. A balcony with delicately
wrought French ironwork, flower boxes, and French doors gives the viewer a
sense of a grand French country home, Yellow and white awnings complete the
effect. With this unique mix of Georgian and French elements, this lovely home
is at once both stately and charmingly inviting.
Traditional features of the
Georgian home are noted upon entering, in the form of the center hall, which
divides the living room and dining room, six-over-nine panes of glass in the
double hung windows, and the classically inspired fireplace.
The current owners have lived
in England and France and many of the treasures in their home made the
trans-Atlantic trip to the U.S., including a particularly fine antique English
cabinet. Wall maps depict areas where the family lived while in Europe. A
Steinway grand piano dated 1827 graces the living room,
The family room is a recent
addition to the house, added by the current owners. The original outside brick
wall, including a window, adds a charming effect, and now acts as an interior
wall, separating this room from the kitchen. Oak flooring with radiant heating
was installed. Bookshelves line one wall, while large windows, French doors and
bright blue paint enhance two walls, giving the room the feel of a screened
porch. A skylight adds to the sunny, open feel of the room.
An arched door leads from the
family room to the completely remodeled kitchen. Here the owners' love of
French country design comes through. Glass cabinet doors are lined with chicken
wire. Walls are a mustard color, and blues, yellows and reds are used throughout
the room. Rooster motifs pop up here and there. A Portuguese sundial forms the
center of the backsplash on the wall behind the stove. A French style oven hood
mirrors the roof of the house.
Outside, a lovely, secluded
patio and garden nestles on one side of the house. Formal statuary as well as
elegant plantings, such as the Japanese cut leaf maple, lend an aura of quiet
serenity to this space.
While many homes and their
owners seem ideally suited to each other, this pairing has a particularly romantic
story. The parents of the lady of the house always loved this home, as did she,
but although it came on the market a few times over the years, it did not
coincide with their needs at those particular times. Finally the home, probably
impatient to be occupied by one who loved it so well, came on the market just
as the current owners were leaving for an extended overseas stay. The lady
phoned the realtor from France, her fond husband agreed it was the perfect home
for them, and all have lived happily ever after. |