2023 Fall Real Estate Showcase

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modern from to marvel haven

THE TRANSFORMATION OF A GEODESIC DOME HOME

by Gretchen A. Peck

across Fairfield County, Connecticut, one finds a spectrum of architectural styles There are antique Colonials and Victorians dating back centuries European-inspired villas; Tudors Georgians and Cotswold-style homes, saltboxes, ranches and farmhouses Connecticut’s coastline greatly influences the number of shingle-sided homes here, and Fairfield County is well known for its remarkable examples of Mid-Century Modern architecture

What you don’t often encounter are geodesic dome homes, but there’s a pristine example of one at 19 Garner Street, Norwalk, and the 0.22 property is currently offered to the market for $789,000.

Originally invented in Germany in 1922, Geodesic Domes did not see widespread use until the mid-1970s when prefabricated kits enticed a generation of do-it-yourselfers according to Washington state’s Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia

“Geodesic Domes are often identified with the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s, and became popularized after inventor architect, engineer and mathematician R. Buckminster Fuller lectured world-

wide on the potential use and efficiency of the structure,” according to the Department’s website

The geodesic dome shape isn’t just eye-catching, it affords some practicality The materials to build the home can be lighter and easier to transport, yet when the structure is erected, it’s exceptionally strong by design. They can be more energy efficient and wind-resistant, compared to traditional rectangular architecture And for homeowners who appreciate true open-plan design, a geodesic dome home checks the box.

The Dome

The geodesic dome at 19 Garner Street in Norwalk is aptly named “The Dome ” Michael Carey a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty in Greenwich is the listing agent, and he offered some firsthand insight into the special home

CONTINUE geodesic ON PAGE 14

Left: A second-level loft overlooks the great room below Right: One of the characteristics of geodesic design is that it affords true open-plan living spaces. Photos: Realty Plans for Sotheby’s International Realty

HOMEBARS

The Ultimate Game Day Luxury

by Gretchen A. Peck

watching sporting events and cheering for our favorite sports teams is a beloved American pastime Statista estimated that 57 5 million people watched (or livestreamed) at least one sporting event per month in 2021 alone The digital statistics publisher estimated that number would rise to more than 90 million by 2025

And what better way to enjoy a fiercely contested match than with friends and family members gathered around a big screen that s mere steps away from a bar a personal pub

An at-home bar built into the design of a room can reflect the homeowner’s style and décor preferences It might be traditional with a reclaimed mahogany bar and brass rails, or a design that’s more modern, sleek The best-equipped wet bars have storage for glassware and serving ware, ice makers and beverage refrigerators a sink and dishwasher task space and nooks for appliances like blenders and coffeemakers The goal is to create an inviting space and a convenient amenity

At 111-40 Acre Mountain Road in Danbury a four-bedroom custom-built colonial currently offered

to the market for $549 900 the homeowner created a lower-level pub room, with a brick bar, tile floor, plenty of wall space for sports memorabilia, and room for three or four barstools It s a fine entertaining complement to the 3 29-acre property s pool entertaining decks and outdoor fireplace built-in grill and pizza oven Blair Patterson a sales associate with William Raveis Real Estate in Danbury, is the listing agent

A beautiful bar at the heart of the floor plan

In 1992, a custom-built colonial came to life at 15 Patchen Lane in Weston Part of a cul-de-sac community, the five-bedroom house, attached three-car garage and gunite pool are situated on 2 18 acres The property is for sale with a $1 599 million asking price The listing agent Broker Maryann Ross Levanti with Higgins Group Bedford Square, created 15PatchenLane com to showcase the property, including a special amenity a built-in bar in the middle of the first-level floor plan Its steps

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asautumn inches closer on the calendar, so too does the time of year in Fairfield County when our time is spent mostly indoors Its a true luxury to have an outdoor living space that can be used well into the fall and perhaps even into the winter months, with just a few investments in furnishings and creature comforts

My listing at 165 Weeburn Drive in New Canaan has an outdoor cooking center an eating area with a retractable covered awning, and a wood-burning outdoor fireplace,” Marsha Charles, a luxury property specialist with Coldwell Banker, suggested It lends itself to extending outdoor living throughout the fall even after the pool and spa are closed ”

Built in 2008, this six-bedroom, 165 Weeburn Drive has elegant entertaining spaces, inside and outside of the luxury home currently offered to the market for $4.195 million. The house attached three-car garage, pool and outdoor living spaces are positioned among 2.01 acres, with lawn, gardens and specimen trees.

Christi McEldowney senior sales associate with William Raveis Real Estate suggested designing an outdoor space as you would an interior room for comfort, color and texture.

“Adding plants, grasses and lush arrangements gives life to any patio, she said. “Throw pillows are not only pleasing to the eye but provide a sense of coziness and relaxation for your guests.”

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Gretchen A. Peck

One of McEldowney s current listings is 531/535 Fairfield Beach Road, Fairfield a six-bedroom beachfront home with a remarkable expansive patio overlooking the lapping waters of Long Island Sound In addition to the patio, which has plenty of room for seating vignettes, outdoor kitchen equipment, heating towers, a fire pit and more the 5 500-square-foot house also has two levels of covered decks looking out to the water as well The asking price for the property is $4 1 million

Connie Widmann leads Connie Widmann & Team at William Raveis Real Estate in Newtown, where she s the sales vice president.

The team is serving as the listing agents for 15 Taunton Lake in Newtown. Built in 2006, the four-bedroom, 13,332-square-foot luxury home is situated on 6.20 acres, lakefront. The asking price is $4.75 million.

This exceptional home has a walkout lower level with indoor entertaining space that opens to a party-accommodating pool terrace a separate outdoor kitchen a firepit seating area and lovely lawns overlooking the lake Off the main level there’s also a spacious deck for lounge seating and dining furnishings

‘‘Widmann offered a tip for extending the use of outdoor living space:

well into the fall

Kate Kubisek, a Realtor with the List and Buy Team at Coldwell Banker Realty agreed that décor can make outdoor spaces useful well into the fall. She and teammate Barbara Baughman are the listing agents for 34 Longview Drive in Brookfield—on the market for $985,000. This four-bedroom home was built in 2019 on a 0.26-acre lot with mesmerizing views of Candlewood Lake from the expansive backyard deck.

“Add brightly colored throws to couches and chairs, and outdoor carpets under them to add warmth from head to toe,” Kubisek suggested. “Give the space a coziness with lighting and fall plants.”

Top: At 15 Taunton Lake, Newton, there is a fully equipped outdoor kitchen among the grounds Bottom: Lakefront on 6.20 acres, 15 Taunton Lake Road in Newtown, is a fourbedroom, 13,322-square-foot luxury home listed for $4.75 million by Connie Widmann & Team at William Raveis Real Estate The acreage allows for multiple outdoor living areas, including a bluestone terrace, embraced by glass walls and appended with two cozy fire tables

Photos: William Raveis Real Estate

I like to add cozy wool blankets to outdoor seating areas, to keep warm on beautiful fall evenings Standing patio heaters are also a great tool to extend outdoor dining and entertaining

Asked about the origin story of this home Carey explained “The Dome was designed by a company in Florida, and the original owner is a bohemian and eccentric artist who lived simply and for his art The Dome was outfitted for accommodating his work in metal and all of the interior and exterior railings as well as the sculptural main staircase were handmade by him ”

“There was, however, no A/C, washer and dryer, nor dishwasher,” he added. “He also relied heavily on a wood stove in the living room for heat. He left the grounds as they were post-construction.”

Carey s clients Mark McMillen and Timothy Burnash purchased the home from the artist and made a number of improvements to the exterior, interiors and surrounding landscaping Carey described their labors of love as extensive

They replaced all the windows and doors and painted the exterior

“All interior doors were replaced with solid wood and glass, with oil-rubbed bronze hardware by Baldwin,” Carey noted They updated the lighting, replastered and repainted the interior walls, and installed a new staircase

The bathrooms were stripped and completely renovated with new custom tile work modern vanities Robern mirrored medicine chests with interior electrical and California fixtures all from Bender’s Norwalk ” he said

The current owners also gut-renovated the kitchen, repositioning the sink to allow for sightlines into the living and dining areas and outside to the Norwalk River, Norwalk Harbor and south to Long Island Sound.

“Upper cabinets were replaced with open, floating shelves of butcher block salvaged from the kitchen of a renowned rug designer,” Carey said. “The same butcher block was used on the bar counter, adding warmth.

“The modern cabinets were custom designed by Rings End in Darien and include dish drawers, slide-outs for pots and pans, and swing-out shelving to make use of all space,” he continued. “The countertops are honed quartz, with the soft texture and color of fresh cement. The refrigerator was moved to the newly designed pantry area, which includes custom shelving and top-of-the-line Electrolux washer and dryer A five-burner

Geodesic domes have an

Bosch gas oven, with a warming drawer, was installed along with a custom rounded hood vent. An ultra-quiet Bosch dishwasher was also added.”

As with Mid-Century Modern and Contemporary architecture, a geodesic dome has an important relationship with its natural setting.

The owners paid considerable attention to the landscaping, as well. They created pathways, seating areas and gardens. Flowering pear trees, rhododendrons, a Japanese maple, Hinoki cypress, boxwoods and ornamental grasses were introduced to the yard, and outdoor lighting was added to highlight the home and landscaping elements.

“The Dome is perched high on a rocky peninsula, overlooking the newly built Waypoint area, as well as historic South Norwalk, SoNo both walkable, as is the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion park Maritime Aquarium and Stepping Stones Museum for Children Carey remarked “Bloomingdales and the new SoNo Collection, which includes restaurants, is at the bottom of the street The neighborhood consists of architecture mainly from the 30s and 40s, where everyone is friendly and takes pride in their homes

with its natural setting

The custom kitchen at 19 Garner Street is sleek and modern, with lots of task space and storage. Photo: Realty Plans for Sotheby’s International Realty

Let us be your resource.

From a Greenwich estate to a split level in Groton, go to this newspaper’s website, and click on “Real Estate” for a comprehensive listing of properties from across the state, along with informative stories and interesting profiles.