Property of the week: CT home with colonial architecture that accommodates contemporary living

From the outside, this Connecticut suburb center hall colonial at has undeniable curb appeal.

“It’s a very attractive home, surrounded by mature trees, and on a very private lot that backs up to town-owned conservation land,” said Christy Muller of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

She is handling the sale of 5 Exeter Park, Farmington. It is also on a cul-de-sac that is off another cul-de-sac, meaning that traffic borders on being nonexistent.

Adding to its aesthetic appeal, “Jack Kemper designed this custom built home, which has beautiful detail as well as professional landscaping with rhododendrons and azaleas. The drive up in the spring pops with color,” Muller added. These plantings are currently in full bloom.

The highly attractive exterior of this home, with its recessed, paneled main entrance that protects visitors at the front door from the weather, only hints at what awaits inside. For it is inside that a visitor will find a perfect combination of traditional colonial design and contemporary open spaces that are perfect for modern lifestyles. “This home has a great flow, with tons of natural light,” Muller said of the floor plan.

The two-story high entry foyer sets the tone with its carefully crafted open stairway to the second floor and its marble floor. To the right is a formal living room. Its fireplace, one of two in the home, is this room’s focal point. To the left is the formal dining room with a built-in curio cabinet that is “very pretty,” Muller said. She then added, “The rooms are nicely proportioned, and beyond the marble entry, the home has hardwood flooring throughout and crown molding in almost every room.”

Walk straight from the entry foyer toward the back of the home and you will leave the traditional colonial floor plan behind. What awaits you at the rear of the home is a large eat-in kitchen that is open to an inviting family room. “The open kitchen and family room have large windows and doors overlooking the backyard, with its bluestone patio. And with the woods behind the home, you have complete privacy,” Muller said.

The eat-in kitchen has granite countertops and stainless appliances, including double ovens and a propane cooktop. In addition, there is a generously sized open island, “which is nice for prepping food or presenting a buffet meal,” Muller said. There is also ample room for a table and chairs for informal dining.

The family room features a brick fireplace flanked by custom bookshelves. “On one side the built-ins house a television and shelving while on the other side there there is ample shelving for books and games,” Muller said. “The custom millwork throughout the home adds a level of beauty and detail,” she added. A beadboard mudroom with an exterior entry connects the kitchen area to the three-car garage. There are also a laundry room and a half bath on the first floor.

The second floor features four bedrooms. The highlight is the primary bedroom suite, which has a sitting area as you enter. Here you will find crown molding, a his-and-hers closet and an updated bathroom. This spa-like bath includes a large soaking tub, separate shower, dual vanities, and a separate room for the toilet. The granite and tile work used throughout this luxury bath is stunning, Muller said.

Down the hall, there are three more bedrooms. Two share a beautiful hallway bath, and the last bedroom is a flexible space that can be an au pair or in-law suite with a separate sitting room or study and private bath, as well as a second staircase that goes from this area directly to the garage. That provides a private entrance,” Muller said. It is a layout that makes this home ideal for a home business or intergenerational living. The basement is partially finished. “It’s a great rec space with a full bathroom,” Muller said.

This home has been lovingly and meticulously maintained, Muller noted. It is also ideally located in the Devonwood neighborhood. As a result, it is close to businesses and services in Avon and Farmington. It is also close to I-84, Farmington Avenue, West Hartford Center, and the University of Connecticut Health Center. Numerous recreational opportunities are also nearby, including facilities for golf, tennis, swimming, and equestrian activities.

As the current owner put it, “Everything that attracted us to our house years ago remains true today. It is located on a sunny, flat, well-landscaped lot backing up to acres of wooded open space, which feels very private. The street is extremely low traffic, and because of the double cul-de-sac layout, our children could play safely in the yard, driveway, and the street itself. The home was the perfect family home for us, and Devonwood, as a neighborhood, has stood the test of time. We enjoyed the paved walking paths on an almost daily basis.”

Devonwood is one of Farmington’s most sought-after neighborhoods. As a result and in the final analysis, this turns out to be an ideal home in an ideal neighborhood.

Info:

Built: 1991

Price: $1,100,000

Style: Colonial

Rooms: 9

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 4 full; 1 half

Square footage: 3,861 plus approximately 700 in finished area of the basement

Acreage: 0.57

Mill rate: 24.21

Best Feature: A perfect blend of traditional colonial architecture with an open floor plan that accommodates contemporary living.

Contact:  Christy Muller

William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

860-463-7684

cmuller@wpsir.com