Katherine Hepburn's family vacation home on the block

No matter what year you were born, you can't grow up in New England without hearing about the horror that was the hurricane of 1938. The Category 5 hurricane was in September and its fury was felt across the region. Katherine Hepburn's family vacation home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut was completely destroyed. It's spectacular waterfront property was nearly surrounded by water and didn't stand a chance.

"My God. It was something devastating--and unreal--like the beginning of the world--or the end of it--and I slogged and sloshed, crawled through ditches and hung on to keep going somehow--got drenched and bruised and scratched--completely bedraggled--finally got to where there was a working phone and called Dad." ~Katharine Hepburn, recalling the September 21, 1938 hurricane

It's hard to imagine too many celebrities today who would be quite so hands on in the same circumstances. She really was an amazing woman.

 

The house was rebuilt in 1939 and that house in currently on the market for a cool $30mil. It was last on the market two years ago for $28mil.

The house as it stand now.

The 1939 house was a typical summer rambler that probably had no heat other than fireplaces. It would have had lots of small, cozy rooms.

While I'm sure it was sorely in need of updating, Sadly the 2005 renovations have turned this fabulous, historic home, into a bland, lifeless place.

Walls have been taken down and the small cozy rooms are gone.

 

I'm assuming its staged for sale which adds to the lifelessness. But boy, those views!

Wile this is a beautiful kitchen, it's hard to imagine big, loud family dinners that last till long after dark.

The pantry - which is pretty cute - is my favorite place.

I might become a morning person if I woke up to this view every day!

 

This bathroom could not be any more disappointingly boring.

Stars on the carpet and birds flying overhead...of course. And what's up with the origami style ceiling! Those angles are crazy!

$30Million dollar view!

From the Sotheby's real estate listing:

"This isn't a dream, it's Fenwick. or is it paradise?" Katharine Hepburn FAMILY COMPOUND The historic Katharine Hepburn home is the centerpiece of a family compound with three deeded waterfront lots, each with its own sandy beach. THE RENOVATION In 2005, New York Builder Frank Sciame embarked on a complete renovation of the property. Bringing to bear his experience restoring some of New York City's greatest landmarks including the New York Public Library and St. Patrick's Cathedral, he oversaw the project which included raising the structure five feet to protect it from the Long Island Sound. All new systems were installed, and the historic structure was seamlessly augmented to create light-filled rooms while preserving the historical integrity of the structure. THE NEW GATEHOUSE RESIDENCE The elite Borough of Fenwick does not allow Accessory Dwellings or Guest Homes on a single property. Therefore, a subdivision of the property was completed to create three separately deeded parcels. On the eastern portion of the property, a 2750 square foot gatehouse residence will be built which includes 3 bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms and numerous covered terraces and patios. The dormers and upper story porches echo design elements of the renovated, original estate. The home was designed to compliment its historic surroundings while meeting the most modern expectations by providing open floor plans. Sciame is also exploring the possibility of a third house, on the legally deeded parcel to the west of the existing house THE HISTORIC HOME The main residence includes over 8000 square feet of living space on three floors. There are six bedrooms, each with private bath. The cook's kitchen features an AGA stove and Sub Zero refrigerator and is adjacent to the living room and dining room, both of which overlook the Long Island Sound, a pond and a private dock. A Den, Chart Room, Potting Room, Pantry, Laundry Room, and 2-car garage complete the estate. In the 1930s and 1940s, Howard Hughes landed his seaplane directly in front of the home. Today, the same opportunity is available to the owner. Additionally, launching your boat from the private dock can have you in the Hamptons in about an hour.

Future buyer: If you'd like my help bringing life back to this magnificent home - call me!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Keeping cool!

It's going to be another scorcher today and I still don't have the air conditioner in my office yet. Yikes! Anyway, I was staring at the lawn sprinkler the other day thinking about how calming and memorizing it was. Much like a fire in a fireplace, a sprinkler or fountain really just draws you in.

Sources for all images here.

The above two pics are from the gardens at The Mount, Edith Wharton's home in the Berkshires. Gorgeous.

 

I hope you're staying cool today!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Linda's Dream House: Now, I'm Feeling the Buzz

So, the other day I decorated the porch in my "virtual" dream house. I thought I'd try something a little bit different for me. And I think it came out pretty nice - except that it just wasn't me. I didn't feel the buzz. Do you know what the buzz is? For me, it's that feeling I get when I look at a space that just speaks to me on a really sub-conscious level. It's the colors, the textures, the overall feel. It's a kind of low-level vibration.  So, while this Chinese red and blue/white pottery design was ok, it's just not my room. So I packed it off (virtually of course), and started over.

First, I had looked at my Pinterest board for my Dream House and created a mood board to remind me of what I find buzzy:

And I came up with this:

Below is the view into the porch from the family room (French door is hidden).

So much more "me". bzzzz...

Okay, now that the sunroom is taken care of - I STILL have the entire 2nd floor to "build"!

Stay tuned!

If you would like my help creating your "buzz" worth project,  I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks! Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Linda's Dream Home: the Three-Season Porch

So, after a bit of a hiatus I'm back to working on my (virtual) dream house. I have spent some time working on the library, trying to figure out how to best lay out the shelving, but I took a break from that to focus on the three season sun porch, which is situated to the left of the front of the house, next to the driveway and the back patio area.

I found this picture on Pinterest (source unknown) and I realized it was exactly the layout and style of the porch that I had already started to design. I love the pale slate floors and rustic stone fireplace.

So, here is the staring point. I experimented with a color palette that is not very me but thought it would be fun to try something new. Only a small part of the porch is visible from the rest of the house, so I don't really have to worry about clashing. Since this fictitious house is located in Newburyport, MA, a center of 18th and 19th century shipping, I though a China Trade theme might be interesting.

Chinese red and pale blue, punctuated with blue and white pottery provides a cheery palette.

I would use sheer indoor/outdoor curtains for privacy and light control. The steel windows would have screens in the summer. Specific windows TBD.

The floors would have radiant heating and the fireplace would heat up the room nicely on cold New England days.

I like the idea of some kind of antique chest that would be fitted with a drinks refrigerator lie this one from sub zero. Continuing with the semi-nautical theme, I'm using the brass portholes that have been made into mirrors over the bar cabinet.

So, the beverages are taken care of. And the layout. But now that I see it all together, it's just not me. I think it's pretty and right for someone else though.

I don't feel the buzz. Do you know what the buzz is?

For me, this is pretty buzz-worthy:

If you'd like my help creating your buzz-worthy space, please be in touch!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Not your Grannie's Wall-Stencils

I have to say that I am just loving Royal Design Studios' collection of wall stencils. Modern, budget friendly and completely customizable - the sky's the limit for color palette and application technique. Particularly notable is their tutorial for creating an Ikat fabric effect on the wall.

Readers of Lauren Liess' Pure Style Home blog will surely recognize the painter's drop cloth panel she hung in one of her son's rooms a couple of years ago. Using the Indian Paisley Wall Stencil, Lauren created a one of a kind fabric.

 

Posted with Blogsy