Address: 915 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 5
Square feet: 4,732
Price: $2,695,000
Start mornings by the pool, spend afternoons at the beach and end the day with al fresco cocktails in downtown Fairfield. Residents of this timeless Fairfield, CT, home have all of summer’s pleasures at their fingertips. “At this price point and in Fairfield, buyers are looking for more than a functional home,” says Lynn Rouse, the home’s current owner. “They want to enjoy a modern lifestyle and amenities but also want to embrace the rich history of the neighborhood.”
Every nook of this timeless family home in Fairfield reminds you this property is a rare find. Never mind that it sits on an oversized lot. The large safe in the basement looks like the house was built around it (and the combination works!). The unusual-for-the-neighborhood three-car garage with a chauffeur’s apartment in the rear has an original turn-of-the-century wood-burning stove and brick chimney that have been preserved. Outside, the pollinator garden, which flowers continually from spring to fall, bears an homage to its creator etched in stone that says, “Susan’s Garden.” A carved wood handrail on the rear staircase shows pride of ownership. “The home continues to surprise us with its attention to detail and quality,…little reminders that they, in fact, don’t make ’em like they used to,” says Rouse.
Previous owners have preserved details like original millwork throughout, custom window seats in the great room and the breakfast room and a foyer fireplace drawing guests to linger over cocktails. “We fell in love with the home’s timelessness,” says Rouse.
“Mornings from the great room window seat facing the front lawn are magical as the sun peeks over the oak trees lining Old Post Road and fills the great room with warmth and light through the entire morning. It’s the single best seat for Fairfield’s Memorial Day parade, which passes in front of our home every May.”
While the house was built after the turn of the century and is part of the town’s historic district, Rouse says, “it was clear the original owners wanted something more modern than the Connecticut colonials that lined Old Post Road.” It isn’t as old as many other houses in the vicinity. It has an open feel compared to many older colonials. “The great room is one of the most iconic rooms in Fairfield,” she adds. “The sheer size of the room required us to order custom sofas and chairs to create a unified feel.”
Sun pours in large bay windows and patio doors, creating the ideal setting for indoor/outdoor living that many modern buyers desire. Over time, the coal-burning cook’s fireplace has been replaced with a modern butler’s pantry. The first-floor parlor has been converted into an au pair or in-law suite, and the kitchen has been updated with modern luxuries like an extra-large paneled SubZero refrigerator, dual ovens, a Wolf range with retractable vent and a built-in wine refrigerator.
Interiors throughout were professionally decorated in 2021 by Lauren Ashley Allan, former designer for Kelly Wearstler and creative director at Nate Berkus. Among the finishing touches, are a houndstooth rug made to order by Missoni and a vintage leather sofa purchased in Paris, both in the third floor office. A vintage yacht table, also purchased in Paris, is the centerpiece in the foyer. Salvaged from an old English yacht, you can still see the bolts on the table that were used to secure it to the deck. The custom sofas in the great room, designed by Lauren, were made in Chicago with Perennials fabric.
In the backyard, a new saltwater heated swimming pool with bluestone patio and automatic cover is fully fenced in for lots of family time outdoors. There is also an outdoor shower, perfect for a quick rinse after walking home from the beach.
“The house doesn’t ask you to compromise,” says Rouse, listing the three levels of living space, acreage, location and craftsmanship among its attributes. “It pulls together gracefully. It doesn’t scream ‘new meets old.’ It reassures you that great taste is timeless.”
Contact:
Tara Rowe Hawley
Real Estate Agent
Coldwell Banker Realty, Fairfield, CT
203-331-5939, tara.hawley@coldwellbankermoves.com
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