Westport, Conn. | $2.899 Million
A 2007 house with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.5-acre waterfront lot
This house was conceived to take advantage of the property’s more than 100-foot frontage along Sherwood Mill Pond, with water views from almost every room; the architect, Roger Bartels, was recognized by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut for his design. The house is a few miles from Sherwood Beach, a public beach at Sherwood Island State Park, where there are designated places to fish and swim.
Westport is about an hour and 10 minutes from New York City by commuter rail, and just under two hours by car. It is a half-hour drive from Stamford, Conn., and about 45 minutes from New Haven, depending on traffic.
Size: 3,236 square feet
Price per square foot: $896
Indoors: A front door with iron strapping opens into a foyer with hardwood floors and a view of the water, through glass doors that open to a terrace. A half bathroom is just off this space.
The hardwood floors continue into a living room to the left of the foyer, anchored by a poured-concrete fireplace with built-in benches on either side; another built-in in a corner of the room holds bookshelves and a bar. Opposite the fireplace is a wall of windows facing Sherwood Mill Pond and, beyond, Long Island Sound. A wood-paneled semicircular study off the living room has hardwood floors and more windows.
To the right of the foyer is an open kitchen and dining area with hardwood floors and windows along the far wall. The kitchen has a center island and counters topped with marble, a stainless-steel range from Wolf and a Sub-Zero refrigerator with glass doors. An adjacent family room has a rock fireplace and wood ceilings with exposed beams.
On the second floor is a spacious primary suite that has a balcony with water views; a marble-framed fireplace; a sitting room with white-painted wood paneling; and an en suite bathroom with a soaking tub set beneath a large window that floods the room with light. At the other end of the hall, opposite one another, are two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms; one has a walk-in shower, and the other has a bathtub.
Outdoor space: The main terrace is shaded, with room for two lounge chairs and a small table. Steps outside the living room lead down to a flagstone patio next to a lawn with room to seat and feed more. The property has direct access to the water, and an attached garage that holds two cars.
Taxes: $29,835 (estimated), plus a $30 monthly homeowner association fee
Contact: Alexander Chingas, Bross Chingas Bross, Coldwell Banker Realty, 203-227-8424; coldwellbankerhomes.com
Charleston, S.C. | $2.895 Million
A Georgian-style house built around 1843, with five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is in Ansonborough, a neighborhood in the thick of the city’s vibrant downtown, where many homes were built after an 1838 fire that destroyed virtually every structure in the area. The Historic Charleston City Market, where vendors sell food and locally made crafts, is less than half a mile away, and the upscale shopping and dining on Meeting Street is a few blocks beyond. Also within walking distance is the College of Charleston, a liberal arts school with a contemporary art institute and a basketball arena.
Size: 3,330 square feet
Price per square foot: $869
Indoors: From the sidewalk, a brick path leads to the entrance, on the side of the house. The wood door opens into a bright foyer with a stately staircase.
To the right is a formal living room with coral damask wallpaper and one of the home’s five fireplaces. Steps at the end of the foyer lead down to a powder room.
To the left of the foyer is the formal dining room, which has original built-in cabinetry under classic Georgian-style arches. Through the dining room is an updated kitchen with sage-green cabinets and a sunny breakfast area facing the garden and swimming pool.
Off the kitchen is a wood-paneled study with another fireplace, as well as a staircase leading directly to an upstairs guest suite.
There are three bedrooms on the second level, two accessible from the main staircase in the foyer. To the right of the landing at the top of the stairs is the primary suite, which has another wood-burning fireplace, a spacious dressing area and an en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower. Across the hall is a guest room large enough to hold a queen-size bed, with views of the street. The other suite on this level is accessible from the stairs in the study, and includes a bedroom, a full bathroom and a glass-enclosed sunroom overlooking the pool.
Two more guest rooms are on the third floor, off the main staircase; between them is a full bathroom.
Outdoor space: The backyard, accessible from the kitchen and the study, has a compact swimming pool framed in concrete and surrounded by lush hedges and mature palm trees, as well as a brick patio that offers a pretty spot for outdoor dining. The property has two off-street parking spots, a prized commodity in downtown Charleston.
Taxes: $27,781 (estimated)
Contact: Elizabeth Ramsay Dickinson, The Exchange Company Real Estate, 843-475-9919; my.flexmls.com
Chicago | $2.895 Million
A detached townhouse built in 2013, with four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and three half bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot
This property is in the Old Town neighborhood, near two of the city’s most popular amenities: Lincoln Park, the site of the Chicago History Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo; and Lake Michigan, lined with trails for walking and biking. North Avenue Beach, a lakefront spot for sunbathing and swimming, is a little more than a mile away.
A number of restaurants are within a few blocks, and just across North Avenue, a major thoroughfare, is the well-known Second City comedy club. Downtown Chicago is about a 15-minute drive; O’Hare International Airport is a little more than a half-hour away.
Size: 6,200 square feet
Price per square foot: $467
Indoors: Steps lead from the street up to the front door, which opens into a foyer with a checkerboard-tile floor. This space is open to the main living room, which has hardwood floors, two large, street-facing windows and a fireplace with a marble surround and mantel. Behind this area is space for a dining table and chairs, and through a doorway is a butler’s pantry equipped with wine storage.
On the other side of the butler’s pantry is a kitchen with marble-topped counters and an oversized, marble-topped island; stainless-steel appliances, including a Wolf range and a Sub-Zero refrigerator; and a breakfast nook with a leather-upholstered built-in bench.
At the back of this level is a family room with coffered ceilings; a fireplace flanked by built-in bookshelves; and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a patio.
The upstairs levels are all accessible by stairs and by elevator. On the second floor is the primary suite, which has two walk-in closets, a fireplace and a bathroom with a tub trimmed in wood, a glass-walled steam shower and a double vanity. At the opposite end of this floor is a guest room with a balcony and an en suite bathroom.
Two more bedrooms are on the third level, at opposite ends of the hall. Both are big enough to hold a queen-size bed, and each has a full en suite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. A laundry room and an office with a built-in desk are also on this level.
The top floor of the house functions as a large entertaining space, with a built-in bar and access to the front and rear decks.
The lowest level of the house, below the main entry level, is a media room with access to the garage. Both top and bottom floors have powder rooms, with another half bathroom on the main level, off the kitchen.
Outdoor space: Every level of the house has access to outdoor space. The decks off the top floor have skyline views. The one at the front of the house also has a bar and a built-in barbecue covered by a pergola; an iron staircase connects this space to the balconies below. The attached garage holds three cars.
Taxes: $48,972 (estimated)
Contact: Nick Van Gorp and Christopher Stephens, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 312-751-0300; sothebysrealty.com
For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.
