A detailed description of this home could lead to an erroneous conclusion.
Documenting the exquisitely crafted mahogany millwork, floors with patterns that mirror the differing ceiling treatments in various rooms, an incredible kitchen, and a primary suite that redefines luxury, would make it easy to assume that this home at 61 Ely Road in Farmington must feel stiff and formal.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Instead, there is a friendly and welcoming feeling that is apparent immediately upon entering. It succeeds admirably in fulfilling Mark Wilson’s main goal. He is the current owner who built this home for his family. “I wanted it to feel like you could live here; have fun here,” he said.
He succeeded admirably, though achieving this goal was not easy. He was actively involved in the design and construction and noted, “We broke ground in 2002. We moved in in 2007.” The home shows these were five years well spent.
“This house is really one-of-a-kind. There is nothing like it,” said Cathy McCahill of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.
The spacious entry foyer is reached through an arched mahogany door. It, and bordering stained glass windows, were custom made in Louisiana.
“There are acorns and oak leaves in the stained glass. And there are acorns and oak leaves throughout the house,” Wilson said of this decorating motif. “There’s an acorn on top of the stairway’s newel post and acorns and oak leaves going up the stairway.” These are in an attractive narrow band of mahogany that aligns perfectly with the curve at the bottom of the stairs.
The home has a formal living room on one side of this foyer and a dining room on the other side. From the dining room, the eat-in kitchen can be reached through a butler’s pantry or main hall.
The kitchen is spacious, with granite counters and a large island. There is ample work space, which has allowed the Wilson family to host parties for 200 people. The kitchen sink offers views of the valley, as does a place for a large table that would work for informal dining. There is also a peninsula that seats five adults.
Appliances include a professional grade six-burner, two-oven stove, an additional dual wall oven, dual dishwashers, a microwave, and, across the kitchen, a refrigerator and pizza oven. “I built the pizza oven from a kit. And I do make pizzas using my own tomato sauce and dough,” Wilson said.
From the main hall you can access the family room. It has a built in cabinet with columns on either side that houses a large screen television. The columns, which glide open, have storage compartments that completely disappear when the columns are closed. Throughout the house, there are doors that are trimmed to match the walls with such care that they seem to disappear.
At the end of this first floor hall is the office. It is beautiful, with a fireplace, built in bookcases, an exquisitely trimmed coffered ceiling, and more views of the valley. The first floor also has a bedroom, a child’s craft room, billiard room, laundry, and a mudroom connected to the three-car heated garage.
Upstairs, there are more of the home’s six bedrooms. Each is ensuite and each is uniquely decorated. The crown jewel is the primary suite. It has a sitting room, two walk-in closets with custom storage systems, and a large bed chamber with a fireplace and a balcony overlooking the valley. Its bath has a Jacuzzi tub, a large steam shower, and a room for the commode. Its door matches the wall treatment so well that a worker in the bathroom once had to ask where the toilet was. A passageway to a cedar closet includes space for a kitchenette and is a perfect spot to brew some morning coffee.
The lower level has a gym with a full bath and sauna, a western saloon, and the entry to an underground tunnel. It leads to what was the original house on this property. Now, it is a “Mens Club” with more spectacular valley views. It’s the perfect place to see July 4th fireworks.
The grounds are also impressive with numerous beautifully crafted stone retaining walls. These walls block the view of the house for a six footer standing down in the valley. From the house, however, the walls do not diminish the view. Wilson notes that looking to the northwest, it is possible to see some 78 miles into New York State.
Other landscaping highlights include patios, a large fish-shaped in-ground swimming pool, though this shape only becomes obvious with aerial photography, and a carriage house. It has space for up to six vehicles, depending on their size, and offers about 1,800 square feet of living and storage space, complete with a kitchen and bath. The entire carriage house, including the vehicle storage area, is heated and air conditioned. An extended driveway, which forms a circle in front of the house, offers ample parking to the side.
“When we finished this home I wanted friends to come into the family room, sit on the couch, put their feet on the table and say, ‘Wow, you did it.’ I wanted it to feel like you could live here and have fun in here. We’ve had a lot of fun here. This is a house that attracts people,” Wilson said.
Info Box:
Built: 2003
Price: $4,000,000
Style: Stone and Shake Shingle Colonial
Rooms: 16
Bedrooms: 6
Baths: 9.5
Square footage: 10,461
Acreage: 4.74
Mill rate: 26.62
Best Feature: A combination of an incredible home with incredible views.
Contact: Cathy McCahill
860-480-6760
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty