Stony Lane
It was a different time in 1917 when Benjamin Cromwell decided to retire and move his family from New York City to the country. Much of West Norwalk and Darien were farming communities, a first class stamp cost $.02 and a gallon of milk was $.20. And it only cost $7,000 for twelve acres on the West Norwalk / Darien line, complete with a four thousand square foot house that was built in 1850.
Fast forward to 2007. After a successful career in the building industry, the owner, grandson of Benjamin, decided to downsize from his New Canaan home of forty years. The original land that Benjamin had purchased ninety years ago was the ideal spot for this tasteful French farmhouse style home.
Stony Lane is a quaint tree-lined road of older homes. Set back from the road, Stony Lane blends in effortlessly with the neighborhood. Its’ peaked roof line, stucco exterior and natural stone turret show the classic elements of the French farmhouse style.
The welcoming front entry, with tumbled Botticino marble flooring, is flanked by the formal living room/dining room and a cozy library. Each room boasts soaring ceilings with timbered pine beams. Nestled above the alder custom built-in cabinetry in the library is a Juliette balcony with a decorative wrought iron railing and a view to the second floor landing. The living room/dining room boasts an oversized limestone fireplace, and features banks of French doors and an arched skylight. A full size dining area at one side of the room comfortably seats ten, and has access to the butler’s pantry and kitchen.
The formal powder room and guest coat closet is located off the main hallway in its own alcove. A custom pine vanity with Noce granite countertop and Botticino tumbled marble flooring finish off this spot.
The kitchen and family room has an open floor plan with a beamed ceiling and arched doorways. Attention to the details of finishes and materials highlight the French farmhouse style. In the kitchen area, custom cabinetry is in both stained alder wood and a distressed painted finish, golden Vajara granite countertops and a farmhouse sink are both functional and beautiful. A stucco and alder wood topped hood over the Viking cooktop, and Breccia Damascata tumbled marble backsplash are in warm tones. Custom cabinetry provides storage for wine and convenient slide-out baskets, which flank the full size Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer. A wall of windows and French doors overlook the rear terrace and lawn, and provide a perfect spot for the breakfast nook. The butler’s pantry has the same custom alder wood cabinetry topped with a taupe mist granite countertop and backsplash. The Marvel beverage center and Miele dishwasher complete this space.
The family room is at the other end of kitchen, and has a gas-lit fireplace with Breccia Damascata tumbled marble hearth. Custom arch-topped built-ins in alder wood complement the arched doorways throughout the house. Accessible from the front, side and rear entries, this room is truly the heart of the home.
The master suite, privately located at one end of the first floor, makes one floor living for the owners possible, and has access to the rear terrace. The bedroom has a tall beamed ceiling, cozy bench/window seat, and casement French windows. The master bath has honed Gascon marble floors, a custom vanity with double sinks, Noce granite countertops, an airy walk-in shower, and a luxurious Ultra Bain tub. Spacious his and her closets complete the suite.
A secondary front entrance to the home brings you into a large foyer, which accesses the stunning circular staircase enclosed in the windowed stone turret. The doors and front frame of an antique armoire, purchased years ago by the homeowner, were custom built into the wall to create the hall closet. The entrance provides access to the full size laundry room and back entrance to the garage, as well as the rest of the first floor.
Up the circular staircase with a decorative wrought iron railing brings you to the second floor landing. This large open space, with lots of storage in its custom built-in bookshelves and cabinetry, gives views to both the library and the front hallway through the Juliet style balcony openings. The second floor has the second master bedroom, and two large additional bedrooms with a shared bath. A walk-in finished storage room with custom shelving was created so the homeowner could have easy access to seasonal decorations and other storage items.
The owner, originally from Germany, worked closely with the Project Manager to ensure that treasured family antiques and others from years of collecting could be incorporated into the built-ins and other spaces in the home. She remarked after she had moved in and the interior decoration was complete, “our new house with its European style, quite different from our previous homes, complements my cherished antique furnishings and I feel completely at home”.
Fast forward to 2007. After a successful career in the building industry, the owner, grandson of Benjamin, decided to downsize from his New Canaan home of forty years. The original land that Benjamin had purchased ninety years ago was the ideal spot for this tasteful French farmhouse style home.
Stony Lane is a quaint tree-lined road of older homes. Set back from the road, Stony Lane blends in effortlessly with the neighborhood. Its’ peaked roof line, stucco exterior and natural stone turret show the classic elements of the French farmhouse style.
The welcoming front entry, with tumbled Botticino marble flooring, is flanked by the formal living room/dining room and a cozy library. Each room boasts soaring ceilings with timbered pine beams. Nestled above the alder custom built-in cabinetry in the library is a Juliette balcony with a decorative wrought iron railing and a view to the second floor landing. The living room/dining room boasts an oversized limestone fireplace, and features banks of French doors and an arched skylight. A full size dining area at one side of the room comfortably seats ten, and has access to the butler’s pantry and kitchen.
The formal powder room and guest coat closet is located off the main hallway in its own alcove. A custom pine vanity with Noce granite countertop and Botticino tumbled marble flooring finish off this spot.
The kitchen and family room has an open floor plan with a beamed ceiling and arched doorways. Attention to the details of finishes and materials highlight the French farmhouse style. In the kitchen area, custom cabinetry is in both stained alder wood and a distressed painted finish, golden Vajara granite countertops and a farmhouse sink are both functional and beautiful. A stucco and alder wood topped hood over the Viking cooktop, and Breccia Damascata tumbled marble backsplash are in warm tones. Custom cabinetry provides storage for wine and convenient slide-out baskets, which flank the full size Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer. A wall of windows and French doors overlook the rear terrace and lawn, and provide a perfect spot for the breakfast nook. The butler’s pantry has the same custom alder wood cabinetry topped with a taupe mist granite countertop and backsplash. The Marvel beverage center and Miele dishwasher complete this space.
The family room is at the other end of kitchen, and has a gas-lit fireplace with Breccia Damascata tumbled marble hearth. Custom arch-topped built-ins in alder wood complement the arched doorways throughout the house. Accessible from the front, side and rear entries, this room is truly the heart of the home.
The master suite, privately located at one end of the first floor, makes one floor living for the owners possible, and has access to the rear terrace. The bedroom has a tall beamed ceiling, cozy bench/window seat, and casement French windows. The master bath has honed Gascon marble floors, a custom vanity with double sinks, Noce granite countertops, an airy walk-in shower, and a luxurious Ultra Bain tub. Spacious his and her closets complete the suite.
A secondary front entrance to the home brings you into a large foyer, which accesses the stunning circular staircase enclosed in the windowed stone turret. The doors and front frame of an antique armoire, purchased years ago by the homeowner, were custom built into the wall to create the hall closet. The entrance provides access to the full size laundry room and back entrance to the garage, as well as the rest of the first floor.
Up the circular staircase with a decorative wrought iron railing brings you to the second floor landing. This large open space, with lots of storage in its custom built-in bookshelves and cabinetry, gives views to both the library and the front hallway through the Juliet style balcony openings. The second floor has the second master bedroom, and two large additional bedrooms with a shared bath. A walk-in finished storage room with custom shelving was created so the homeowner could have easy access to seasonal decorations and other storage items.
The owner, originally from Germany, worked closely with the Project Manager to ensure that treasured family antiques and others from years of collecting could be incorporated into the built-ins and other spaces in the home. She remarked after she had moved in and the interior decoration was complete, “our new house with its European style, quite different from our previous homes, complements my cherished antique furnishings and I feel completely at home”.
Country: United States
