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The Mud Room
Thursday, February 13, 2014In case you were wondering what real estate brokers do on a day like today, a day that brought more snow, a day that added another 10 inches to what we already have? Well, I can tell you! We sit around breaking down houses, room to room, thinking about which ones would work well for our customers. And, of course, fantasizing about what can be done in each. Which led me to the mud room. I couldn’t help but think about mud rooms today. I haven’t noticed many in the houses currently on the market. It is usually just a row of cubbies off the kitchen where everyone dumps their wet or muddy stuff. Or all their sports equipment. It is a critical part of the house so why not make it fabulous as well as utilitarian! (Just want to mention that 15 Shagbark has a gorgeous mudroom with stone floors and plenty of storage for everyone).
Well, yes, this one is a good one for what we are experiencing here in Connecticut this winter.
One of my favorites from a Suzanne Kasler house.
Kind of like how this is a little more relaxed.
This one takes the #1 spot!
For those of us who go big!
Love this.
Fabulous “back stairs”!
Sort of a nice way to enter the mud room – since that really is the only way people go into a house these days.
**photos found on Pintrest today.
It’s time to shop – The Antique & Artisan way!
Thursday, December 12, 2013The real estate inventory is presenting with “slim picking” so we really can’t do our “12 Picks for Christmas”! We would never have guessed that we couldn’t find 12 houses we love to blog about, but it has happened. So, off we went to our favorite place to fill “the houses we love” with a few of our “favorite things”! The Stamford Antique & Artisan Center is overflowing with gems and jewels to fill your gorgeous house, and your friend’s gorgeous house.
A room that will bedazzle and bejewel you with fantastic pieces for home and hostess
The “back room” has been set up for the Holiday Sale, going on now, and for a few more days. Carefully are artfully chosen by the venerable Mari Anne Maher, it is like walking through a wonderland for the home. Take some time and go down there to browse, buy and actually enjoy holiday shopping.
I was drawn to these like a moth to the flame. An absolutely stunning set for any Christmas holiday table. Light and easy to hold. We love a good bar cart but these glasses will get your table going with enormous style.
Not for the faint at heart… admittedly, however sometimes you just need to take the plunge!
If we are sticking to the bar cart, these will be fabulous.
And, a price point easier to swallow…
Gorgeous – will make the summer al fresco dinner very special. A set of 10 which is a good number for a dinner party too.
Who can’t use another set of dinner chargers!
In the plate world… not so bad!
One can never have enough throw’s or quilts. On a guest bed, or the sofa for a cozy sit by the fire. The colors are gorgeous on this quilt. Very neutral and will stand out as stunning any where in your home.
For someone special and deserving.
For the music lover in your household. Or your high school roommate! I am sure someone was listening to this classic back in the day, and still… Yes, you are reading the price tag correctly. It is signed!!!!
You mean you don’t still have a turntable? It will look fabulous by the latest, state of the art system in anyone’s house.
Love this fireplace fender. Note the pineapples!
It is a good size, fitting a standard fireplace in any house. What a great piece to have.
AND FOR THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS
You must have something special when you answer the door. This is it! A classic piece from Roberta Freeman. She still makes these, but with the influx of Roller Rabbit, a vintage piece makes it all that more special.
Great price point for this. Think the new ones are A LOT more.
I made a beeline for the unmistakeable orange box only to find a true classic.
The box alone would make the experience of owning this worth it!
The vitrine is filled with fabulous vintage jewelry and watches. You will find something you love, for certain.
Share any treats you find at info@realindarien.com.
Nielsen’s sure can do up Christmas!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Ho Ho Ho.
Nielsen’s Florist and Garden Shop is ready for a wonderful holiday season, and they kicked it off with a Holiday Table Top fundraiser for Post 53. Run right over and pick up a gift for just about anybody.
Love the black red and white theme here.
I want to do a Birch Tree theme this year.
So pretty.
Great ornaments of all shapes, sizes and themes.
Love all the fairy houses! They will make fabulous centerpieces.
Gorgeous table accents.
One of my favorites.
Prizes for the lucky winners!
Ran into some friends.
Pick of the week-Kitchen and Family Room
Saturday, December 7, 2013Here is the continuation of our thoughts on decorating 207 Middlesex Road. Now that we have sold it we thought it would be fun to give the new owners some ideas from the Antique & Artisan Center.
THE KITCHEN at 207 Middlesex is light and clean. There is a lot you can do with this space.
WOW-love this table!
The color on these chairs is delicious.
I am not sure I would pair these with the table but if I found something else, these would be my pick for a chair.
You always need extra chairs and these beat the ones at Costco!
How fab is this.
These are more of an industrial look.
or have a bit of old world.
Your kids will never be late for school (ok-I know it doesn’t work but how fabulous would this be int he kitchen).
It is all in the details!
THE FAMILY ROOM is right off the kitchen and is a cozy spot. Here are some pieces that would be perfect.
This may not be for everyone but I love it!
A MUST HAVE!
A little retro goes a long way.
You always need a bamboo mirror.
And again, the details.
Have a great weekend!
What would we do to 207 Middlesex?
Monday, December 2, 2013
After only a few short days on the market, we have contracts signed at 207 Middlesex Road. We thought it would be fun to pull together some ideas on what we would do with this home so took a trip to the Antique Center and this is what we found.
ENTRY HALL
207 Middlesex has a wonderful entry hall. The staircase wraps up to the second floor and is open all the way up. It is flooded with light. Here are a few thoughts on what would be a great fit.
This would make the entry hall sparkle.
This would be a touch of traditional in a more modern space.
I love this in the front hall.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this pop of color.
LIVING ROOM
The living room is a cozy spot with french doors and a fireplace. It would love some color.
Put this on the long wall.
These mirror are fantastic.
This sofa is so luscious your guest will stay all night.
Pink is always an unexpected winner.
You can never go wrong with some skin.
This is not your run of the mill buddha.
Never give up an opportunity for some Draper.
Not sure what I love more, the base or the shade.
Here is another great light option.
You cannot pass this up. Abigail has a set and they are unforgettable.
A nice touch to round out the room.
One last vignette….and a new twist on the starburst mirror.
DINING ROOM
The dining room at 207 Middlesex is large and elegant. It has a large bay flooded with windows and light, tray ceiling and paneled walls.
These chairs are perfect for the dining room.
This piece lends itself so well in the wide open space.
and yes, a starburst is always a winner.
This is a showstopper and would be perfect in the spot.
and last but certainly not least, how is this for a twist.
So what are your thoughts on how these pieces would work in this space? Let us know and come back tomorrow when we take a look at the kitchen and family room.
When a home is done, done, done!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Here at Real in Darien we tend to say “just bring your toothbrush” when talking about a home that is done,done,done. Well I saw these yesterday at the Antique & Artisan Center and realized we should step it up and say “just bring your hangers”.
What a night!
Sunday, November 24, 2013For years my neighbor and dear friend (you know her as Consignment Girl) has been wanting to throw a party in her greenhouse. So Real in Darien decided to have a little meeting and invite the guys (as well as our bestie and local lust, Annie Mahoney, and her husband David)….and what a night it was. Check out how we like to roll and enjoy each others’ company.
Mary Yvonne’s greenhouse. The perfect place to get together under the stars.
We had a delicious dinner and plenty of amazing wine.
Love the centerpiece that Nielsens made for us.
Who knew the headhouse could look so chic.
The evening was so BEAUTIFUL and now the greenhouse can be rented out for private functions. Contact us for more information.
Here are some shots during the day.
So much to be thankful for….good friends and good times.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Pick of the Week – A stunning makeover
Monday, November 11, 2013
These could not be more stunning.
I think we have mentioned the fabric room at the Antique & Artisan Center, but if you haven’t seen it, you must go down there. It’s located in the back of the antique center and is set up for anyone to come and enjoy the experience of making your home beautiful. It’s a little like a child being introduced to Dylan’s. Once you have gone there, why go anywhere else. There is not a fabric room like this around here. I even heard someone say at a recent event that “Mari Ann has stuff no one has”! These chairs are a good example. You know the fabric is fabulous, but you can’t think where you have seen it. The good news is you haven’t. It is a line of fabric that the Antique Center does. The selections you will find is at the crossroads of stunning and perfection.
They will help you with everything, from picking out the fabric and trim (going to Samuel & Sons is like visiting a candy store for us but save yourself the trip….its all here!) to refinishing or repairing a piece. So whether you buy a piece from the Antique Center, or bring in something you already own, come on over and take a look.
Mari Ann Maher, of John Rosselli fame, offers interior design services as well. You are certain to leave with a masterpiece!
Remember these? We sat on these for a long time. Very comfortable.
We liked these chairs with this muslim fabric but look at the difference a new fabric can make….
Beautiful trims and pipings, borders and fringe.
Large swatches to completely understand the pattern and its scale.
Color, texture and variety!
Bold prints and patterns, yet subtle and entirely neutral in any room.
Enough said. I can’t imagine anywhere else that would be more fun to take on a project.
Pick of the week – a wide variety of treasures
Friday, October 25, 2013I ran into a friend (and fellow RE agent here in town) on the open house trail last week. She turned to me and said “have you guys become decorators?” I said “oh no! does it look that way? I couldn’t decorate my way out of a brown box!” The thing is, it’s hard to walk into a house and not start to brainstorm about what one might/could do with it. Or, if I wanted to sell it to someone what I might say about the decorating possibilities. I LOVE to imagine how different decorators might do things in all the houses we walk into. So, when we see all this fabulous treasures at the Antique Center, we feel it is our obligation to report back to our readers about all the gorgeous pieces, and fabric, found at the Antique Center. The fabric room is truly one that stands far apart from any other retail source in Fairfield County, but more on that next time.
Enjoy this weeks “picks”!
A STUNNING pair of custom twin headboards. The paisley/trim color/nail heads make this a must have.
We absolutely LOVE-LOVE-LOVE these planters. If you have a wide porch with room for hanging plants, these are a”must have”. We rarely see one’s so fabulous. (Gorgeous option for fabric samples as well!)
Call the Antique Center – or better yet, go down there – for more details. There are three or four of them in the fabric room. Call the Antique Center for more details.
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Look what we saw! A beauty by Lynne Byrne
Have a great, fall weekend!
What happened to the fall market?
Monday, October 21, 2013
8 Circle Road, on the market through Kelly Associates. Asking $2,949,000.
If any of you have been wondering why we have not been blogging as much about what is on the market, the answer is there has not been a lot to talk about. It has been a very sleepy fall market. Where are all our sellers? We are starved for inventory (146 in September vs 192 last year). Some are waiting for the spring market and some are staying put until our economic climate gains some stability. We know there are buyers out there…..waiting…..waiting……waiting!
The high end is on life support (34 just in the $2-3mm range and many of those have been on for quite a while). But, you are hard pressed to find anything on in the lower range of $800,000 – $1M, like 15 Hillside Avenue and 73 Coachlamp Lane; they sell in a matter of hours or days. We had a customer who wanted to see 15 Hillside but went away for the weekend and was long gone by Monday.
One thing to note, no matter the price range, when something fabulous comes on, it may not even last the day or end of week as was the case with 17 Maywood and 9 Cross Road.
If you are thinking of LISTING your home, the time would be NOW. If you decide to ask a brokers advice, LISTEN to their recommendations. The market has a lot of “shades of gray”; PRICE being the most sensitive, then, of course, LOCATION.
We don’t usually get statistical, but we thought you might like to know what is actually going on in the market.
As of September, 2013
Single Family Properties
| September, 2013 | September, 2012 | % Chg | |
| Property Sales | 18 | 16 | 12.5% |
| Median Sale Price | $1,517,500 | $1,097,500 | 38.3% |
| Sales to List Price Ratio | 92.6% | 94.2% | -1.7% |
| Homes for Sale | 146 | 192 | -24.0% |
| Months of Inventory | 6.1 | 8.7 | -29.0% |
| Days on Market | 95 | 99 | -4.0% |
| New Listings | 30 | 41 | -26.8% |
| Listings Under Contract | 12 | 16 | -25.0% |
Property Sales
Sales fell to 18 in September. This is down from 37 in August, but up from 16 in September of 2012. Sales/list ratio in September moved down to 92.6% from 96.3% in August. Pending sales moved way down to 12 from 28 in August, which is a negative indicator for future closings in the near term.
Prices
Median sale price of $1,517,500 in September was up 15.8% from $1,310,000 in August and up 38.3% from $1,097,500 in September of 2012. 3-month median sale price of $1,317,500 in September was down a little from $1,350,000 in August but up slightly from $1,232,500 in September of 2012.
Days on Market
Market time of 95 in September was way down from 158 in August and down just slightly from 99 in September of 2012.
Homes For Sale
There were 146 homes for sale in September. This is down 0.7% from 147 in August and down 24.0% from 192 in September of 2012.
Homes for Sale by Price Range
Homes for sale are distributed by price range according to the chart.
Months of Inventory
Months of inventory of 6.1 in September was down marginally from 6.2 in August and down moderately from 8.7 in September of 2012.
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Data courtesy of: DARMLS
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Listing and sales information comes from various sources and may not always be accurate. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy of this information. You should verify any information that is important to your buying decision.
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A CHARMED EVENING WITH MARIO BUATTA & ELISSA CULLMAN
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
What a fantastic party Thursday night at the Antique & Artisan Center celebrating Mario Buatta and Ellie Cullman. The gallery looked absolutely fabulous and it was all we could do not to walk out with a treasure. (Thankfully the books weighed too much to carry anything else!) Mario, and his hilarious sense of humor, once again charmed and dazzled as he signed his only “tomb” highlighting his 50 years in the biz. Asking him how he looked back on the project? “A lot of very hard work”. I can only imagine!
The guests of honor! Living legends who both bring unparalleled excellence to the world of design. (You have to love that Pagoda!)
These books weighed a ton but are an encyclopedia of their work.
Always charming and funny -even when you bump into him at the Brunschwig showroom. Careful which hand you shake!
You know you have made it when you have your own Absolut ad.
Looking through his book reminds us how fabulous the career of the “Prince of Chintz” has been. He really did pioneer fabulous yet comfortable living in the grandest way. It is impossible to deny the place in the history of decorating he has earned.
A Palm Beach loggia…..perfect spot for a martini.
A Southampton center hall colonial. Look at those hand painted walls.
The Master Bedroom of Morristown Manor House.
Ellie and her partner Tracey Pruzan are as elegant as they come. Their interiors reflect their uber style.
Palm Beach Punch.
Barrett Bookstore has them in stock. Get yours today!
40 Bridle Trail – Back on with a new price! (SOLD)
Friday, October 11, 2013For the first time in a little more than 20 years. this house is on the market. Sitting on about two acres, almost knowing how fabulous it is, 40 Bridle Trail is looking for a new owner who will love it as much as the current owners do (or at least is seems they have loved it)! From the front door to the garage doors, it’s one of those true Connecticut colonials that we both immediately responded to. A little quirky, a lot of space and, yes I will use the word again – patina. Five bedrooms, four and a half baths, beautiful hardwood and slate floors, and lots of something that’s hard to find…a great vibe! Asking $2,595,000. Offered through Alice May Orr at Kelly Associates.
40 Bridle Trail offers privacy, property and a gardening opportunity not for the faint of heart!
CZ Guest walking through her cutting garden. Rose beds, peony and so many other flowers would be right at home at 40 Bridle Trail. I can totally see something like this rose garden up there in northern Darien.
Big, and beautiful. So many windows over looking the garden and property.
Garden paths and hedges are perfect for 40 Bridle Trail. Love this example of what one can do.
Just over two acres, boarders, stone walls…it really feels like the country. Not the suburbs.
Maybe somewhere at the bottom of the lawn? Elise Landscapes & Nursery would great for this project.
A not so traditional center hall. Love this!
Over sized living room with high ceilings. I am thinking about all that new Mary Mcdonald fabric and trim in this room. This is a really elegant room. Just Gorge!
The library was added more recently.
Old fashioned screened in porch. Put a big beautiful lantern in this room, add some trellises and some Janus et Cie ratan furniture (check out the Arbor Collection)… et voila!
I love the garage doors. Think of all the Wisteria dripping from above. A trellis would be easy to add! Some nice outdoor lights from Urban Electric Co. (Check out Fenwick Carriage Pocket or Belmont collection). And, there is a bedroom and full bath above where guests, or an au pair would be very comfortable!
It’s a great house. If you are looking in this price range, do not over look this beauty! If you would like to see the property, call us. We would love to show you one of our favorites!
If you are currently working with an agent, this is not a solicitation.
ELLIE CULLMAN & MARIO BUATTA BOOK SIGNING – TONIGHT
Thursday, October 10, 2013Don’t miss THE event of the fall. Rumor has it one of our favorite (and chicest) designers will be there tonight.
Can you guess who it is?
PICK OF THE WEEK-Greek Key, Pineapples and handsome seating
Monday, September 30, 2013
Looking for a little “chic” to add to your living room? Here is it. You can’t loose
with the Greek Key!
A classic piece is worth it!
Actually, these should be on my bar cart!
A traditional pair of chairs, certain to find use in any room in the house. Give them some pizazz by choosing some fabulous fabric from the Antique Center’s unparalleled selection.
We sat in these chairs. They are extremely comfortable!
Nice and deep!
Think long term. Buying pieces to last, one at a time.
Photos courtesy of Real in Darien.
Next time you visit the Stamford Antiques & Artisan Center, tell them we sent you!
PICK OF THE WEEK-a pair of lamps, a marble, garden table, and a chic dress.
Monday, September 16, 2013Abigail’s pick: We start with these gorgeous tole lamps. Simple yet high impact, and would look gorgeous against any lacquered wall. We are thinking a white lacquered front hall, or against one of de Gournay’s marvelous wallpapers. Great “bang for the buck” at $225 for the pair.
Perfect anchors to any front hall table or console.
Not a bad price.
KIM”S PICK: A little off topic but The Antique and Artisan Center is full of fantastic vintage clothing, bags and jewelry.
So much to choose from. This dress caught my eye.
A pop of color. You might also find a fabulous David Webb necklace to go with it!
Loved this coffee table. Its larger than you think and would add so much style to any sunroom or terrace.
A very solid piece.
A fabulous way to dress up any room for a very reasonable price.
For more information on any of these pieces, email us at info@realindarien.com.