It is one of the town’s finest communities.
It offers a parklike setting with an abundance of mature trees. Its Farmington location, in the eastern part of town, simplifies commuting for many people, and it has houses that are large, beautiful, and welcoming. This turns out to be the perfect description for the Devonwood home at 13 Chatsworth Place.
Located just off Cambridge Crossing, this home is easily accessed, yet its location is quiet and peaceful. With exceptional curb appeal, it is immediately welcoming, even before entering, thanks to a gracefully curved bluestone walkway bordered by pavers that leads to the front door.
Devonwood home at 13 Chatsworth Place.
It is what awaits inside, however, that allows this home to stand out in a development of beautiful houses. Real estate agent Christy Muller of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty summed it up nicely when she said, “The open floor plan and 11-foot ceilings are most impressive. It’s a design that is contemporary, but also has a traditional feel about it.”
This is readily apparent upon first entering the house. The entry foyer, which dramatically soars to the top of the second floor, is bright and welcoming, thanks to a large arched window above the front door. “This house has an abundance of light, especially in the morning,” Muller said. “It all starts in the morning, when light pours in from the east.”
The entry hall also features an open stairway to the second floor and easy access through arched passageways to the dining room, a study or home office, and, at the rear of the home, the living room. This living room, which also encompasses the kitchen, is ideal for entertaining, Muller said. It also provides a feeling of space that is enhanced by the 11-foot high ceilings found on the first floor.
The living room, which faces the backyard, has three French doors, all of which open to allow easy access to the patio area, or to bring in ample amounts of fresh air. The living room itself is large, with a beautiful gas fireplace that is surrounded by impressive millwork, and an array of artfully crafted and finished built-in cabinets and book selves. While open to the eat-in kitchen, the living room also maintains a comfortable separation from this area.
It is this kitchen that will easily serve as the center of activity when entertaining, as well as for daily living. It is large and features ample counter space with an angled peninsula that creates additional workspace, while also allowing for seating people. A center island enhances the work and storage space while accommodating the surface cooktop.
The counters are granite and there are stainless steel appliances, including a large French door refrigerator, dual built-in wall ovens, dual Bosch dishwashers, and a large deep double sink. There is also a built-in microwave oven.
At the end of the kitchen is a half-octagonal area designed for a table for informal meals. This design also adds architectural interest to both the interior and exterior of the home. The formal dining room is at the front of the home and has direct access to the kitchen.
The first floor also includes the primary bedroom suite and an option for a second bedroom in the room currently used as the study. “There is a great demand for homes with a first floor primary suite,” Muller noted, but the ability to turn another room on the first floor, in this case the study, into a bedroom is rare. Enabling this is the direct access that the study, or bedroom, has to a full bath.
As for the primary suite, it is large, offers two sizable walk-in closets and has its own spa-like bathroom. Here there are two separate vanities with sinks, a soaking tub, and a large separate shower behind a glass block wall. The first floor also has a separate laundry room off the kitchen and direct access to the backyard and a three-car garage.
Upstairs there are three sizable bedrooms. Two of these share a Jack-and-Jill bath while another bathroom off the upstairs hall serves the third bedroom and a large bonus room over the garage. It is currently used as a home office, but it could also be a playroom or family rec room, or whatever the new owner wants.
“The lower level is completely finished with engineered hardwood floors, a full bathroom, kitchenette, and recreation space. You can sit around playing cards, or watch television. A second lower level room could also serve as a craft room, workout room, or whatever you might like,” said Muller.
She considers the 11-foot ceilings and open floor plan to be among the most impressive features of the house, with the open floor plan “creating an ideal traffic flow when entertaining.” The first floor primary suite and the option to convert the study into a second bedroom on the first floor are also features that are increasingly sought after by today’s buyers.
This flexibility enhances the home’s ability to entertain parties of all sizes. From intimate get-togethers to large gatherings, “This home was built for family living and entertaining,” Muller said. “It was designed with large open entertaining areas,” and the ability to merge indoor and outdoor activities effortlessly. With the fully finished lower level, it can even split large gatherings by the attendees’ ages or interests. For these reasons, this home stands out amongst some of Farmington’s finest homes.
Info:
Built: 1993
Price: $1,149,000
Style: Contemporary Colonial
Rooms: 12
Bedrooms: 5
Baths: 5
Square footage: 4,135 plus an additional 1,104 of finished space in the lower level
Acreage: 0.38
Mill rate: 25.45
Best Feature: The first floor that combines openness for an exceptional feeling of space and offers a first floor primary bedroom suite, plus a flex room that could be a second first floor bedroom.
Contact: Christy Muller
860-463-7684
William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
cmuller@wpsir.com
