News of crime and punishment across Fairfax County this week:

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING TYSONS HIT-AND-RUN: Virginia State Police are seeking information from the public regarding a felony hit-and-run crash that occurred March 21 at 11 a.m. on Interstate 495 near Tysons, just north of the Dulles Toll Road.

A 2013 Nissan Sentra was traveling south on I-495 when a blue Jeep Cherokee suddenly changed from the right-center lane to the left-center lane and struck the Nissan, state police said. The Jeeps driver refused to stop and headed west on the Dulles Toll Road, authorities said.

Rescue personnel transported the Nissans driver, a 58-year-old Alexandria man, and his passenger, a 52-year-old Silver Spring woman, to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspects vehicle is likely to have damage to the drivers side.

UNATTENDED KITCHEN POT CAUSES GREASE FIRE AT VIENNA RESTAURANT: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded March 22 at 5:34 p.m. to a fire at East Chateau, a Chinese restaurant located at 146 Maple Ave., W., in Vienna.

The fire first was reported by personnel from Fire Station 2 in Vienna, who saw smoke coming from the building when returning from a medical incident in the area. Crews found heavy fire in the ceiling of the kitchen area.

Officials requested a second alarm, which brought about 60 firefighters to the scene.

According to fire investigators, the fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant. The fire was accidental in nature and was the result of a grease fire from an unattended pot on the stove. Officials estimate the blaze caused about $175,000 worth of damage.

TEENS FACING CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY FIRING BB GUN AT VEHICLE: Fairfax County police officers responded March 24 at 4 a.m. to a report of a car that had possibly been shot at with a BB gun near Leesburg Pike and Middleton Ridge Road in the Vienna/Great Falls area.

Officers checked the area and located a car that matched the description of the suspect vehicle. According to police, five teenage boys inside the car allegedly fired a BB gun at the victims car. Charges are pending. The victim was not injured, police said.

McLEAN HOME BURGLARIZED: A homeowner living in the 1400 block of Kirby Road in McLean told Fairfax County police on March 17 at 2:52 p.m. that someone had broken into the home and stolen miscellaneous items. Police do not have any information about the suspect.

UNATTENDED SPACE HEATER SPARKS VIENNA HOUSE FIRE: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded March 22 at 5:27 a.m. to a reported house fire in the 9800 block of Bridleridge Court in the Vienna area.

Units arrived and found that the large, two-story, single-family home had significant fire showing from a one-story sun room above the garage. In addition, crews reported the fire already had extended into the first and second floors and attic of the main house.

Crews worked aggressively on the interior and exterior of the home to contain the fire and limit it to the areas that were ablaze when they arrived, fire officials said.

There were two occupants at home when the fire was discovered. One occupant discovered the fire after hearing something fall down in the sunroom and seeing smoke coming from underneath the sunroom door.

A neighbor initially called 911 and reported smoke coming from the house. The homes occupants called 911 shortly thereafter to report their house was on fire and that everyone had safely evacuated.

There was one smoke alarm located in the hallway of the home, which did not alert the occupants to the fire because it had been disabled, officials said.

Investigators determined that the fire originated in the sunroom. The blaze was accidental in nature and caused by an unattended space heater that ignited combustible materials, officials said. The fire caused about $176,250 worth of damage, they said.

The fire displaced two adult occupants, who accepted Red Cross assistance. Rescue personnel transported the occupants to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and also took a firefighter to a hospital for evaluation.

PURSE STOLEN DURING VEHICLE BREAK-IN: A local woman told Vienna police that while she was in the Vienna Post Office, 200 Lawyers Road, N.W., on March 17 at 5 p.m., an unknown person smashed the passenger-side window of her vehicle and stole her purse.

ROCK THROWN AT VEHICLE PARKED AT VIENNA HOTEL: A local resident on March 18 at 2:19 a.m. observed a man throw a rock at a vehicle that was parked in the lot at Vienna Wolf Trap Hotel, 430 Maple Ave., W., Vienna police said.

Vienna police officers located the man, but the vehicle owner was undecided as to whether he would pursue charges, police said.

DISASTER-RESPONSE TRAINING OFFERED: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a training program administered by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department that prepares residents to help themselves, their families and neighbors in case of a disaster in their community.

Through CERT, residents can learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster-response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and medical operations in disasters.

The next available CERT class will begin April 24 at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy. There are two sessions each week on Mondays and Wednesdays that run until May 17. The class is 28 hours long overall, plus the final practical exercise.

CERT training is free of charge and the county will provide basic gear. To participate in CERT training at any level, residents must be at least 16 years old and either be a Fairfax County resident or work in the county.

For more information, see the Web site at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/cert/cert.htm.

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Fairfax Public-Safety Notes, 3/30/17 edition - Inside NoVA

New York Times

$1.5 Million Homes in Washington State, Kentucky and Georgia New York Times The windowed basement level has two additional bedrooms and a full bath, along with a spacious family room. French doors open to a wooden deck and landscaped backyard. The home has features such as LED lighting, a ductless HVAC system and air ...

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$1.5 Million Homes in Washington State, Kentucky and Georgia - New York Times

Its a challenge familiar to many families: the desire to add more space to a home while maintaining its original character and its seamless fit with the surrounding neighborhood.

Homeowners Jonathan OConner and Eric Schlotterbeck envisioned a more expansive family room and a kitchen remodel for easier hosting and entertaining in their circa-1920s Tudor on Minnehaha Parkway. They were willing to sacrifice a small, little-used sunroom and expand the footprint of the house.

By staying open to the creative possibilities offered up by their design-build team, the couple gained the additional space they hoped for and much more.

Fine-tuning a Tudor for modern living

As avid cooks and frequent hosts to their many nieces and nephews, OConner and Schlotterbeck initially hoped for a larger main-floor family room that would take advantage of the space now occupied by a three-season porch. Extra square footage would be added with an addition.

They planned a kitchen remodel that would re-cast the small kitchen to make it truly functional for a two-chef family. Finally, they settled on an open floor plan for both the kitchen and family room, with the goal of enhancing traffic flow through both rooms for their many frequent guests and ensuring that everyone in the space could feel part of the action.

Yet the couple were surprised by the options open to them once the architect and builder looked at what a renovation could potentially offer: not only the family room and expansive kitchen theyd imagined, but also a new master bedroom suite with a three-quarter bath.

Together with architect Randall Buffie, the husband-and-wife team behind boutique design-build firm Schrader & Companies were inspired by the challenge to create some functional new square footage while also keeping the homes original character intact.

They werent contemplating the possibility of being able to gain a bedroom and bath as part of the project at all, originally, said Andy Schrader of Schrader & Companies.

But by taking advantage of the existing half-story in the Tudor homes original layout, a new vision took shape.

Adding on and going up

The original tiny sunroom like many that you see on these circa-1920s South Minneapolis homes wasnt heated well, so it was more like a three-season porch, Schrader explained. We knew wed be removing that as well as adding on to the homes original footprint to create a larger, open family room.

Soon, an iterative design process in close tandem with the architect revealed that much more was possible.

As we worked together, we started to reveal more ideas for ways the remodel could improve the homeowners lives, Schrader said. Design professionals who can look outside the box can come up with some creative solutions that meet the original goals for the project and bring even more livability and functionality to the home.

To gain the open floor plan the couple desired, the builders opened a structural wall to create an arched opening that echoed those common to the Tudor style.

The new master suite was made possible by not only adding on but also building up.

The resulting addition is built onto the back of the house. A unique flat-roof solution gracefully blends the second-story master suite addition into the rest of the homes exterior.

Theres nothing worse than an addition that sticks out like a sore thumb on the home and in the neighborhood, Schrader said. The addition of the suite would normally have necessitated a peak in the roof that would have been much higher than the homes original peak almost obnoxiously so but going with a flat-roof solution allowed us to avoid that and stay closer to the original character of the home.

Careful blending of the stucco and woodwork banding on the addition makes the new exterior feel like a natural extension of the home. With a new master suite above the family room, the small home has sized-up to a total of three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Perserving a warm, welcoming feel

The addition also successfully created the larger family room the couple wanted.

We were able to keep the sunroom feel by wrapping the family room in 12 large windows that let in the sunshine, Schrader explained.

Water-based radiant heat in the tile floor keeps a room lined with windows comfortable and welcoming to bare feet in all seasons, while a patio door to the back yard brings the outside in.

Being open to the kitchen helps the family room feel connected to the rest of the house. It also allows the cooks in the kitchen to remain part of the flow of fun and conversation.

A dream kitchen to delight two cooks

Since both OConner and Schlotterbeck enjoy cooking and entertaining, a larger and more functional kitchen was a key goal of the remodel.

Gutting the room to the studs allowed for a complete re-imagining of the kitchen not only making room for two chefs, but also adding custom touches that made the space completely their own.

A series of stations throughout the kitchen allow two cooks to work on different tasks while not getting in one anothers way. An island peninsula opens to the expanded family room and welcomes guests into the kitchen without impeding the cooks progress.

A Wolf six-burner stove joins a steam oven, while custom cabinetry provides dedicated homes for small appliances. The cabinets include thoughtful details, like storage for scores of spice jars.

Attaining the original goaland so much more

Seeing the joy on the homeowners faces is the best part of the project, Schrader said, agreeing with his wife, Melissa. By taking the time to plan and investing in a design that was the right fit not only for the neighborhood but for the familys lifestyle, the couple gained space that enriches their lives as well as their familys and friends.

A project of this scale isnt without challenges, however. Particularly with older homes, surprises are bound to pop up.

Melissa Schrader said thats when a strong relationship and trust in your contractor is key.

You want someone who will address any issues promptly to be on the spot to quickly and calmly address the issue, she said.

It all pays off in the end.

We love being able to work closely with the homeowners to achieve their goalsand we love it when they love the finished product, she said.

For the family in this 1920s Tudor, staying open to possibilities means they can now look forward to many more opportunities to love the space theyre in and graciously welcome their many guests to do the same.

For more information:

Schrader & Companies

schradercompanies.com

952.465.3582

info@schradercompanies.com

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Entertaining possibilities for a '20s Tudor - Southwest Journal

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded March 22 at 5:27 a.m. to a reported house fire in the 9800 block of Bridleridge Court in the Vienna area.

Units arrived and found that the large, two-story, single-family home had significant fire showing from a one-story sun room above the garage. In addition, crews reported the fire already had extended into the first and second floors and attic of the main house.

Crews worked aggressively on the interior and exterior of the home to contain the fire and limit it to the areas that were ablaze when they arrived, fire officials said.

There were two occupants at home when the fire was discovered. One occupant discovered the fire after hearing something fall down in the sunroom and seeing smoke coming from underneath the sunroom door.

A neighbor initially called 911 and reported smoke coming from the house. The homes occupants called 911 shortly thereafter to report their house was on fire and that everyone had safely evacuated.

There was one smoke alarm located in the hallway of the home, which did not alert the occupants to the fire because it had been disabled, officials said.

Investigators determined that the fire originated in the sunroom. The blaze was accidental in nature and caused by an unattended space heater that ignited combustible materials, officials said. The fire caused about $176,250 worth of damage, they said.

The fire displaced two adult occupants, who accepted Red Cross assistance. Rescue personnel transported the occupants to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and also took a firefighter to a hospital for evaluation.

Continue reading here:
Unattended space heater cause of house fire in Vienna area | Crime ... - Inside NoVA

Accentuated by fine craftsmanship and an open floor plan, this five bedroom, five and one-half bath luxury residence in Far Hills boasts 10,000 square feet of meticulous living space, with upgrades and amenities throughout. Notable features include hardwood floors, high ceilings, custom windows, decorative millwork and molding, built-ins, imported stone, fine fixtures and so much more.

The estate offers nearly seven flat, private acres; its winding paver drive flanked by dual brick pillars and classic lantern lighting.

A stately brick facade towers over sprawling green lawns, pristine landscaping and a lighted paver walkway. The homes double door entry welcomes you to a sunlit marble foyer with a Palladian window, revealing brilliant architectural details including traditional wainscot, high ceilings, decorative columns and a grand staircase. To the left, French doors access a large conservatory with finely crafted millwork and built-ins, a see-through fireplace, custom lighting and window treatments, and access to the rear grounds.

To the right of the foyer, the formal banquet sized dining room boasts a spectacular coffered ceiling, hardwood floors and wainscot paneling. The convenient butlers pantry offers cabinetry, granite counters and a large walk-in pantry with extensive storage space for groceries and more.

The sunken formal living room is warm and inviting, with transom windows, hardwood floors and a fireplace with carved wood mantel. Steps away, a well-appointed powder room offers ultra-chic styling in neutral gray tones with glass mosaic tiling, chrome fixtures and a Jacob Delafon commode.

The enormous chefs kitchen delivers a six burner Viking cooktop and dual Electrolux wall oven. Enjoy sprawling granite counters and abundant cabinetry, in addition to an oversized granite center island with breakfast bar seating. Amenities also include a custom hexagonal tile backsplash, Sub-Zero paneled refrigerator, granite topped work area with wine storage, and a bright breakfast area with sliders to a large, window-lined sunroom.

The kitchens modern floor plan opens to an exquisite family room, featuring a stone fireplace and raised hearth, hardwood floors, crown molding, recessed lighting, and floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows offering tranquil wooded views. French doors lead to an adjacent first level office, which can be brilliantly re-purposed as a music, craft or play room.

At the rear of the home, a large mudroom provides custom built-in gear storage and organization for the whole family, with nearby laundry room and rear stairwell to the second floor.

Upstairs, double doors open to the large master suite, with an incredible vaulted ceiling, fireplace, and separate sitting area. The spa-like master bath boasts dual vanities with porcelain bowl sinks and a Kohler jetted tub. Luxurious amenities include imported tile, plantation shutters, skylight, and a steam shower with dual heads. An enormous his/hers walk-in closet offers storage galore with custom closet organization systems.

Two additional bedrooms are well appointed with hardwood floors, crown molding, and large closets, and share a Jack & Jill bath with double sinks and a separate room for tub/shower and commode. The homes fourth bedroom is large and bright, and features an ensuite bath. Offering work-at-home convenience, a sizeable second floor office features a large closet, custom blinds and hard wood floors.

At the other end of the hall, the fifth bedroom is a sunlit, expansive space ideal for inlaws or AuPair. In addition to dimensional ceilings, enormous closets, and an adjacent full bath, the room also has convenient access to the rear stairwell.

This exquisite estate is nestled atop nearly seven pristine acres, accented by professionally landscaped lawns, meticulous planting beds and lighted paver walkways. A true backyard oasis is enveloped by private wooded views, and offers a sparkling gunite pool and spa featuring multicolored underwater lighting, automatic pool cleaner and water purifier, which provides up to an 80 percent reduction in chlorine use.

Lounge in serene privacy on the expansive natural stone pool deck or entertain guests with amenities like a pergola-covered deck and a built-in barbecue with refrigerator and granite prep areas. The home offers a four-bay garage with a built in electric car charger, flex-core flooring, in addition to custom closets and storage areas.

A spectacular walkout lower level takes luxury to new heights, and is designed to impress. Two spacious living areas offer generous space for recreation, billiards, media and more, and a home gym boasts rubberized flooring, mirrored walls, and a frosted glass entry.

The incredible TIVO-linked home cinema features stadium, motion-enhanced seating for eight, a 400 DVD-library, and acoustical tiles for the complete theater experience. Store your favorite vintages in the wine cellar, finely furnished with a copper ceiling, WhisperKool climate control, bistro seating and a corking station. Additional conveniences include a full bath with sauna and stall shower, and an entertaining area with refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and more.

Far Hills is well-known for its rural suburban neighborhoods and luxury estates, and offers a top-rated school system, recently ranked No. 18 in the state by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to numerous dining, shopping and lifestyle conveniences, commuters enjoy the convenience of in-town NYC train and bus transportation, and close proximity to major highways 287 and 78.

This property is marketed by Roxanne Formisano, Broker of Record, Keller Williams Towne Square Realty, 222 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, 908-766-0085 (office), 908-507-0037 (mobile)roxanne.formisano@yahoo.com or http://www.roxanneformisano.comfor all questions or a showing appointment.

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Far Hills estate offers luxury on 7 acres - New Jersey Hills

Life can be so random. And often is.

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One day in 1985, on his way to work as a sales representative for a cement company, Mitch Marris drove past the area in Camden County where Merchantville and Pennsauken meet. There, in Pennsauken, he spotted a circa-1890s Victorian for sale with interesting angles and loads of character.

He decided to return to that house for a look inside. Never mind that it was obviously in poor condition. Living in an apartment near the Italian Market in South Philadelphia had served Mitch and wife Deborah's growing family well, but it was time for a change.

Had he taken a different route that day, life now might be quite different. But the Marrises realized that Mitch had spotted a treasure, and one at a price they could afford. A definite milestone day in their lives.

"This house just seemed to beckon," says Deborah, an artist and teacher who shared her husband's instincts about it.

Once the house was theirs that summer, the couple worked from the outdoors in, cleaning up an overgrown and neglected but expansive yard and garden. By October of that year, they had moved in and had begun tackling the Victorian's interior a labor of valiant effort, but yes, also of love.

Mitch remembers a "feeble" heating system, a terrible kitchen, and equally terrible wall coverings. But, still, they found reason for gratitude: The Victorian's high ceilings, moldings and other circa-1890s amenities were intact.

Like so many owners who have the courage to tackle older homes, this couple discovered that there was very little that didn't need TLC. More and more projects tumbled their way, and the deeper into improvements they went.

Today, visitors might never guess the effort it took to recreate the house, with its five first-story rooms, four on the second floor, and two large rooms in the now-finished attic.

It didn't hurt that Deborah Moss Marris, 61, is an accomplished artist with a bachelor of fine arts degree from Moore College of Art and Design and an MFA from Syracuse University; currently, she is a professor at Camden County College in Blackwood and also an art teacher at Westfield Friends School in Riverton.

Her expertise as a decorative painter/color consultant is evident here, and her choices of rich, vibrant colors and muted softer tones happily coexist.

And family-friendly features still work, well over a full century after the house was built. There are gathering places, a feeling of connection, a livability in this Victorian. Even terriers Mike and Maeve seem to know they are lucky dogs, indeed, to be sharing these spaces with the Marrises and their daughters, Caroline, Katherine and Eliza.

Another perk: The attic has offered a kind of "dormitory" to those daughters, their own private world.

Deborah, the artist, admits that having a first-floor studio with plenty of light was her dream. She shifted from a darker smaller space and loves every inch of it.

Then there's this: The ever-evolving dwelling is a kind of gallery for Deborah's works, which were recently on display at the Moorestown Community House during a celebration of the arts. The Marris house itself is an extension of that celebration, with Deborah's eclectic works everywhere.

An oversized painting of striking tangled underbrush has a perfect home in the family sunroom, a recent addition that has added prime space for viewing a deep, lush yard. Creatively painted chairs and stools find their own artistic place there.

Mitch, 62, proudly says that "the most gratifying part of the whole experience of this house has been in sharing it and working together with such a creative person as my wife."

Alongside traditional and handsome furniture is far more quirky and unexpected decor, just as pops of color live happily withe more stately browns and neutrals. The lightness of contemporary pieces is counterbalanced by arresting Oriental rugs that themselves feel like art.

Handsomely textured walls throughout the house are precisely the kind of surprises that spring from an artist's point of view. The dining room walls are a case in point.

Based on the home's original look, Deborah used a color-wash technique that imparts tones of gold, rose and bronze to create a glow that's almost magical. The walls are a perfect blend with the room's spectacular patterned ceiling.

It was quite a job to get from the house that needed so much TLC to the home that exudes such joyful charm today. And given all it took, it's not a project they might repeat. But Deborah and Mitch still are grateful for Mitch's ride to work that long-ago morning that brought them to their Pennsauken haven.

"Maybe someday, we'll live in a place where the windows are new and easily cleaned and dust is at a minimum," Mitch says somewhat wistfully.

But somehow, one wonders whether he really means it.

Published: March 26, 2017 4:00 AM EDT

Over the past year, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com have uncovered corruption in local and state public offices, shed light on hidden and dangerous environmental risks, and deeply examined the regions growing heroin epidemic. This is indispensable journalism, brought to you by the largest, most experienced newsroom in the region. Fact-based journalism of this caliber isnt cheap. We need your support to keep our talented reporters, editors and photographers holding government accountable, looking out for the public interest, and separating fact from fiction. If you already subscribe, thank you. If not, please consider doing so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions can be home delivered in print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25 per day. We're thankful for your support in every way.

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A Pennsauken Victorian reblooms under its owners' deft touch - Philly.com

MANCHESTER Exceptionally spacious at just over 5,000 square feet; ideal for a large family, thanks to 10 rooms including four (or five) bedrooms; and sited on five private acres directly opposite Augusta Golf Club and less than a mile from Lake Cobbossee, here is one of Central Maines finest homes, in one of the regions most desirable locations.

Quality-built in 1988, the home has been scrupulously maintained, and updated in the most important respects, such as systems. And the kitchen custom, with Corian surfaces, and stainless appliances including wall ovens, massive SubZero refrigerator, gas range, and built-in microwave. Theres even a huge new wait-until-you-see-this sunroom, with skylights in its cathedral ceiling, a pretty Palladian window, and French doors out to a large patio and beautiful back yard.

The dining room, with classic china closet and chair rails, and the living room, with its own floor-to-ceiling built-in, and a brick-and-tile, wood-burning fireplace, are at the front of the house. Floor-plan flexibility is an asset: Theres a study-library that works will as a bedroom; a room-sized breakfast nook off the kitchen; and an extra-large, carpeted family room with an abundance of built-ins.

Upstairs, the bright west-wing bedroom makes a perfect studio (and indeed was one until recently). There are two full suites: the master, whose elegant bath has a jetted tub, on the first floor; and second master above. In addition to three full baths, there are two half-baths (surely a boon to family life).

The basement adds 621 feet of finished space (included in the total above). Beyond a very nice recreation room, theres tons of workshop/storage space. The attached two-garage has walkup storage above, and theres an additional, detached two-vehicle garage.

The home at 88 Pond Road, Manchester, is listed for sale at $549,000 by Bill Sprague of Sprague & Curtis Real Estate in Augusta. Taxes are $8,750.

Please visit https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=fnkRouueUMX&mls=1 to enjoy a virtual tour. For more information or to schedule a viewing, please contact Bill at 623-1123, 458-0555 or at [emailprotected].

The Central Maine Home of the Week is produced by the Marketing Department of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Virtual tour by Mitchell Morrissette, Locksley Consulting.

Please send feature home suggestions to [emailprotected].

Link:
88 Pond Road, Manchester - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

Patch.com

Update: Space Heater Caused Fire at Vienna Home, Says Fire Department Patch.com Fire investigators determined that the house fire, in the 9800 block of Bridleridge Court, began in a sunroom above the garage, the Fire Department said Thursday. It was caused by an unattended space heater that ignited other items in the room ... and more »

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Update: Space Heater Caused Fire at Vienna Home, Says Fire Department - Patch.com

Many homes can claim a location close to nature, but few can boast front-row seats for title fights between boxing kangaroos.

This four-bedroom home is in the exclusive Bracker Place in Macarthur with direct access to an adjoining nature reserve and walking tracks.

Homeowner Vicki Dempsey says the match-ups between the younger marsupials is just part of the daily passing parade on the other side of her garden.

9 Bracker Place, Macarthur: An elevated but flat block. Photo:Supplied

I sit on my swing with a glass of wine and I watch horse riders, joggers, walkers, people on bikes, everybody just enjoying this wonderful patch of nature, she says.

Vicki says she and her husband, Dominic, moved into the architect-designed home in 2003.

Wed previously rented in Macarthur and promised that if work brought us back, wed buy there, she says.

9 Bracker Place, Macarthur. Photo:Supplied

The couple were attracted to the home and its elevated, but flat block, and a sense of privacy.

It combines the best of both worlds you feel like youre in a rural setting, but youre still only 15 minutes to Kingston, Vicki says.

This well-maintained home on a 944-square-metre block offers open-plan living highlighted by a large sunroom that opens onto low-maintenance grounds, landscaped in a formal style.

The sunroom was an addition, but it presents like its part of the house, not something that was tacked on, Vicki says.

Its one of our favourite places to entertain or to simply sit and enjoy the gardens.

Other features of the home include ducted gas heating, cooling system (ducted and split system), double car garaging and double carport, large under-house storage area, automatic watering system and rain water tank, and a gas outlet for barbecue connection.

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Boxing roos are neighbours of this Macarthur home - Domain News

By Carole LaMond, Correspondent

The gracious four-bedroom colonial at 32 Longfellow Road is a rare find in Wellesley for its setting on a nearly one-acre lot with views of the Boston skyline.

The fully updated, bright and sunny 11-room house has an additional bonus with its location in the popular Poets Corner, a close-knit neighborhood of traditional homes on short streets and cul-de-sacs with poets names such as Tennyson and Shelley. Residents say it is an old-fashioned neighborhood where kids ride bikes and walk to each others homes to play and adults get together for book groups, block parties and an annual progressive dinner that is the highlight of the year.

The area is also in an excellent commuter location with quick access to the Mass Pike, routes 128, 9, 30 and 16 and train, as well as to shopping, restaurants and recreation.

Sandy Balzer Tobin of Benoit Mizner Simon is marketing the 3,300-square-foot home on a 0.97-acre lot for $1,829,000.

The house was renovated top to bottom in the past five years, but retains all of the character of its 1926 origins with its bay and arched windows, lovely millwork - some polished to a rich patina over the years - and built-ins with decorative detail, original glass doorknobs, satiny hardwood floors and front and back staircases.

The house has a charming center foyer, a front-to-back living room with doors to a spacious sunroom, a formal dining room with a fireplace, a study, an updated granite kitchen with a butlers pantry, and a family room. The second floor has four bedrooms which include a master suite and three new bathrooms. The walk-out lower level has a playroom with a fireplace.

The addition of bluestone patios, which includes a gorgeous tired rear terrace, emphasize the amazing yard and provide wonderful space for outdoor entertaining and leisure.

The cedar shingle house has nice curb appeal with a center portico, dark shutters, a wide bluestone walk, ledgestone walls and terraces.

The front door opens to the classic vestibule of the period. Flanked by coat closets, the vestibule has double French doors which open to the foyer with a turned staircase, doorways to the living room, study and dining room.

The focal point of the foyer is the gracious turned staircase with its beautiful arched window which floods the entry with natural light. The lower staircase has a wide half flight of steps to double French doors which open to the rear terrace.

The floor plan has an excellent flow for entertaining with its easy access to the dining room and spacious living room and sunroom which opens to a bluestone patio that wraps from the side of the house to a two-tier terrace overlooking the back yard.

The front-to-back living room is filled with light from a triple window at one end and double windows at the other. Two solid double doors on each side of the wood-burning fireplace with a decorative mantel open to a sunroom.

The sunroom has triple windows at each end and a wall with beautiful arched windows flanking a French door with full side panels. The door opens to the side bluestone patio which leads to the magnificent two-tier back patio which is bordered by stone walls.

There is a cozy study with a wall of built-in bookshelves to the left of the foyer which provides a quiet workspace separate from the main activity of the household.

The dining room is off the back of the foyer and has all of the lovely original details of the home with a wood-burning fireplace, paneled molding above and below a chair rail and a bay window with a wide sill for serving, plants or decorative objects.

The kitchen also retains its period charm with its back staircase and butlers pantry, but with all the amenities of today. There are granite countertops with a peninsula with breakfast bar seating, wood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances by Jenn-Air as well as a triple window above the sink with sweeping views.

The butlers pantry has wood counters polished to a soft patina from years of use, glass-front cabinetry and a window.

The kitchen is open to the family room with a bay window bordered by a picture window that floods the room with sunlight and provides sweeping views. The room has built-in bookcases, a door to the attached two-car garage and a door to the covered porch with access to a bluestone patio that opens to the driveway. There is a half bath off the family room.

The second floor has four bedrooms that include a master suite, and three full baths.

The master bedroom has a wood-burning fireplace, a triple window with views of the Boston skyline and built-in cabinetry. There is a private bath and a sunny dressing room off the bedroom has multiple closets and windows and is large enough to be used as a nursery.

Two family bedrooms off the landing share a bath while a third bedroom, at the top of the back stairs, has a private bath.

The walk-out lower level has a game room with a wood-burning fireplace with a dramatic terra cotta tile surround, a large laundry room, a wine cellar, a half bath, storage and a door to the backyard.

The house has gas heat, central air, and the professionally landscaped yard has a sprinkler system.

Details

Address: 32 Longfellow Road, Wellesley

BR/BA: Four bedrooms, three full and two half baths

Size: 3,300 square feet of living space on a 0.97 acre lot

Age: 1926; renovated

Price: $1,829,000

Taxes: $16,933

Features of home: This gracious colonial in the popular Poets Corner neighborhood is set on nearly an acre with views of the Boston skyline. Thoughtful renovations have retained the charming 1926 details and feature a granite kitchen with a butlers pantry that is open to a family room, a formal dining room, a front-to-back living room and sunroom, four bedrooms which include a master suite and a lower level with a playroom with a fireplace. Terraced bluestone patios add outdoor space for entertaining and leisure. The house is in an excellent commuter location with easy access to major roads and rail station and is close to shopping, restaurants, library, the Cross Town Trail, Warren playground and recreation department.

Close by: Schofield Elementary School

Contact: For more information contact Sandy Balzer Tobin of Benoit Mizner Simon at 781-820-4720 direct or 781-444-8383 office or sandy@benoitmiznersimon.com. This home may be seen by appointment.

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Wellesley House of the Week: Poet's Corner colonial fully updated - Wicked Local Wellesley