Friday, November 13, 2015 | Greenwich Time | R5

REAL ESTATE

One might expect a home builtin 1873 to feel heavy in décor andhistory with dark wood trim andornate Victorian detail. In fact,the newly listed home at 150 Riv-erside Ave. is quite the opposite.

The 6,218-square-foot Colonialhas a breezy, spacious aestheticthroughout. High ceilings andlarge windows allow light to fillthe spaces accented with honey-hued wood floors. It was one ofits attributes that homeownersNancy and Bruce Barker lovedabout the place when they firstsaw it nearly 30 years ago.

“We wanted an older home,and our broker said, ‘Look at thisVictorian.’ I’d grown up in north-east Ohio, where my experienceswith Victorians were all aboutthe four-square, dark, farm-house-types of homes. We didn’tsee ourselves in a Victorian,”Nancy Barker said. “But the bro-ker said, ‘You have to look at thisone,’ and when I walked throughthe door, I went, ‘Wow!’ The10-foot ceilings, high windows,8-foot doorways. ... It’s just solight and airy.”

Today, the home has a blend oftraditional and modern architec-ture and amenities. Reclaimedmillwork, large built-in book-cases and a period fireplace areas equally suited to the home asthe high-end stainless and crispwhite appliances.

The expansive kitchen blendsform and function with cabinetrythat offers plenty of storage, com-bined with clear-glass showcasesfor the homeowner’s most prizedchina and glassware. The kitch-en’s center island and the formaldining room make for perfectspaces for family gatherings andformal dinner parties.

A dramatic entryway andcurved staircase lead to the sec-ond floor. That staircase is anoth-er feature that caught the couple’seye when they first saw thehome. “We both fell in love withthe stairway,” Nancy Barker re-called.

In all, the home has six bed-rooms and four full-baths, plus ahalf-bath. A separate guest suitewith a private entry could alsoserve as an elegant home office orbe equipped for a home gym.

And there’s more than ample

three-season and outdoor livingspaces, including a second-floorbalcony, a warm solarium withfloor-to-ceiling windows and acovered deck with craftsmandetail that looks out upon theartfully manicured lawn. The

way the home sits back from thestreet, and the seclusion of thebackyard makes for a privatesetting.

The property is convenientlylocated minutes from Greenwichschools and the train station in

the Riverside neighborhood,which the sellers noted is a greatplace to raise a family.

“Riverside is still a neighbor-hood community. It’s tight-knit inthat respect,” Bruce Barker said.

“St. Paul’s Episcopal Church isjust a quarter-mile up the road,”Nancy Barker said. “At 6 p.m. inthe evenings, the church bellssound. They play three hymns,and when our children would beout playing in the neighborhoodand heard the bells chime, theyalways knew it was time to comehome for dinner.”

Buyers with large families orgrowing ones will find 150 River-side Ave. as appealing and com-fortable as those who may havesmaller families but enjoy enter-taining and having their homefrequently filled with guests andvisitors.

“We’ve hosted open houseshere for 120 people,” Barker said.

Listing agent: Steve Archino,Sotheby’s International Realty,Greenwich Brokerage; (203) 618-3144; steve.archino@sothebyshomes.com

HOT PROPERTY

Spacious modern Colonial highlights Victorian details

Photo by Sotheby’s International Realty

Above: An elegant living room features a period-appropriate vintage fireplace. Below left: The largekitchen features abundant counter space and a center island with cooktop. Below right: The 1873 colonialat 150 Riverside Ave. is on an artfully landscaped half-acre plot and is listed for $3.18 million.

DetailsAddress: 150 Riverside Ave.

Price: $3,180,000

Number of rooms: 16

Features: The 6,218-square-footColonial built in 1873 with Victoriandetails has six bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. It sits on a half-acre, minutes away from publictransportation and Riversideschools. A guest suite with a privateentrance can double as an office orspacious gym. The home features astunning entryway with a curvedstaircase, a large kitchen with cen-ter island and a formal dining room— a perfect combination for some-one who likes to entertain. It hasbeen thoughtfully planned to makethe most efficient use of the heat-ing and cooling systems, with sevenheating zones and four A/C zones.

Schools: Riverside School, EasternMiddle, Greenwich High

By Gretchen A. Peck

Vicky Harris, GRI • harrisvicky@aol.com • (203) 912-2708

r a v e i s . c o m"The best webs i te i n rea l e s ta te "

45 Field Point Road | Greenwich | CT 06830 • 189 Sound Beach Avenue | Old Greenwich | CT 06870

COVETED COS COB

NEWLY LISTED charming 4-bedroom, 2.1-bath colonial split-level home on a 0.25-acre lot in convenient neighborhood close to North Mianus School. Featuring a spacious living room with wood-burning fireplace and exposed wooden beamsin the ceiling, formal dining room, a freshly updated kitchen with granite counters and breakfast bar with sight lines to the step-down family room. In addition to the 2,000+ square footage above grade, there is a finished playroom perfect for videogames, toys and storage. Don't wait! For additional photos and floor plans, go to33Sundancedrive.com

Call Vicky Harris at 203.912.2708 for a private showing

$1,275,000 | MLS# 95016