About the Builder
Design & Construction:
114 Long Pond Road is the product of collaborative efforts both in the design and construction phases of the project. During the building site design process, Lelee Brandt worked with Allan Forrester of Moisan Architects. Ms. Brandt’s five earlier projects with this firm had received wide acclaim and many awards. The house she built on Main Street, Salisbury, appeared in the June 2004 issue of Architectural Digest, and project number four on Taconic Road received the Best Antique House Restoration Award from the Connecticut Homebuilders Association.
During the construction phase, Ms. Brandt worked with her husband Tom Francoline and his home building company Avonridge, Inc.
Since 1976, Avonridge has been the leading builder of custom homes in the Farmington Valley. In the past ten years, Avonridge has received over twenty awards from the Connecticut Homebuilders Association, and appeared in numerous publications.
For more information on Avonridge go to www.avonridge.com. For the landscape portion of the project, Ms. Brandt collaborated with Dennis Mareb and Gordon Clark of Windy Hill Farm.
Residence
Beautifully landscaped with specimen trees and shrubbery. Other features include antique hemlock floors, antique fireplace surrounds, antique lighting, antique floors and hardware.
First Floor
Foyer: wainscoting, staircase to 2nd floor, coat closet
Half Bath: pedestal sink, built-in display shelving
Library: (16×14) Cypress paneled walls and bookcases, Rumford fireplace with soapstone surround and antique mantel. Antique doors to
Great Room/Dining Room: (35×21) fieldstone Rumford fireplace with antique surround and antique fire back, coffered ceiling, bar with wine chiller, copper counter and sink. Antique doors to kitchen; three sets of French doors to
Terrace: (36×24) bluestone with fieldstone sitting wall, sloping to back yard with grass and wild flowers; breathtaking, protected Easterly view
Kitchen: (23×22) coffered, painted tin ceiling, soapstone island with soapstone sink, honed Calcutta marble counters & tiled backsplash, porcelain farm sink, raised hearth fieldstone Rumford fireplace with antique surround, windowed alcove breakfast area, walk-in pantry
Screened-in Porch: (20×16) bluestone floor, ceiling fan
Mudroom: Devalliere French limestone floor, large walk-in closet, built-in bench, bead board, antique entry door
Laundry Room: French limestone floor, utility sink, cherry folding counters
Bedroom/Office: (13×12) walk-in closet
Full Bath: stone shower with single vanity
Master Bedroom Suite:
Master Bedroom: (24×21) Hitchcock ceiling, antique brick Rumford fireplace with antique surround, French door to terrace, built-in bookcases
Walk-in Closet: built-in cabinets, window seat
Master Study/Sitting Room: (10×10)
Coffee Bar: with refrigerator, microwave
Master Bath: (18×11) Kohler soaking tub, marble steam shower with rain head and two additional shower heads, two single vanities, window seat
Second Floor
Loft/Landing: built-in bookcases, closets and computer station
2nd Master/Guest Suite: (21×18) Rumford fireplace with antique wood surround, built-in bookcases, walk-in closet, French doors
Private Promontory Deck: facing West
Full Bath: double vanity, tiled shower, bead board
Bedroom Suite: (17×16) great light and views, built-in bookcases, walk-in closet
Full Bath: tiled shower, custom vanity with window seat, bead board
Bedroom Suite: (17×17) walk-in closet, built-in bookcases, amazing Easterly views
Full Bath: tub/shower, bead board
Lower Level
antique hemlock floors throughout, wainscoting
Game Room: (20×17) recessed lighting, bar with copper sink and counter, refrigerator, dishwasher
Wine Cellar: (15×10) custom built redwood wine racks and counter top, French limestone flooring, antique copper cabinet
Half Bath: pedestal sink
Media Room: Rumford fireplace, antique surround, built-in cabinets and bookcases, large window wells that let in natural light
Exercise Room: mirrored wall; wired for TV, carpet Cedar Closet
Garage
3-car, detached, sheet rocked, carriage style automatic doors
Carriage/Guesthouse
Foyer: (9×10) Duvalier French limestone floor. Antique entrance door, entrance to garage, utility/laundry room, bead board staircase
Living/Dining/Kitchen: (25×24) antique hemlock floors, soapstone island and counters, farm sink, Bosch appliances.
Bedroom: (12×26) French doors to private deck, walk-in closet, many storage closets, Full Bath with tiled shower, bead board
Courtyard
circular with cobblestone border and cobblestone parking near garage and mudroom entrance. Center island with fieldstone wall.
Features
Gracious Virginia style home with circular drive & courtyard
Views: extensive Southerly, Easterly and Westerly of mountains and farm fields
Extensive mature plantings
Automatic watering system to all plantings
Self starting generator for entire property
Low maintenance house
Antique hardware and lighting throughout house and guesthouse
House is wired for sound, telephone and cable
Security System
Green Features
Recycled 19th Century antique wood floors, doors, fireplace surrounds and hardware.
Maximum insulation per Model Energy Code – 75% recycled Glass Fiberglass Insulation.
Thermopane windows with “low e” argon gas insulator.
Standing seam metal roofs – 60-year expected life span – recyclable material; Class A fire rating.
Weil-McLain Ultra High Efficiency Gas Boiler.
Energy Star rated air handlers and thermostats.
House with largest glass areas to East and South maximizes solar exposure.
