Property Week Old World Charm Infused in Modern, Burlington Home Atop Johnnycake Mountain

From the hills of Tuscany through the valley of Napa to the top of the Johnnycake Mountain Farm neighborhood in Burlington stands a 12-room, luxury European colonial with lush rolling hills, emerald meadows and a private pond as its backdrop.

The one-of-a-kind, well-appointed five-acre retreat at 175 Johnnycake Mountain Road transports you to the idyllic vineyards of Italy, full to the brim of Tuscan inspiration. The expansive, almost 6,000-squarefoot home harmoniously blends classic and modern elements. It is accentuated by high ceilings; exposed

beams; exquisite stone work; chestnut-stained, quarter sawn white-oak hardwood floors; plaster finished walls;

crown molding; solid wood doors and custom bronze handles; two extra-wide staircases with hand-forged iron spindles; and arched entryways.

“I’ve traveled to Tuscany and I was inspired by its simple, rustic lifestyle,” said the home’s owner and builder, Antonio Senese, of Seneca Builders LLC. “I

wanted to bring those features into my home.”

The home’s inviting stucco and fieldstone exterior blends beautifully with custom windows reminiscent of Tuscany. The professionally landscaped level lot is inviting; it is lightly wooded and dotted with perennials, several of them hydrangea trees and bushes. The property is large enough to build an in-ground pool or to host a wedding or a celebration.

The long driveway to the home opens to Belgium block with a stone circular inlay, firmly set in concrete. The

front sidewalk, with a romantic curve, extends to the main entrance of the home and a separate mudroom entrance ornamented with columns and archways. Unique to the home are the custom hand-forged iron lanterns and seeded glass.

Equally stunning is the backyard which opens to rolling hills and breathtaking pastoral views in all directions.

Its bluestone terrace is perfectly integrated into the landscape with hydrangea-lined fieldstone walls. Set the mood and relax by the wood-burning stone fireplace. Further back, the property overlooks a beautiful pond, capturing all the sights and sounds of nature.

“This house is all about the backyard,” Senese said. “Every evening, you can sit by the fireplace after a long day and watch the sunset. When you get a clear night,

the stars are amazing.”

The European gourmet kitchen is right out of a magazine, adorned with high-end workmanship including leathered-finished granite counters with ogee edges; an oversize island with storage and seating; a six-burner, dual-fuel commercial range, griddle and hood encased by arched cabinetry; a pantry and a butler’s pantry; a stunning honed marble backsplash in a mosaic design; three sinks (one is a classic farmhouse); and a wine chiller. The cherry wood cabinetry in mixed finishes is lightly distressed and enriched by a glaze finish and some seeded glass. The refrigerator looks more like an armoire cabinet.

An expansive wall of windows in the kitchen showcases the panoramic views. Architectural timber beams enhance the Tuscan feel with warm light illuminated from hand-forged chandeliers, both above the island and the casual eat-in kitchen. Here, a natural stone gas fireplace with a cherry wood corbel mantel ties the space together. French doors open to the stone terrace and the outdoor fireplace.

The dining room is plenty big for large-scale entertaining.

The family/living room has a gas fireplace surrounded by horizontally-stacked fieldstone and a bluestone hearth. The main floor master or guest suite has a seating area, a custom dressing room and a full bath with white honed marble counters and flooring. Off the grand foyer is a

study or office.

The second level of the home exudes a quiet, inviting elegance. The staircase has an intermediate landing and

the balcony at the top is the perfect space for a reading nook or armoire. The master suite on this level also has a separate wardrobe with all built-in cherry wood closets and shelving. A freestanding, cast-iron clawfoot tub with its own European handheld faucet is the centerpiece of the bathroom. There is a seamless glass-door porcelain tile shower, limestone counters, double sinks and floorto-ceiling cherry wood cabinetry with seeded glass.

Also upstairs, you will find two additional bedrooms

(one with an en suite), a powder room with a European pedestal sink and a large laundry room alongside a farmhouse sink, leathered-finished granite counters, custom cabinetry and closets.

Hidden gems on this level include a media room overlooking the backyard and a bonus area complimented by a barrel ceiling. This unique space can be converted into an office, a game room, a ballroom or even an art gallery. A separate staircase leads to the

mudroom. Walk out of the French doors onto a romantic balcony constructed of handmade wrought iron.

This green home is very energy efficient with ICFs (insulating concrete forms) sandwiched between two layers of insulation material. Construction began in 2004 but was not completed and move-in ready until 2014. The home is equipped with a programmable thermostat, ridge vents, storm doors, thermopane windows with simulated light, central vacuum, a security system, a

main level sound system and a walk-up attic that could be turned into another room. It is heated with hot air fueled by oil, and cooled by central air conditioning. There is a septic system and a private well.

For car enthusiasts, an attached oversize three-car garage has ample space to accommodate car lifts.

From the garage, enter into a slate floor mudroom which could be repurposed as a sunroom, sitting room or a

hearth room off the kitchen. It provides access to both the front- and- backyard stone covered porches. Off the

mudroom is a large powder room.

Johnnycake Mountain Road is a desirable development

in bucolic Burlington, a rural community situated at the foot of the Berkshires. The town is comprised of an abundance of single-family homes and several seasonal farms selling plants, produce, Christmas trees and more. “What attracted me to the property are the rolling hills and Johnnycake Mountain,” said the homeowner, who added he never gets bored of the scenery. “The area is a perfect blend of farms, neighborhoods and

country living.”

The home’s location is a quick ride to Route 4 in Burlington, 15 minutes to Litchfield center and is situated two hours from Boston and New York. For more information about the home, to view photos or to take a virtual tour, visit www.williampitt.com. This impeccable

home is priced to sell at $1,597,000.