Grayville Estates in Hebron offers space and design ideal for working from home
Over the years, homes have adapted to changing lifestyles and an ever-increasing demand for greater comfort and efficiency. Now, as some people have spent the better part of 2020 working from home, going to school from home, and hunkering down at home, the demand for homes better suited to these new realities is rapidly rising.
Ready to meet these demands are the 18 homes planned for Grayville Estates in Hebron. The first of these, at 436 Old Colchester Road, is nearly ready for occupancy. Its space and design are ideal for supporting current requirements for remote working and schooling, while its open floor plan, gourmet kitchen and dramatic great room, with a ceiling that soars two stories, mean that this home will be ideal for entertaining on a grand scale when life returns to normal. It is a home that is ideally suited for the needs of today and tomorrow.
“There aren’t a lot of new homes available that are completed or nearly completed,” said Alan D. Williams, the builder. “Inventory is tight. And there are very few new custom homes ready for immediate occupancy, like this one.”
“From the street, you don’t notice it. This is an ideal home for a family that values privacy, space and wants an ideal location. This neighborhood has a right-of-way to the Air Line Trail, [an abandoned railroad bed] that is ideal for walking, running, bicycling and riding horses,” said Cynthia Moran, marketing director for the builder. This trail, which is considered to be one of the finest in the state, is made more attractive by its proximity to Grayville Falls, a town park. the details that the builder agonizes over,” Moran said. “It brings the home to a higher level. It has style.” This attention to detail is one reason the builder has won 17 HOBI awards, which are given by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut.
Walk through the foyer and under the second floor balcony to enter an open area that holds the great room and a kitchen that make this home ideal for large or small gatherings. The great room features a gas-fueled fireplace and imparts a feeling of room enhanced by that soaring ceiling. Stacked windows let in ample light, even on an overcast day.
The kitchen area, with a large island, has an ideal layout for food preparation, with ample space for the chef and helpers. The appliances are stateof-the-art, and include an induction cooktop unit built into the granite counters. Cabinetry is of high quality with the island cabinets painted in what Moran referred to as “a trendy soft blue.” The other cabinets are white.
“Younger buyers may not think about this, but this home is ideal for people who want to age in place,” Moran said. Key to this capability is the inviting first floor master bedroom suite, which features ample room, three closets, two of which are walk-ins, and a bath fit for a spa.
“The bath has a heated floor,” Moran said. “People don’t often think about this, but once they have it…” She went on to note the oversized shower with room for two, and the large vanity with a granite counter, dual sinks and dual medicine cabinets.
Even the toilet, in a separate room in the master bath, stands out. It is a Toto unit with a lid that rises automatically when a person enters the area. An identical toilet is installed in the first floor half bath for guests.
Other first floor highlights include a mud and laundry room, a walk-in pantry, easy access to an oversized and nicely finished three-car garage and a room at the rear of the house that could serve as a three-season porch or an area for raising plants. Here, FRP wall paneling is resistant to moisture and easy to clean, while the cedar ceiling is also ready to resist moisture and humidity. There is even a sink in the room.
The second floor holds two bedrooms, and two full baths. One is accessible from the hallway and the second is an en suite bath for the front bedroom. This is ideal for intergenerational living, Williams said.