The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Mad about Madison
Peek inside town’s stately residences during house tour
MADISON — Have you ever wanted to peek inside some of Madison’s spectacular homes? Well, look no further than the Madison Historical Society’s Tour of Remarkable Homes to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
For one day only, select homeowners will allow exclusive access for visitors to walk through the interiors of their beautiful homes and gardens. All proceeds will benefit the Madison Historical Society and its mission of preserving and protecting the town’s rich cultural and architectural history.
Last year, visitors toured six private residences including an early 19th-century farmhouse, a charming beach cottage, two Middle Beach Road escapes, a luxury condominium, and a spacious contemporary with unobstructed views of Fence Creek.
In 2018, the tour features five unique properties and an unfurnished modern brick home with spectacular gardens modeled after the Butchart Gardens of British Columbia. Nothing says New England ⏩ quite like a Nantucket-style wood-clad home. Designed by Baltimore architect Bob Berman, this charming Middle Beach colonial was built in 2004. The weathered shingle exterior is typical of the Nantucket style while the simplicity and grace of the interior reflects the Arts and Crafts style. The home features five working fireplaces, cherry cabinetry and finishes, a designer kitchen, an integrated sound system, and an interior elevator that connects the garage to the main levels. Views of the salt marsh and Long Island Sound can be enjoyed from one of several balconies. The perennial gardens with an Italian marble fountain and a custom mahogany pergola are particular draws.
The circa 1825 “Samuel ⏩ W. Dowd House” is a white Greek Revival home featuring black shutters and a portico with fluted Doric columns. The home combines the architectural beauty of the 19th century with the modern conveniences of today. The nearly 3400-square-foot home with a three-car garage sits on just over 3 acres. It has two working fireplaces, including one with a traditional beehive oven. The kitchen, a later addition to the original structure, has Shaker-style painted cabinets, exposed beams, and black soapstone countertops.
Crisp whites and shades ⏩ of blue define a stunning early twentieth-century waterfront beach house. Completely rebuilt in 1999, the three-story home was redecorated by the current owners. A coastal design is carried throughout the nearly 2800-square-foot house in charming and subtle ways. The eat-in kitchen has a large circular
REMARKABLE HOMES
What: Open-house tour of Madison’s stately homes
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
How: Tour tickets can be purchased at Lee’s Academy at 14 Meetinghouse Lane. Tickets are $40 on the day or $35 in advance at www.madisonhistory.org. Tickets are also available at Walker Loden locations in Madison, Essex and New Haven. table with navy blue cushions piped in white. The dining room has a casual beachy atmosphere created
by black chinoiserie chairs on a striped rug and a large sailboat painting. The nautical theme is also reflected in the pair of brass and glass ship lanterns suspended in the living room. As an added bonus, visitors can tour the spacious twobedroom guest cottage across the street. The cottage enjoys unobstructed views of Fence Creek.
⏩ The pineapple door knocker adorning the main entrance sets the tone for a captivating 1952 colonial within walking distance of the beach. Pineapples were a symbol of hospitality during colonial times, and visitors feel welcomed the moment they walk through the front door. The owner’s interior design background is evident everywhere, and she reports that her love of antiques was inherited from her father. In the entrance foyer, a mahogany games table is paired with a carved jade lamp and a grouping of blue and white ginger jars.
⏩ The oldest home to be featured on the Tour is the 1744 Cape Cod-style “Nathan Bristol House” in North Madison. This is our first venture north of the Route 80 circle, and the trip is worth the time. Painted in classic barn red, the 2300-square-foot home sits on nearly five acres of land and features a guest house, an in-ground pool, and a barn for the owners’ two miniature horses. Purchased in 2006, the current owners embarked on an ambitious restoration plan to preserve this slice of history. The newly redesigned kitchen opens to a dining room with paneled walls and a large hearth fireplace.
⏩ An added bonus for visitors is a modern brick home reminiscent of an English country manor. Currently unfurnished, this 7,300-square-foot house sits on 4 acres and features an artist’s studio and a fourseason teahouse. The real showstoppers, however, are the gardens patterned after the Butchart Gardens of British Columbia. Multiple decks and patios provide views of the lavish gardens and stone paths, and a curved-timber footbridge spans the property’s brook.