The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
1950s charmer with all the amenities
Branford home features recently renovated kitchen
Unlike most houses built in the same era, this 1950s charmer has all the amenities of a recently built home, including an open floor plan.
“For a home that was built in the 1950s, it has a completely open floor plan,” said John Campbell, listing agent for Page Taft Christie’s International Real Estate. “It’s not compartmentalized.”
The property has been enjoyed by five generations of the same family, said Christine Abbott, seller. It was built by Abbott’s husband’s grandfather; she and her husband purchased it from his mother; and their children and grandchildren are regularly there.
In 1995, when they decided to buy the house, Abbott said her husband wanted a place to which their grown daughters would always return and realized access to the beach was a sure way to keep them coming. He decided that with three local beaches within walking distance, they couldn’t get a more inviting home.
“My husband wanted them to always come home,” she said. “And he nailed it. It’s a place our children and grandchildren just always want to come back to.”
Behind Hammonasset Beach State Park, the best feature of the home is the porch with sweeping views down to Hammonasset’s wetlands, Abbott said. The next best thing is the light inside the home.
“The reason I wanted the house, we were already in Madison but I knew how the light was in the house,” she said. “I knew the house had wonderful light.”
Abbott redid the kitchen a few years ago, designing it with lots of cabinets and a large island to draw folks around to chat and cook.
“Usually when everyone is here, two of my daughters, who are great cooks, are cooking and everyone else is talking to them,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the next room – the TV room – the grandkids can pipe in to the conversations in the kitchen or immerse themselves in their own thing.
“It creates a space that can hold a lot people comfortably and conversationally,” Abbott said.
The L-shaped dining and living rooms flood with natural light and open to the back deck and porch through French doors. When family and friends are around for parties and gatherings, they can go in and out as they choose.
“We’ve always been big entertaining people and this house accomplishes good sized groups of people,” she said.
Some of Abbott’s most beloved entertaining memories are from her youngest daughter’s wedding on the property. Another biggie was her husband’s recent 75th birthday party.
“People just filled the dining room and living room,” she said. “There was plenty of space and people could walk out on the deck.”
Outside in the gracious and private backyard, folks took in the firework display that was part of the celebration.
During winter festivities, such as this year’s New Year’s Eve party, folks gather round the gas fireplace in the living room, where they enjoy the ambiance of the home, Abbott said. The 26 people in attendance were able to feast on a delicious spread at one long table.
The first floor master bedroom has a bathroom with a large shower and upstairs the other two large bedrooms share a bathroom.
There’s plenty of storage in the walk-up attic and the large dry basement.
The peaceful neighborhood is very child friendly and, with the Shoreline Greenway Trail a few steps from the house, it’s an ideal spot for walking and biking, which Abbott said her grandchildren greatly love doing.
Listing agent: John Campbell, Page Taft Christie’s International Real Estate; cell: 203-415-5439; office: 203-245-1593; email: jcampbell@ pagetaft.com