Property Week
Bloomfield home with spectacular views of Gale Pond
Asked to name the best feature of this home at 5 Penwood Road in Bloomfield, Kevin Eagan, who is handling its sale, did not hesitate. “The views; you don’t get anything like these views anywhere else in town,” he said.
Indeed, views like this, overlooking Gale Pond near the Simsbury town line, are extremely rare. The result is a home, one of only seven on the east side of the pond, with a perfect picturepostcard setting. The foliage on the other side of this pond produces a spectacular array of colors in the fall, Eagan said. The remainder of the Gale Pond shoreline to the south, west and north is part of Penwood State Forest, which features almost 800 acres acquired with the assistance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The pond, which is maintained by an association, accommodates paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming in season. However, the option to swim for the owners of this home is not limited to warmer weather thanks to a 20-foot by 48-foot indoor heated pool. This pool room features ample glass in its west wall, allowing swimmers to enjoy unencumbered views of the pond in every season. This area is also served by a half bath, one of two in the home, two changing rooms and, to complete its spa-like capabilities, a sauna.
As for the house itself, a flight of stairs from the lower level two-car garage leads to a family room, which is just a short walk away from the kitchen. The family room features new glass sliding doors that cover the west wall of the house and bring the spectacular outdoor views indoors. These sliders also offer access to a large deck, which doubles as the roof over the pool.
“Here, there is a new roof with two membrane layers,” Eagan said of this area. “You can walk on it” and enjoy the view from outside the home in season. The current owners, who are downsizing, have placed comfortable seating on the deck.
The rest of the first floor is ideal for contemporary family life. The family room is large and open to the dining room and living room. The extensive use of glass enhances the feeling of roominess. The living room is ideal for more formal entertaining, with its wood-burning fireplace, hardwood floors and front-facing bay window.
The dining room could easily accommodate a family gathering. Enhancements include a chair rail with the lower wall featuring a horizontal shiplap enhancement that adds a subtle touch and visual interest. A passage from the dining room to the kitchen goes through a modified butler’s pantry, and accesses a second halfbath, before opening to a large and spacious area that features room for multiple chefs.
If ever there was a kitchen ideal for entertaining, this is it. Highlights include a second wood-burning fireplace, a large island with a granite work surface that matches the counters along the west wall, and more views of the pond. There is also ample space on one side for a breakfast table that could serve for informal dining at any time. On the other side is a spacious seating area that makes this kitchen the ideal gathering spot for family and guests.
Top-of-the-line appliances, including a Viking Professional gas range will be included in the sale. The first floor also has a front study, ideal for working from home or for remote learning if the need for that returns, and a roomy master bedroom suite.
This master suite features a large slider that opens to the deck and offers yet more views of the pond. The master suite also has private access to the enclosed pool, making an early morning swim an ideal way to start the day in any season.
A pocket door separates the sleeping area from the renovated master bath and a large walk-in closet. On one side of this area is the bathroom with its tiled shower, and generously sized vanity. On the other side is the walk-in closet that includes one of two laundry areas in the home.
Four more bedrooms occupy the second floor, reached from the central hallway that serves the main entrance. Three of the bedrooms share a full bath, with a tub and shower combination, while the fourth bedroom, which once served as the master suite, has a private full bath. All of these bedrooms are bright and airy.
The lower level does more than access the garage and pool. It also has a media room that would be an ideal place for teenagers to gather, a recreation room, the second laundry area – strategically placed next to the pool – and two storage rooms, one of which has the home’s mechanical systems. These include a relatively new Buderus boiler with dual fuel tanks. Either storage room has potential as a home workshop.
The home sits on a wooded one-acre lot with mature trees and plantings that ensure privacy. It is just off Route 185, which means that the location, despite feeling secluded and private, is actually close to Simsbury, West Hartford, downtown Hartford, Bradley International Airport, and the center of Bloomfield.
In the final analysis, this house would be ideal for people who like to vacation at home. There is the opportunity for summer fun in or near the pond, year-round swimming indoors, and hiking in the surrounding state park with its multiple trails and picturesque waterfall. This home can only be described as “one of a kind.”