Grand, gracious, and gorgeous: how better to describe this updated Regency Colonial on Southport’s Harbor Road—a location that boasts spectacular views of the coastline? It has over 250 feet of direct waterfront overlooking the harbor, the Pequot Yacht Club, Long Island Sound and the Country Club of Fairfield golf course. The property includes a deepwater dock and boat house, thoughtful landscaping with stone walls, terraces, gardens and a pool site.
Built in 1927, the house blends historic charm with twenty-first-century freshness. The foyer opens to a sitting room, which has handsomely curved doorways and pairs chocolate brown walls and sparkling white trim. The living room, with fireplace and windowed waterfront wall, opens onto a family room with abundant views. Arched French doors lead to the main terrace and the formal “parterre” walled garden with koi pond and fountain.
A former owner told Realtor Melanie Smith that the house was designed by W. J. Sloane of the famous Fifth Avenue furniture store, which served the New York carriage trade and later many upscale homeowners in the surrounding suburbs. The current owners, Gay and Jim Tice, bought the house in 1993. Gay, a former NYC interior designer, played a major role in the home’s renovation, which included converting a screened porch off the living room into the family room and transforming the master bedroom into a luxurious suite with his-and-her baths and walk-in closets, computer and TV sitting area with harbor views, and a balcony. Gay says, “I find it hard to concentrate on my computer screen, because the views are so distracting.”
The third floor has a bedroom with vaulted ceiling, full bath, large game room with built-in cabinets, and an office. Southport architect Jack Franzen, known for prominent historic renovations, describes the home as having “one of the best views of Southport Harbor. It sits so nicely on the side of that bluff, close to the mouth of the river, catching the easterly and southerly views. It’s not an overpowering, pretentious home, but it is elegantly proportioned. It has a graceful roof line and the little two car garage is a perfect complement.”
$6.5 million (Prudential)