The house at 209 Long Neck Point Road probably always will be known as Christopher Plummer’s former home. But while The Sound of Music star lived in this 148-year-old stunner, the “celeb home” term equally adheres due to its five fireplaces, 65 yards of sandy shore (beneath a quartet of balconies), acres of groomed greenery and panoramic ocean vistas.
And, according to Robyn Kammerer, of Halstead Property Connecticut, the home, available for $12.5 million, shows alterations from years past that are fascinating.
“The house has a story,” she says. “When you remember what it was—and how it’s changed over the years—that is a new chapter in the story. … It was originally a carriage house.”
Since its Gilded Age beginnings under the ownership of Stamford mogul Hugh Collender, the property has been extended to include more than 7,500 feet of space, allowing for 15 luxe rooms. Thus, the library, spa and six bedrooms offer both seclusion and invitation.
Outside, trees surround with privacy, as the water literally plashes out back, making for a cool retreat. Visible from Ziegler’s Cove, but deliciously concealed, inside there are period details—barns doors, terra-cotta floors—that strike a fine balance.
“This is a serene waterfront estate with timeless history and endless beauty,” explains Eileen Hanford, a top broker in Darien. “The renovation was carefully done to really showcase the unique and special aspects of the carriage house, yet make it a home that is suitable for today’s lifestyle. … It is truly a special, one-of-a-kind home to come on the market in Fairfield County.”
“Many people may not even know that 8 Circle Road exists, but this rambling contemporary sits on two acres of the 10-acre estate originally owned by famed 1950s illustrator Jon Whitcomb,” says Halstead’s Gwen Alexis, who has the listing.
Whitcomb, who created art in the Pacific campaign during WWII, initially founded New York’s Cooper Studio with Al Cooper; and, after the war, he went on to cover Hollywood stars, and later, founded the Famous Artists School.
His former Darien property is on the market for $2,595,000. That gets you a four-car heated garage, private terrace, and billiard and media rooms (among other things). “A hidden gem,” in Alexis’s words, the house also has been lit up by its fair share of star wattage.
“It may be hard for today’s residents to envision,” she continues, “but this house, located in the heart of Darien, and now completely redone, was once the weekend retreat for the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford and Elizabeth Taylor.”
Now, the house sports a separate personal gym and a professionally equipped, eat-in kitchen with an island that will please any foodie. Oh, and its open plan and floor-to-ceiling windows lead past the terrace to a pool area, so there’s a rare feat: Ample natural light blends with a sleek, modern feel without the rooms becoming merely anodyne—or sterile.
The overwhelming sense is of a comfortable home that once catered to the stars, but now will cater effortlessly to your every whim.
