Living large, inside and out

A touch of Garrison colonial elegance set on a country road. It’s what buyers will find at 66 Fisher Road in Medway. This is combination property, offering unique outdoor amenities and a well-maintained interior with plenty of family-friendly square footage.

“There is a one-stall horse barn on the property, so, by all means, bring your pony. But there’s also an updated and spacious floor plan inside. There’s a lot to see here,” said Realtor Carolyn Chodat of Classic Properties Realtors.

There is much to see, a beautiful spring day offering a blue-sky backdrop to the pleasant backyard, which includes a large play set in addition to the one-stall barn. Good for storage or a hobby enthusiast, the barn could easily be repurposed if the equestrian life is not your plans. The fenced backyard with additional land beyond is well suited for young families and features established perennials and hardwoods. The front boasts equal green space, historical Fisher Road lazily winding by.

The home has large rooms with lots of living space, beginning with a 25-by-13-foot living room. The current homeowners have chosen to flip the square footage, using this space as their formal dining area. It works well in either format, the front-to-back room boasting hardwood flooring, exposed wood-beams and spot recessed lighting. Harvey replacement windows are found throughout the home, bringing improved energy efficiency and an easy-clean design to the mix. While we entered the living room via right off the foyer, we find traditional dining room square footage, 11 by 13, located left off the center hall entry. The dining room features wainscoting, chair rail and hardwood flooring. Painted in a contemporary apple-green palette, this sunny spot is readily converted from toy room to its original use.

As sizable kitchens go, this grand space, 16 by 24, is primed to rival most homes at a median price point. It’s been updated and well-maintained, the oak cabinetry boasting newer hardware, brushed nickel fixtures and easy maintenance ceramic tile flooring. Painted in cherry red, the lower half of the kitchen walls feature barn-board wainscoting in white, offering in an eye-catching effect. Triple windows border a spacious casual dining area while the workspace boasts white appliances, built-in microwave, full pantry closet and glass-front cabinets for display and storage. An updated half bath is located nearby.

Accentuating the living space is a 13-by-25 family room. It features a wood-burning brick fireplace flanked by sconces and Arts & Crafts style windows. Painted barn-board siding brings a touch of rustic charm, opening to an inviting three-season porch. Views are private and expansive with a surround of sliding glass doors. The three-season porch opens to a deck, the perfect arrangement for indoor/outdoor entertaining.

Hundreds Flock to The M at Englewood For Grand Opening Celebration

Eager Prospective Buyers Visit Premier Condominium Community from Pinnacle Companies. If the turnout for a recent grand opening celebration at The M at Englewood South is any kind of indicator, the market for condominiums in Northern New Jersey is heating up fast. The Pinnacle Companies, a respected developer of luxury homes throughout the New York Metro Area, announced today that the grand opening of the new community of elegant condominiums in the heart of Bergen County attracted an enthusiastic crowd of prospective buyers.

"We were extremely pleased that hundreds of prospective buyers came out to view the completed building and responded so favorably at the grand opening of The M," said Mary Boorman, senior vice president of The Pinnacle Companies. "The community appeals to diverse visitors ranging from singles and families to empty nesters. With people coming from Bergen and surrounding counties as well as from New York City and other states, it's obvious that this community is fulfilling a niche for the buying public."
The M, which presents sophisticated urban living on Route 4 -- close to the George Washington Bridge and within 12 miles of Midtown Manhattan -- offers 125 one-, two- and two-bedroom plus den residences priced from $274,990.

The M's architectural style is sleek and urban, featuring modern kitchens with maple cabinetry, under-counter lighting, granite countertops, GE Profile stainless steel appliances, and many of the two-bedroom models have center islands. Laundry areas are spacious and include GE side-by-side washers and dryers. The spacious layouts feature nine-foot ceilings (10 feet on the first floor) and entire walls of windows, and many of the homes have either views of the golf course or the central courtyards.

Additional features include elegant en-suite master bathrooms with granite countertops and double sink vanities, oak hardwood flooring in the living area, ceramic tile flooring in the entry hall and kitchen, and plush carpeting in the bedrooms. A powder room is included in almost all of the homes. One garage space is included in the price and shuttle service to New Jersey Transit bus stop is also provided.

Additionally, Pinnacle has two innovative lease-to-purchase options that allow renters to place a portion of their monthly payment into as escrow account to eventually be applied toward the sales price.

The "License to Occupy" option requires pre-approved, potential homeowners to sign a contract for six months to a year as well as an occupancy agreement for the same time period. Pinnacle saves approximately 50 percent of their rent in an escrow account toward the down payment. A small down payment ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 is required to start the program. The potential homeowner must close within a year of signing.

With the "Lease Now, Buy Later" option, pre-approved, potential homebuyers sign a condominium lease and, at the end of a one-year term, are offered the home at a price guaranteed at the time the lease is signed. Pinnacle then gives them approximately 25 percent of their lease payments back toward the down payment.

"Visitors at the grand opening expressed interest in both our for-sale and our lease-to-own programs," Boorman added. "It was clear to us that the recent favorable economic news has signaled a bottoming out of the market. We believe that many people are looking to buy before interest rates and eventually prices go up. Those interested in The M at Englewood South need to act soon to take advantage of the current economic climate."

Amenities at The M at Englewood South include an outdoor pool and a residents' lounge perfect for large parties and entertaining. Buyers will also receive a year's membership at The Gym Englewood, 20 Nordhoff Place, the area's most upscale fitness center. Maintenance also includes satellite TV and Internet service, and the community will be offering attractive audio/video packages as upgrades.

The pedestrian-friendly main streets of Englewood and nearby Ridgewood and Teaneck are perfect for leisurely strolls and window shopping as they offer both high-end designer and eclectic shopping venues as well as fine dining and café-style eateries. The Bergen Performing Arts Center in downtown Englewood provides shows year-round featuring top-name talent.

Trying to save bucks during Formula One visit?

Looking for a way to make some bucks over Formula One's inaugural race weekend in November?

You might try what Tip and Joy Giles are considering. They're talking about turning the side yard of their Southwest Austin home into a campground for a few days. Hey, with motel room rates reaching $500 for that weekend, why not provide a low-budget alternative?

"We were thinking about it, and my wife said maybe what we ought to do is rent out parcels of our land for tent camping, and that's how it got started," Tip said. "It started out as a joke."

And it may continue as a joke. Tip and Joy, who are retired schoolteachers, live in Tanglewood Forest, and Tanglewood Forest has a neighborhood association. And you know how those people are. Tip said they occasionally take pictures of uglified yards. And you can imagine the stir if a bunch of European motor monkeys are out there yodeling and carrying on.

"One of my neighbors is on the neighborhood board," Tip said. "I haven't run it by him yet, but I'm sure he'll look at me and say, ‘You're kidding, right?' And I'll say, ‘Well yeah, sort of.'"

"We'll call hell, and if hell freezes over, we'll do it," Joy said.

Meanwhile, Tip and Joy have come up with a rate structure for those who want to pitch a tent in their side yard, a standard 125-by-55-foot yard with a cedar fence running through the middle. Tip figures the yard would probably accommodate six couples. Staying in the front section would be cheaper than the back section, since it's closer to the street and traffic noise.

With no amenities except for use of the land, you're looking at $50 a night per person. Access to the garden hose jacks it up to $75 a night per guest. Add use of the extension cord, and you're looking at $100 a night. Isn't that a little steep? "If they can get $450 a night at Motel 6, we can at least get $200 for camping with a water hose," Tip said.

And that's not all. "For an extra $25 a day, we will include a continental breakfast — Twinkies and juice — and nightly entertainment — me playing my guitar on the our backyard deck," Tip said.

We're talking about fresh Twinkies, too. "The Twinkies will be within the shelf life," Tip said. What is the shelf life on a Twinkie? About two millennia?

There would be an additional fee for camping under the yard's arbor, a small open-air structure with a tile floor, a ceramic fish for decoration, a bench for sitting and a roof.

"That would be an added charge because you're covered," Tip said. "That hot November sun can be tough."

I hope the neighborhood association goes for it. These two folks did their time educating our kids. Tip taught at Menchaca and Odom elementary schools for a total of 25 years, with an additional five years in Del Valle and Fredericksburg, and Joy taught history for 30 years at Lockhart High. So they deserve a little economic bump, right?

This is not the first time the Gileses have been involved in a lark. They were in a loose-knit group called the Austin Non-Jog.

In April 1980, the group gathered in the morning along the route of the Capitol 10,000 race, handing out beer to the runners as they went by. Some joggers appreciated the handout. Others got their jockstraps in a twist.

I was covering the race that day. Tip said he offered me a beer. He said I told him, "No thanks, I have my bourbon," and that I had a flask in my back pocket. I don't remember that part of it. Maybe because I had a flask in my back pocket.

Anyway, it's a nice yard with plenty of healthy eats for campers. Joy grows lots of organic vegetables and fruits: Swiss chard, onions, plums, all sorts of greenery.

And if you want to use the bathroom, I guess you could go next door and bother the neighbors.

The Amalfi Coast's invisible hotel

When you think of a deluxe, five-star hotel you probably conjure breathtaking scenery, superb cuisine, elegant accommodations, first-rate service and romantic ambience all combined in a singular atmosphere of luxury. But Hotel San Pietro, on the outskirts of Positano, Italy, takes the concept one step further, into a whole new dimension.

How? Simply put, this magnificent family run hotel is…well…it’s invisible!

Whetheryou approach San Pietro from the road or the sea, you have to look for the hotel to find it, really look. But when you find it, that’s just the beginning.

About two kilometers to the east of Positano, the tiny Chapel of San Pietro perches at the edge of what is little more than a wide spot in the road that bends along the serpentine rock face of the coast. Use the chapel as a landmark. Otherwise you’ll miss the hotel.

Walk to the left of the church and go behind it. Then take the steps through a stunning array of fragrances emanating from the bougainvillea, hibiscus and grape arbors that line the stairway to an elevator. Or, better yet, stroll leisurely among the terraces of flowers that lead to the lobby, known as the Hall.

In moments you are surrounded by Italian marble, cool tile floors, cantilevered terraces, sloping gardens and sweeping views of the Bay of Positano that point a perpetual face to the sun. You have entered a world where luxury and simplicity blend harmoniously to create an atmosphere of casual charm and elegant perfection.

John Steinbeck visited Positano in 1953, describing it as “a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” Soon after, the community became a haven for writers and artists. The hidden treasure had been discovered. It was no longer a secret. And Positano would never be the same.

In 1962 Carlo Cinque decided to build a private villa and bought some land at the peak of a rocky cliff face where only the tiny, ancient Chapel of San Pietro existed. At the time, Positano was just a sleepy fishing village that had gradually started to attract the attention of tourists in the previous decade.

Shortly after Carlo purchased the land, he went to work on his dream, literally carving his imaginative ideas into the rock. Overcoming overwhelming obstacles created by the sheer logistical difficulties of elevation and excavation, Cinque eventually completed a small apartment and garden.

Little by little, the idea of transforming his craggy precipice into the most perfect hotel on the crest of a cliff was born. With determination and imagination he burrowed his masterpiece into the rock without disturbing the natural beauty of the surroundings.

After eight years of incredibly difficult work, 33 rooms facing the bay were opened along with a large lobby and a spectacular terrace. Today, the hotel is a myriad of 62 rooms cleverly tucked into the cliffs in a series of nearly a dozen ledges. Each room is completely private with its own balcony and stunning view.

Carlo wanted his “small Eden” to have minimal separation from the exquisite plants and flowers outside, so those same exotic garden plants and fragrant flowers appear inside as well, spilling in abundance from planters. Vines trail along the interior ceiling, while bougainvillea cascades from balconies and other varieties of vegetation span shaded terraces.

Hotel San Pietro is an architectural wonder. Rooms are seductively appointed with antiques, hand-painted furniture, ceramic tiles and terra-cotta floors. Some rooms have no curtains in either the bedroom or the bathroom. The concept allows guests to see out, while no one else can see in; creating an ambience of being totally alone within nature.

“Special” rooms all have features that set them apart, be it the largest windows, the most sumptuous decor, or the most expansive bathroom. Experience a bed so large that it had to be constructed inside the room. Or enjoy the luxury of a sunken marble bathtub next to a giant picture window. The tub is big enough to accommodate you and three of your most intimate friends. There’s even a bedroom featuring a full-sized marble sculpture of a male figure with water streaming from a strategic and rather indiscreet location.

Perhaps the most amazing construction project, among many, was the delicate blasting that took place to install the elevator that travels from the main lobby to the private beach below. From the Hall, the lift incredibly descends 290-feet through solid rock before opening into a huge cave on the beach. From the cave, a 25-yard stroll leads to a walkway that goes to a sunbathing platform and bar on the rocks, which are surrounded by flower-filled terraces. There is also a nearby tennis court and rose garden.

The story of the creation of the Hotel San Pietro is the tale of one man's realization of a dream -- a family saga with elements of adventure, fantasy and flair plus inexhaustible commitment and dedication. Carlo Cinque was not an architect or a designer or a technical engineer. He was a man with an idea and desire to demonstrate how tenacity and determination could unite a sense of beauty and intelligence into a living paradise. That is the genius of Carlo Cinque and Hotel San Pietro.

House of the Week

This five-bedroom, three-storey home is located in the heart of a prosperous and hip west-end community. Solidly built in 1910, it has undergone a complete renovation, adding to its appeal.

“I have sold many homes in the area and this one represents great value and offers a unique blend of old architectural charm with new modern updates,” says listing agent Bill Mohan. “Many older homes in the area still have knob and tube wiring, but along with the newly designed kitchen and baths, the electrical aspects have all been updated.”

Mohan explain that the home was built in the era when Toronto homes were constructed with finishes like high ceilings, beautiful woodwork and detailed finishings such as stained glass and ornate fireplaces.

“It was typical in grander homes of this period to have sliding pocket or French doors between the parlour and the dining room. Expansive wainscotting was often used in the more expensive homes, along with a grand staircase, high baseboards and crown mouldings. One of my favourite features of the home is the original butler’s pantry,” he adds.

The long driveway can park up to seven cars and there is a detached double car garage.

The front door opens to a bright enclosed porch. From there an oversized oak door opens to the main hall that features arched headers over the passageway, crown moulding, a picket stairway, a mirrored closet, stained glass window and a closed fireplace that can easily be opened or converted to a gas.

The living room boasts a French door entrance from the hallway, two stained glass windows, a bow window, hardwood floors and a closed-off marble fireplace.

Adjacent is the spacious formal dining room with a beamed ceiling, French doors, hardwood, a large bow window with a seating area beneath and pocket doors.

The renovated kitchen features pot lights, granite counters, ceramic floor, ceramic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances, including a wine fridge.

The kitchen opens to a sunroom, which can also be entered from the dining room. It has broadloom and a sliding glass door to the backyard.

There is a large three-panelled stained glass window on the stair landing between the first and second floors.

The master bedroom is large with a bay window, hardwood and a fireplace. The second bedroom has a fireplace place and a bay window. There is a third bedroom with hardwood, a laundry room, four-piece bathroom and a three-piece bathroom with a glass shower stall.

On the third floor are two more bedrooms with hardwood and a skylight in the hall.

Highlights of the finished basement include a separate entrance, a carpeted recreation room and an in law suite with an office or bedroom, kitchen with a ceramic tile floor and three-piece bathroom. There is another laundry room in the basement and storage space.

The backyard is fenced and the home is walking distance to the subway, shops, eateries and schools, including French immersion schools.

Crusaders beat Sharks in a glorious showcase for Super 15 quality

Adversity brings out the best in some people. It will take more than a decent 80 minutes of rugby to rebuild the ruins of central Christchurch but a spectacular win for the Crusaders achieved some important goals in the London sunshine. The occasion not only raised £175,000 in ticket revenue alone to help victims of last month's earthquake but will have done almost as much for the morale of those clearing up the mess.

Last but by no means least this was the day when several fond, smug northern hemisphere assumptions were systematically torn apart. Yes, the weather was glorious and conditions perfect for running rugby. Yes, there were 22 internationals on the field at kick-off. Yes, a few tackles went astray. But long before the Crusaders wing Sean Maitland scored the decisive ninth try of a pulsating match it was equally clear that those who reckon the Super 15 has nothing to teach its European counterparts inhabit the myopic land of cloudy cuckoos.

It is not to denigrate the competitiveness of the Aviva Premiership to suggest the Crusaders, particularly in the first half, played rugby the like of which the English domestic game is not familiar. A more direct comparison is with a cross-border competition like the Heineken Cup but even Leinster, Toulouse, Leicester et al would have been suitably impressed. In terms of attacking running lines it was like being transported in from a distant galaxy.

Candyfloss? Hardly. The Sharks pack averaged almost 18 stone per man. Owen Franks, the All Blacks prop, smashed everything that moved and it was a minor miracle Ryan Kankowski played on after receiving a shoulder hit from Sonny Bill Williams which would have hospitalised most players. Just as striking was the scrummaging venom of the Crusaders' forwards as they splintered an all-Springbok front-row comprising John Smit and the Du Plesis brothers. In such circumstances, the Sharks did well to stay in the contest at all. It is doubtful whether even England's Six Nations winners on home turf would have lasted the pace.

From first to last it amounted to a crusade for positivity. Williams, the king of the offload, was even more impressive at times than he looked against England in November and the entire Crusaders backline buzzed with intent. Orchestrating it all was Dan Carter, who scored 22 points before limping off with a tweaked right hamstring. If British coaches want a microcosm of what a decent 10-12 axis looks like, they should simply watch the fly-half's 21st-minute try, a gloriously slick blur of motion which saw the big Williams give the perfect one-handed scoring pass to his quicksilver team-mate.

The precision-engineered interplay between Andrew Ellis and Robbie Fruean for Israel Dagg's subsequent score was almost as good, a far cry from the own-brand bashing which passes as backline sophistication in certain English clubs. Maybe it would have been a fairer comparison in less spring-like conditions but you suspect the Crusaders would still have adapted accordingly. The Sharks, who were 34-10 down at one stage, had few doubts about the quality heading their way. "That's the best side they've had for a while," said John Plumtree, the Sharks' Kiwi head coach. "They're the benchmark of the competition. Everyone's going to have to lift their game to get up to where they are."

The same, of course, applies to New Zealand's opponents at this autumn's World Cup. British administrators will also be wearing quizzical expressions this morning. This was supposed to be the weekend the Premiership and the Magners League wrested back the baton from their Six Nations counterparts. Nor does it take a genius to imagine more Super Rugby being staged in the north, with over 35,000 tickets sold in barely a fortnight. "Today had a little bit of everything," said the Crusaders' coach Todd Blackadder. "I'd like to think it could happen again. I thought it was just superb. It was just a wee taste of what our competition is like."

Just to rub it in, Blackadder said his team would be "disappointed with a lot of that second half", having seen the Sharks mount a stout fightback on the back of two tries in three minutes by Alistair Hargreaves and Odwa Ndungane. With 28 minutes left they trailed by just nine points at 37-28, finished off only when Zac Guildford's neat pass sent Maitland in for his second try.

Any other result would have been immensely harsh on the likes of Matt Todd, the Crusaders flanker who turned 23 over the weekend. Richie McCaw is a tough act to follow but Todd is already having a good stab at it. It is New Zealand rugby's speciality to produce barely heralded players who would walk into most Six Nations sides. Nor does it matter much what country they happen to be playing in. The next stop for the Crusaders is Timaru in a fortnight's time. Trust me, this is a travelling circus worth watching. They are welcome back in Britain any time.