Karp Associates - Custom Homes, Renovations, Construction Management


		Nestledown, targeted for tear-down, transformed into 23-room mansion - New Canaan Advertiser, Living, Thursday, March 27, 2003 Fairfield County's scarcity of land, and the exorbitant cost of what land is left, has fueled a tear down trend that is causing concern in many lower Fairfield County towns. However, some builders are recognizing the potential that old homes offer. According to NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), whole house remodeling is the number-one trend in residential construction, and is growing at a faster pace than new construction. Instead of attempting to reproduce, in a new home, the 19th century details and craftsmanship that today's homebuyer wants, an increasing number of builders are retaining the best of what makes older homes so appealing, and renovating them for 21st century living, the NAHB states. Arnold Karp, president of New Canaan based KAA, did just that with an historic 1910 mansion on a nine-acre estate in New Canaan. The restoration earned KAA a state home building industry (HOBI) award from the Home Builders Association of Connecticut, as well as a national design award for "Historic Renovation." Nestledown is a 23-room mansion located on Smith Ridge Lane. While a number of builders explored the possibility of tearing down the mansion, and subdividing the nine-acre property, Mr. Karp said Nestledown presented a unique opportunity to preserve both New Canaan's largest remaining parcel of land, and a rare example of its architectural past. Built in 1910 for Ernest Conant, a New York attorney who was an advisor to President William McKinley, the house had many features Mr. Karp said were worthy of restoration. A 25-foot by 30-foot, two-and-one-half-story dining room included a circa 1950 movie theatre, as well as decorative plaster and limestone walls, elaborate 20-inch crown moldings, a limestone fireplace and a handcrafted wrought iron balcony. The grandly proportioned living room with two fireplaces, antique chestnut floor and paneled ceiling, opened to a sweeping sun porch. KAA's "to the studs" renovation included a two-and-one-half-story timber framed Great Room addition with glassed cupola. Mr. Karp used an existing 100-year-old stone wall for the lower portion of the room's walls and collected fieldstone from the nine-acre site for a 25-foot fieldstone fireplace. Warmed by a radiant heated limestone floor, the Great Room is equipped with 21st century luxury amenities, such as home theatre, surround sound and broadband Internet access, while preserving its 19th century charm. Custom arched mahogany French doors open to a rebuilt and rare European colonnade in the courtyard. The new kitchen is designed to combine antique materials, including chestnut floor, cherry counter tops and soapstone sink, with the function of multiple state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. The master suite features a hand-carved fireplace, walk-in his and hers dressing rooms, a radiant heated bath with whirlpool tub and steam shower, as well as a romantic sleeping porch and private balcony. Reflecting the growing popularity of special purpose rooms, the house includes an historically accurate regulation half-court basketball court Karp created to be reminiscent of an early 20th century school gymnasium. Complete with hardwood paneled walls and ceiling, wire mesh window guards and professional grade maple floor with had painted sports graphic, it is outfitted with Plexiglas protected TV monitor, metal halide lighting, a digital sound system, workout room and Coke machine.