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Real Estate

On the Market: European-style stone colonial in Wilton thoughtfully placed in natural setting

Meg Barone

Visionary, self-taught architect Frazier Forman Peters (1895-1963) gave old stone new life, often unearthing boulders on a particular property and using them in the construction of his famed stone houses.

Peters built more than 200 houses from Virginia to Maine, including about 60 in Connecticut, many of which still dot the Fairfield County landscape. Among them is the enchanting Old Stone, a European-style stone and shingle colonial house on a nearly five-acre estate at 354 Nod Hill Road in Wilton. Peters built in in 1932.

The European-style stone colonial house at 354 Nod Hill Road in Wilton was built by famed stone architect Frazier Peters and it is called Old Stone. Peters is not only known for his distinctive stone houses, but also for his thoughtful placement of those houses within a natural setting, often near a pond or stream.

The European-style stone colonial house at 354 Nod Hill Road in Wilton was built by famed stone architect Frazier Peters and it is called Old Stone.

Peters is not only known for his distinctive stone houses, but also for his thoughtful placement of those houses within a natural setting, often near a pond or stream.

“Frazier Forman Peters’ houses are marked by their connection to the land,” according to Robert A. Weingarten, the house history chair for the Westport Museum for History and Culture (formerly the Westport Historical Society), and Architect Laura A. Blau - Peters’ granddaughter. The two co-authored a book titled Frazier Forman Peters: Westport’s Legacy in Stone.

 

 

The European-style stone colonial house at 354 Nod Hill Road in Wilton was built by famed stone architect Frazier Peters and it is called Old Stone.

The European-style stone colonial house at 354 Nod Hill Road in Wilton was built by famed stone architect Frazier Peters and it is called Old Stone.

“Peters was keenly sensitive to the harmony between a properly designed stone residence and its siting. He sought in particular to integrate stone, water and vista.

Old Stone is perhaps one of the best examples of this harmony, perched on a cliff with its back views looking down on acres of untouched woods and streams, amounting to a private nature preserve,” according to the current homeowner.

The attractive grounds features attractive landscaping and outdoor

The attractive grounds features attractive landscaping and outdoor “rooms.”

Perennial-rimmed Frog Prince Pond was restored to its original state and is home to many species of frogs, toads, turtles, goldfish, koi, some resident ducks and many visiting waterfowl. As with the pond, the residence was also improved. Throughout these many decades the house, as Peters designed it, has been expanded to its current 5,903 square feet, updated and carefully maintained, all the while preserving the harmony of Peters’ original vision, the homeowner said.

To access this very secluded, unique English country retreat, drive down the private drive - marked by stone pillars, through the iron gates, passed the free-standing, two-story guest house matching the stone of the main house, and through a second matched pair of flower-topped stone pillars where the driveway opens into the large cobblestone courtyard.

 

There are several outbuildings including the two-story, free-standing guest house with stone that matches the main residence. There is a staff apartment above the attached three-car garage with its own entrance and it includes a bedroom, living room, kitchen and full bath; perhaps an in-law or au pair suite.

There are several outbuildings including the two-story, free-standing guest house with stone that matches the main residence.

There is a staff apartment above the attached three-car garage with its own entrance and it includes a bedroom, living room, kitchen and full bath; perhaps an in-law or au pair suite.

“Through the portico, with the residence to the right and garage to the left, lies an enchanting, double-gated rose garden encircled by old growth flowering vines, at its center a one-of-a-kind round Wagner heated in-ground pool,” according to the homeowner.

This 4.92-acre level and gated property features a heated Gunite Wagner circular in-ground swimming pool. The current owners have restored much of the landscape to its original grandeur, adding to old-growth trees more than an acre of new lawn, specimen plantings and perennial gardens including over two hundred irises and day-lilies, all protected by an impenetrable barrier of custom deer fencing.

This 4.92-acre level and gated property features a heated Gunite Wagner circular in-ground swimming pool.

The current owners have restored much of the landscape to its original grandeur, adding to old-growth trees more than an acre of new lawn, specimen plantings and perennial gardens including over two hundred irises and day-lilies, all protected by an impenetrable barrier of custom deer fencing.