Litchfield County has Style and an abundance of locally owned shops, to gift and enjoy all year.
Click on links below for some shops chosen by William Raveis Lifestyles Realty
Kids
Women's Apparel
Workshop on the Green - Litchfield
Traveling Chic Boutique - New Milford
J McLaughlin - Washington Depot
Men's Apparel
Interested in learning more about Litchfield County real estate? Contact William Raveis Lifestyles Realty to speak to a real estate expert today.
Please join Pels and Stacey Matthews and Agents of William Raveis Lifestyles Realty in our commitment to give back to our community.
The holiday season is upon us and many local charitable organizations would greatly benefit from your support.
Throughout the years we have participated in fundraisers and donations to First Responders, Food Banks, Family Support, Counseling Services, Land Trusts, Area Parks and Animal Shelters to name a few.
Websites below.
Bridgewater Fire, Ambulance and Food Banks
Kent Fire, Ambulance and Food Banks
New Milford Fire, Ambulance and Food Banks
Roxbury Fire, Ambulance and Food Banks
Washington Fire, Ambulance and Food Banks
2021 is in the books and another active and interesting year in our markets. Volume in Litchfield County was down from 2020’s frenetic pace with 10% fewer transactions overall (under $1MM it was down 9%, and over $1MM down 22%). Average sale prices for both categories however were up (8% for under $1MM and 5% for over $1MM). We largely attribute this to low inventory levels. The over $1MM market for example has 90 properties listed for sale today, pre March 2020 this number was closer to 300. Given the cost of new construction, delays in material deliveries we just don’t see how this will drastically change in the near or medium term. This is our main issue for 2022. We have long lists of buyers looking for houses and not enough inventory to show them. So if you are considering selling, renting or looking for a market analysis of your property please reach out.
Our year was quite busy ($125MM sold and closed and $50+MM pending at year end) and the summer rental season is just starting. Clients have had us working far and wide in their searches and we continue to expand our coverage areas and team. We have multiple agents licensed in NY and a handful also working in our NYC office. At year end we were 23 agents and support staff all working together.
We thank all our clients for their trust and look forward to another busy year.
Upcoming Exhibition @ Washington Art Association & Gallery
January 20 - February 17, 2018
The Washington Art Association & Gallery is pleased to present a contemporary art exhibit curated by Zeb Mayer. The exhibition features the works of six Connecticut-based painters, Ted Gahl, Polly Shindler, Eben Kling, Karl Goulet, Joey Loos, and Tyler Farmen, as an exploration of the variety of applications and subtleties in painting as a visual language. The work ranges from the illustrative to the abstract, expressing narrative qualities and contemporary perspectives to bring in the new year.
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 20
4pm - 6pm
at WAA
Celebrate New Years Day with The New Baroque Soloists January 1st - 4 pm @ The First Congregational Church's Historic Meeting House on the Green. Click here to go to their website.
By Lisa Green
Quilts have told stories for hundreds of years. But in the past couple of decades, they’ve started presenting their stories in a new way — a new medium, in fact — and New Milford, Conn. is one of the first (if not the first) communities in the RI region to join the national barn quilt trail.
A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.
Pam Brown
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Fox Chase Farm is an elegant estate with a four bedroom main house and a four stall horse barn with a finished play room above. There is plenty of grassland for riding and there are numerous equestrian facilities for clinics, events and competitiions in the area. The one bedroom guest apartment has a separate entrance and a large private deck. This is a wonderful space that could easily be used for in-laws or a caretaker.
The Red Barn is in a Lovely Setting
A gorgeous stone terrace leads to a water garden with 5 waterfalls, an organic vegetable garden, expansive lawns, antique trees and spectacular perennial gardens. This is truly country life at its best. Every corner of this property has lush vignettes of natural beauty.
The Gardens and Waterfalls
Another View of this Exquisite Garden
The main floor master suite is truly glamorous with his and hers baths, walk in closets, and a large adjoining sunroom with lots of natural light.
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The Master Bedroom
A Magnificent Sunroom
There is a cherry paneled library and a high end kitchen which is perfect for entertaining. Additionally, there is a full house generator and a heated three car garage to enjoy the winter weekends. The house was renovated eleven years ago with many other improvements in the last three years.
The Den with Fireplace and Cherry Paneled Bookshelves
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The Kitchen is Spacious with Lovely Views of the Property
This country estate is just a short drive to Litchfield town or Bantam where you can visit the renowned Arethusa Dairy Farm shop for ice cream or take in a movie at the historic Bantam Cinema. The shops in Litchfield offer a variety of country chic clothing or unique home design items, try R. Derwin Clothiers and Oliphant Design on Main Street.
All this in just two hours from New York City!
For more images and information about this property, please click here.
Recent Tabletop Styling by Stacey Matthews
We had two recent articles that appeared in Rural Intellegence and Happening in the Hills. One featured indoor plant design and the creative vision of Stacey as well as terrarium creator, Audra M. Viehland. Please find below an excerpt from the story:
"Gardeners might think that they are the caretakers of their plants, but there's another way to look at it. In some native languages, writes author Robin Wall Kimmerer, the term for plants translates to "those who take care of us." Two women in the Rural Intelligence region, Stacey Matthews and Audra M. Viehland, combine their green thumbs with an artistic aesthetic that incorporates nature into interior design. These plants, now works of art, become caretakers of sorts. Who's not happier surrounded by objects of beauty?"
Photo courtesy of Audra M. Viehland
A lovely Window Ledge in the Matthews Home.
To read the entire article in Rural Intelligence, please click here.
Edward Larrabee Platform House in Litchfield, CT
Happening in the Hills featured the significant Marsters home, an architectural gem and a perfect example of a platform house design originally conceived by Edward Larrabee Barnes. The design of the house and its provenance were the focus of this article. Below is the introduction to the story:
"The Marsters House, originally built in 1953, is a significant example of the 'platform house', a design conceived by renowned architect Edward Larrabee Barnes. Every detail stays true to early modernism with clean lines and an elegant grid of rectangular indoor and outdoor rooms. The provenance of the house adds to its interest as the home was designed for Ted Marsters, a classmate of Barnes at Harvard, and his wife Kathy who is the sister of Rufus Stillman, a patron and supporter of Marcel Breuer and modernist architecture in Litchfield at that time."
The Family Room of the Marsters House
Another View of the Exquisite Exterior
To read the entire article in Happening in the Hills, please click here.
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn'thurt.
Charles M. Schulz
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways….. in chocolate! The gift of flowers, wine and chocolate are romantic gestures, much appreciated by the beloved on Valentine’s Day. Of all of these, the sweetest and most luscious is chocolate. We are so lucky to have three wonderful chocolatiers who create the most sumptuous treats including the decadent cabernet sauvignon dark chocolate truffles from Thorncrest Farm.
Valentine's Day Pink Heart Box filled with Cabernet Sauvignon Chocolate Truffles
Throncrest Farm is known as the home of the 'single cow origin chocolates' and credit their success (they were voted best chocolate by Connecticut Magazine in 2015) to the 'magic in their milk'. You may imagine a bunch of generic Bessies in the field but it is Karissma, the big black sleek matriach of the farm, who makes the ultra rich smooth cream used in these truffles.
Signature Chocolate Crumb Chocolates from Thorncrest Farm
While you are picking out these delicious chocolates, why not sign up your Valentine for one of their farm classes? There is a one and a half hour class in making Butter, Yogurt and Creme Fraiche that takes place on April 9th, 2016 at 2:30. For more information, click here.
Pretty Pink Box from Bridgewater Chocolates
Bridgewater Choclates offers a variety of chocolates including turtles, toffees, caramels, truffles, peanut butter patties, hazelnut pralines, and more... All of the selections are handmade from the finest ingredients. This renowned chocolatier in Bridgewater,CT was originalled established by Erik Landefren who came from Stockholm, Sweden to open the highly acclaimed restaurant, Aquivit in NYC. The quality of the chocolates has been recognized by restaurants, retail stores and gourmet shops and their products are sold in many locations.
Hearts with Flowers from Bridgewater Chocolates
Kent Coffee & Chocolate has been a go to stop on Kent’s Main Street for over twenty five years. The store's patrons fill up the store for rich cups of joe while the chocolatiers in the back are busily making truffles and hand-dipped choclates. This is the spot to pick up a sweet selection of lovingly made confections for your favorite Valentine!
They also offer Valentine chocolate roses or the man in your life ..... how about whimsical choices like chocolate alligators, funky jelly bean monkeys or chocolate peanut butter 'bugs'? Have a little fun on Valentine's Day, the most romantic day of the year!
Shop Locations:
Kent Coffee & Chocolate Company
Address: 8 N Main St, Kent, CT 06757
Phone:(860) 927-1445
Thorncrest Farm and Creamery
Address: 280 Town Hill Road, Goshen 06756
Phone: 860-309-2545
Bridgewater Chocolate Factory and Factory Store
Address: 559 Federal Road, Brookfield, CT 06804
Phone: (203) 775-2286
Other locations include:
Bridgewater Village Store, Bridgewater CT
Good News Cafe, Woodbury, CT
Villarina's Pasta & More, Southbury CT
ENJOY!
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