I’ll Take This… Stable House

There’s a house that is just a couple of blocks from my current house that I’ve always loved. It’s so different from the grand and elegant houses in the neighbourhood, and it’s got a quirky look that I like. It also looks like it’s been misplaced – it should be somewhere in the Cotswolds.It turns out that it was one of the old stables that dot the neighbourhood and it was converted to a house many years ago. It’s on the market now for just a little less than $1m. But the great thing about this house, aside from it’s setting, and  details, is that it’s zoned for both business and residential use. I love how the owners have kept the gorgeous details of the house, like the beadboard ceiling and the walkway, and then added some, like the horse-shoe. This house is tucked at the bottom of the same hill where my house is, and is hidden from sight by tall hedges. I remember exploring these spaces when I was a kid. Even though, with all of the trees and hedges, the house might be dark, all of the huge windows brighten it tremendously. One end of the house is residential and the other is the family’s business in sports marketing and sports franchise sales. It has a separate entrance for each use. Even the bathrooms retain many of the original details, like the beautiful subway times and the huge bathtub (sans shower!). I love the stained glass skylight. The agent selling this house is a friend of mine, and I am going to try and get over there and see it in person.

Photos: Ron Solomon