Windermere on the Lake: Luxury "Green" Living in Fairfield County, CT

About Windermere on the Lake
Today, we’re featuring Windermere on the Lake, a luxury “green” community of twenty-four homes, set on seventy-four park-like acres in North Stamford (Fairfield County, Connecticut).  This private, gated-community, which has caught the attention of numerous publications, including EcoHome Magazine, Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, and even CNN, “provides secure and maintenance-free living, resort-style amenities, environmental stewardship and the tranquility of a classic village.”

Cumbria House at Windermere on the Lake, designed by Bartels-Pagliaro Architects (BPA).

NRDC Residential, a division of National Realty & Development Corp., selected top-notch talent to assist them in executing their vision.  The homes, designed by award-winning Bartels-Pagliaro Architects (BPA), were inspired by the work of C. F. A. Voysey and the English Arts & Crafts movement.  “BPA’s attention to place, space, light, scale and natural materials results in design unity with the environment and a Windermere lifestyle of warmth, comfort and integrity with the land.”

Evening view of Cumbria House, designed by Bartels-Pagliaro Architects (BPA).

Interior designer, Karen Houghton, created “comfortable, sophisticated, and natural interiors,” that complement the clean lines of the architecture; and the gardens, by noted landscape architect, Simon Johnson, are “an imaginative and contemporary reworking of the English Arts & Crafts idiom, using local materials and a range of plants suited to the climate and soil of New England.”

Interior design by Karen Houghton.  The exposed wooden beams of the ceiling add warmth to the light-filled room. 

The entry hall with its dramatic staircase.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room.  Interior design by Karen Houghton.

The ultimate chef's kitchen -- bespoke cabinetry by Christopher Peacock Cabinetry, carrara marble countertops, stainless steel top-of-the-line appliances

Another view of the Christopher Peacock kitchen at Windermere on the Lake 

The carrara marble island countertop, built-in cabinetry and kitchen pantry.

Luxury Amenities
Windermere on the Lake is truly a luxury community, which caters to its residents’ needs:
“Convenience enhances all aspects of Windermere life, from owner services at the gatehouse to professionally maintained grounds. The resort-style community includes a swimming pool, tennis court, clubhouse with fitness room, walking trail, and lakefront fishing dock. And (the) gated, village-like setting ensures security and comfort.”

Residents can enjoy the resort-style amenities, which include a swimming pool, tennis court, and clubhouse with fitness room.

Residents and their guests enter the community via the Gatehouse, which provides homeowners with security and privacy.

The Homes
The light-filled homes have been carefully sited to “provide sweeping lake, woodland, or meadow views.”  They feature porches, stone walls and cedar roofs, and are luxuriously appointed; standard amenities include: “bespoke cabinetry, Waterworks fixtures, hardwood floors, masonry fireplaces, sports-equipment rooms, Marvin Windows, acoustic insulation and a comprehensive security system.”

Luxurious marble bathroom with Waterworks fixtures and bespoke cabinetry.

Options include the ability to incorporate an “elevator, wine cellar, home theater, exercise room, balconies, his/hers offices, steam shower, radiant heat, cedar closets, custom library and ground floor bedroom suites.”

Homeowners have the option of designing their home to include a state-of-the-art home theater.

Homeowners can also work with Simon Johnson to create custom English-country gardens, outdoor entertainment areas, and individual swimming pools (although residents also have access to the community swimming pool, clubhouse and tennis courts).

"Renowned English landscape architect Simon Johnson has developed the Robinson, Mawson, and Triggs garden options, which range in design from simple to elaborate (includes a lap pool) and can be customized for each owner."

Gardens by noted landscape architect Simon Johns

Gardens by noted landscape architect Simon Johnson.

“Green by Design”
The homes are “green by design,” and feature a wide-range of standard ‘green’ features, such as “Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified flooring, EnergyStar rated Marvin windows, EnergyStar rated appliances, energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems, high performance AprilAire filtration, low-VOC paints and carpets, water conserving fixtures. In addition, all of the lumber used in the construction is certified sustainable under Weyerhaeuser's ILEVEL program. Owners at Windermere will also have a wide range of ‘green’ options, which include: geothermal heating and cooling, polyurethane foam insulation, drought tolerant plantings, rainwater harvesting systems.”

Living in Harmony with Nature: Windermere’s Extensive Environmental Planning
While Windermere’s architecture and design is certainly striking, these elements are further enhanced by the community’s serene setting, where “native wildlife (is encouraged) to thrive, with wildflower and butterfly plantings, bluebird nesting boxes, and a log-crib habitat structure for fish in one of (the community’s) picturesque ponds.”

Windermere’s “Habitat Management Plan includes wetland restoration and preservation features that naturally improve water quality and prevent erosion. Buffer zones of enriched topsoil, ferns, and other plantings protect specific habitats. Where necessary, invasive plants are removed and replaced with native species that promote the long-term health of the environment.”

Residents can enjoy such activities as canoeing; fishing at the lakefront dock; jogging or hiking along the community trails; or simply taking a leisurely stroll through the park-like setting.

For More Information
For more information, you can visit the Windermere by the Lake website at www.windermereonthelake.com.  Potential buyers can contact Susan Smith of William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty to arrange a private tour.

Resources
Susan Smith
William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty
203.979.2629 (mobile)
203.322.1688 (office)
susan.smith@sothebysrealty.com

Windermere on the Lake
191 Erskine Road
Stamford, CT 06903
203.322.0055
www.windermereonthelake.com‎