A new country estate in Highgrove Farms
A luxurious New Albany home has a contemporary design and close proximity to community conveniences.
On a crisp winter's day as the sun peeked through the clouds and snow squalls swirled like miniature hurricanes over the golf course, it seemed that an entirely new community had emerged in New Albany.
From the windowed sunroom in this spacious home, views of the woods and the snow-covered west nine of the New Albany Country Club were apparent. Local Realtor Alan Hinson proclaims this was the best lot available in the development when he looked over the neighborhood's original plans.
In fact, it was just two years ago when plans were completed and the first estate homes were started in this community of Highgrove Farms. While it seemed no one was paying much attention, the entire neighborhood-just 16 large lots in all-was nearly sold out. As of mid-February, only three home-building sites remained. And, two of those involved five-acre parcels priced at $1.1 million apiece-for the land alone.
"Most of the buyers live in New Albany already," says Hinson, who has several clients who have purchased here. He was involved in the sale of this lot: The homeowners are a busy professional couple-she, an executive in an insurance company, and he, the founder of a nationwide nonprofit that benefits veterans.
The home is designed in New Albany's trademark Georgian style, though Hinson notes, "New Albany has always been more than about architecture. It really was about how we could live … Located along the west nine and adjacent to the club, Highgrove offers a unique opportunity to live a lifestyle that is private, yet connected."
When construction on the 16 properties is finished, the neighborhood will include plenty of greenspace, roundabouts, water features and extended setbacks.
This home's interior designer, Kim Comisar, got involved soon after construction started, guiding the homeowners in choices for the color palette of rich grays and intrinsic blues. Tiles were selected through Hamilton Parker and furnishings through Bungalow Home and Restoration Hardware. Bold contemporary light fixtures play center stage, all purchased through Restoration Hardware.
In a home that has many statement pieces, Comisar and Hinson agree that the most dramatic is the huge slab of Calacatta marble used in the kitchen's center island. (Smaller pieces top countertops around the kitchen's perimeter.) Appliances are high-grade, and custom cabinets are by Wright Brothers Cabinetry.
Rooms on the home's first floor are spacious; the kitchen flows into a casual dining area to a family space. A theater room is in the lower level, six bedrooms are scattered about-four on the home's second floor, with guest suites both on the home's lower level and in an adjoining carriage house.
In Highgrove, generally, houses range in size from about 8,000 to 12,000 square feet, and completed projects weigh in at $2.5 to $4 million. (This home's living space measures 10,000 square feet.) Builders such as Ralph Fallon and Steve Tuckerman have been busy in this part of town. Tuckerman has built this home-a prototype, perhaps, of the new millenium's New Albany estate.
Architect: Scott Baker, SBA Studios?
Builder: Steve Tuckerman
Interior Design: Kim Comisar
