Author: Diane di Costanzo

From the 5,174 square-foot “cottage” of Katharine Hepburn to a circa-1921 castle, these New England real estate listings have much to offer.

This month we cover homes that satisfy the need to nest, from romantic fireplaces and kitchens made for Sunday-night suppers to sumptuous master suites. Check them out.

In honor of our magazine's ninth birthday, we've gathered up the market's most grand, gorgeous—and giftable—listings. Grab them before they're gone!

From a Greenwich compound nearly 10-acres big to a unique windmill cottage in Essex, we've got the 411 on the best in Connecticut real estate.

Connecticut's homes tend to be rich in history. So for our coastal collection of listings, we chose houses that have been lived in by notable people, including artist Helen Frankenthaler, playwright Larry Kramer and novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Brokers report spending more time outside this month as buyers explore their listings' exterior pleasures—strolling garden paths, rambling across lawns and wandering along the water's edge.

What comes to mind when you think of the ultimate family home? A kitchen with an island expansive enough for family dinners? An adjoining family room with a fireplace? Ensuite bedrooms for all?