A new cedar-shake roof, copper gutters and a cream tone transformed the house, which is reputed to be the oldest house in Litchfield. Photography by Kirsten Francis
Even the king of England says this residence in Litchfield is a worthy one. King George II, that is, whose reign lasted from 1727 to 1760. While there is much debate in the Connecticut town as to which is the official oldest house on its streets, this circa-1729 true Colonial is a royal contender for the designation.
According to its owners, Mike Fabbri and Scott Francis, they’ve read a document that includes the king’s declaration to the then original owner, Benjamin Boardman, that his house has a prominent place in the new colony, and that Boardman has the authority to grant farming land to anyone, as far west as what is now Ohio. “We’ve done a lot of research on this in the town clerk’s office,” says Fabbri, “and the deed seems to indicate that this house is certainly one of the very oldest in town, if not the.” Francis adds, “When we first read the king’s charter, the document describes details on the land—apple trees, a large rock—details that are super interesting to us.”
Scott Francis and Mike Fabbri own this Litchfield County home, along with their two dogs Dart and Daeny.
The living room is furnished with a leather director’s chair from Ralph Lauren Home, a ceramic Christopher Spitzmiller lamp, a clear glass lamp from Simon Pearce, a brass coffee table made by Mastercraft and a sofa from Baker Furniture.
The kitchen renovation included brightening the space and reordering work areas, notably with the introduction of an island counter space.
A workspace melds with the kitchen.
The homeowners inherited a mature garden, which includes a pergola covered in wisteria.
A vintage sporting scene of horses anchors the bar area.
A freestanding tub in the primary bathroom is positioned in a windowed corner.
A vintage blue coverlet—now in a guest bedroom—was discovered at the Brimfield Flea Market and is complemented with Ralph Lauren Home bedding.
Handsome Perrin & Rowe fixtures are used in a bathroom in which a glass-walled shower was installed.
A new cedar-shake roof, copper gutters and a cream tone transformed the house, which is reputed to be the oldest house in Litchfield.
The couple, powerhouse real-estate brokers in New York (Fabbri is at The Agency, Francis is with Serhant), have a particularly keen understanding of, and appreciation for, floorplans and architecture. Yet, this wasn’t their first-choice house in town. Although it is just the two of them, plus their dogs Dart and Daeny, they wanted a weekend retreat from Manhattan that could accommodate many guests in several bedrooms. But when they saw the very position of the house in town, adjacent to thousands of acres of preserved land, as well as its classic Colonial floorplan, they were taken with the three-bedroom home that has been a fixture in Litchfield for as long as just about any other structure standing.
Indeed, while much of the house, inside and out, required updating, no changes were made to the footprint. “We did some rearranging of the rooms,” explains Francis, “but the existing floorplan still revolves around the fireplaces, one upstairs, one down, essentially creating a kind of loop.” Fabbri adds,“We wanted to restore the original charm, historic details and integrity of this house.”
Both Francis and Fabbri have a special devotion to the town and county. Fabbri’s grandfather was Litchfield’s chief of police, and Francis attended Fairfield University. Like many New Yorkers seeking a weekend home within a two-hour radius of the city, the couple spent years renting properties in different towns—from the Hamptons to Westchester County—as tryouts. “Here, there’s a heart and soul to the community,” Fabbri emphasizes, “so the choice was easy for us.”
A before shot of Fabbri and Francis’ Litchfield County home.
A before shot of the living room.
A before shot of the kitchen.
Though both are used to staging properties they plan to sell through their professional endeavors, with this house, staging meant settling down. Within days of purchase, Francis “hit the ground running,” as he calls it. “I visited every local antiques store, flea market, and the amazing Sunday Elephant Trunk flea market in New Milford. I love the discovery of each piece.” While furnishing the house was a collaborative endeavor, Fabbri concedes that he let Francis do most of the shopping. “I tend to focus on the day-to-day livability in our home, and Scott does the sourcing.” So adamant and focused was Francis that the furnishing process and restoration work was accomplished in under a year. “The manner in which I operate is not for the faint of heart,” Francis says with humor and truth. “Going shopping with me is not a plus-one event,” meaning that it was best for Fabbri to stay at home prepping the rooms for the new arrivals.
The home is surrounded, too, by a garden that the couple says they inherited from the prior owner. They trimmed away excess growth and felled trees that inhibited views and sunlight. “We edited some plantings,” says Francis, and what remains are 55 rose bushes, a pergola growing with wisteria, and pear and apple trees (some of which might be ancestors of those cited in the king’s charter).
“We’ve settled down here,” says Fabbri. “There’s a real emotional component and tie to being in Litchfield. That my father and grandfather lived here and that I now live here makes for a kind of circle-of-life moment.”
