Luxury Homes
“Many parts of the property were inspiration for his characters,” the listing agent said.
180 Pilot Hill Farm Road is straight out of a storybook, which is no less than you’d expect from its longtime owner. For the past 37 years, the dreamlike estate has been the private oasis of Marc Brown, the creator of the iconic “Arthur” series for children, and his wife, Laurene Krasny Brown. It’s now listed for $6.9 million.
“They made it like stepping into a storybook or stepping into another time,” said Elle Lash, a broker at Tea Lane Associates, who shares the listing with Alexis Holden.
The entrance to the property over Smith Brook crosses a small stone bridge, which served as the inspiration for Marc’s new HBO animated series, “HOP,” about a diverse group of animal friends.
“Many parts of the property were inspiration for his characters, including this little troll that lives under the bridge [in ‘HOP’] that you drive over to get to the property,” Holden said. “It’s quite special.”
The seven-bed, five-and-a-half bath estate, which sits on 7.8 acres, features a main antique farmhouse dating back to 1730. Thoughtfully restored over the years, the home has hand-painted Siberian Elm floors and four mantels over fireplaces, each painted by Marc himself.
A large kitchen features open shelving and an eat-in area set against a beautiful bay window. There’s also a separate dining room, boasting Marc’s hand-painted floors and an antique wooden mantel over the fireplace. A tranquil screened-in porch serves as the perfect transition to the outdoors, overlooking the heated saltwater pool. It has a more recently built guest house with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a large double-height living room that overlooks the meadow.
The property also features three studio spaces. A former horse stable was converted into Laurene’s art studio, while a former chicken coop functions as a smaller one. Marc’s studio, located in a former carriage house, is also quite magical. With room for three cars below, the bright, white space has served as a vessel of creativity over the years.
“They’ve taken these beautiful, historic buildings, and in a really creative and collaborative way, as a couple, preserved them, but also made them into what they needed them to be as artists,” Lash said.
The impeccably curated landscapes are filled with mature trees. From perennial plantings to rolling meadows, the natural landscape of the property feels as if it’s a character in the home’s story. There is also a pond on the property.
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