I’m not really into speeding. I owe some of that lack of urgency to a 4.8 liter V8 that gulps extra gas at the mere thought of acceleration, but mostly I don’t speed because I don’t feel like it. Nothing against speeding, it’s just not my thing. But there are exceptions to that general rule. When I’m heading to the lake, I speed. If I’m late for an appointment, I speed. If I’m driving on an expressway, I speed. And if I’m driving down Snake Road, whether to or from an appointment or to or from the lake, I speed. Snake Road takes me and shakes me and turns me into something and someone I am not, and for that, I am thankful.
But if I speed on Snake Road even when I have nowhere to go and no one to see, how much more I would speed if I were driving to my newest listing off of Snake Road’s Bonnie Brae. If I were heading to the lake, and my new lakefront home, I’d turn left onto Snake and zig past Covenant Harbor on my left, and blow past Geneva Bay Estates. I’d wave a hurried wave to Bill Wrigley (I would call him Bill if I were his neighbor, and we would discuss things together in between Polo matches). I’d twist past the Driehaus estate, being careful not to tiptoe through his tulips, and then I’d bank hard left onto Bonnie Brae, absorbing worried looks from my neighbors. If I were the buyer of my newest lakefront listing, that’s what I’d do, and I’d do it every Friday from now until forever.
My newest lakefront listing is unique, and not in the way that all lakefront listings are unique. It’s unique because of what it is- part of the original Bonnie Brae estate- and unique because of the way it feels and the way it lives. This is a lakefront home, to be sure, but it’s a fantastic example of historical architecture that has been lovingly and carefully renovated to much of its original splendor. This magnificent residence is part of, and attached to, the original Bonnie Brae mansion. The property was divided years ago and the end result created a spacious six bedroom, four bath lake home out of the wing of the mansion that originally hosted the dining hall, kitchens, guest quarters, and caretakers apartment. This mini-estate now features over three quarters of an acre of manicured lawns and gardens, complete with firepit, three car detached garage, and 100′ of private lakefront with private pier. This might be a home attached by a classic breezeway to another home, but it is pure Lake Geneva luxury in a delicious location.
The home was renovated roughly ten years ago by local-builder-to-the-stars Chris Hummell, and boasts the finest of appointments. Great pain was taken to restore the original leaded glass windows that cover the lakeside of the home, and woodwork was stripped of its painted prison and returned to its original, and natural, glory. The kitchen is beyond captivating for me, with ambling work space, Sub Zero refrigerator and professional stove combined with cabinetry by Wood-Mode. Perhaps the kitchen amenity that I relish the most is the walk in pantry. It’s a basement pantry reminiscent of restaurant kitchens everywhere, and it is a feature that I, and any home gourmet, would appreciate. The kitchen is enormous, the living room and entertaining spaces are numerous and generous. If a deceivingly large lakefront house built for entertaining that lacks nothing is on your wish list, then consider me your own personal beard-less Santa.
Our price, $2.575MM fits into a spot in our lakefront market that sorely lacks quality inventory, and we should do well to capture the attention of the buyers in this range who seek an estate setting without estate style taxes (taxes were just $21,318 in 2010). This is an architecturally significant home dripping with the intrigue that is part and parcel of such a classic property, yet it has been brought up to date with modern appointments, and tasteful finishes. If a house were ever built for entertaining, certainly this is it. And if you were entertaining, and Bill Wrigley sauntered down the shore path, I trust you would be kind enough to offer him a beverage and a restful perch on your bluestone patio. And if he were to stop, and you were to chat, and for whatever reason my name came up, please do not tell him I called him Bill.