Chateau Merlot

A driveway paved with tumbled brick approaches the rustic ambiance of this French eclectic asymmetrical (commonly referred to as French country) home. Topped by a weathervane and framed by opposite courtyard entry garages with carriage house doors, the home includes a variety of impressive details that complement its architectural style.

Andy Melaragno designed Chateau Merlot to include a standing seam copper roof over the porch in addition to a copper-topped eyebrow, cupola, half round gutters, downspouts, scupper boxes, and of course, the lovely weathervane. Bronze finials along the ridge of the roof serve as grounded lightning protection. Wood shutters with shutter dogs punctuate the stone and stucco veneer that covers the exterior. Accenting this exterior, brick makes up the window headers, sills, and the coping of the stone water table. Finally, clay bird holes dot the upper portion of the front gable, reminiscent of an old practice that welcomed birds into French farmhouse attics for insect control.

When it comes to the world of interior design, one of the most important sight lines in a home is the center line that stretches from the front door directly through the back of the home. This line speaks to a floor plan’s accessibility. Since Chateau Merlot was designed to optimize foot traffic throughout the home, this sight line stretches all the way through the entry, a central hallway, and the great room. The obvious accessibility creates a grand first impression as visitors step through the custom-built mahogany front door and entryway from the tumbled brick of the paved front porch.

To the right of this center sight line in the foyer, a colonnade frames an open formal dining room. Two French doors open out to the front porch for those days when you need to let in the summer breeze. Down the hallway, a kitchen, screened-in back porch, and casual dining area provide several options for eating and spending time with family and friends.

Highlights of the kitchen include cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and a long island. Two other excellent features are the island’s vegetable prep sink and raised round hors d’oeuvres table, both of which come in especially handy while casually entertaining.

The kitchen leads out to the two-car garage through a mud room with built-in lockers and a coat closet. Entering the mud room, a first-floor laundry room lies adjacent, serving as a powder room with a private water closet (toilet).

A study/home office sits to the left, from which the 1 ½ car garage is directly accessible. The space also boasts a private door to the master closet. Just outside of the study, a switchback stairway ascends in elegance with custom newel posts, hammered wrought iron, and bending handrails.

The home’s great room lies through a hallway beneath the overhead bridge. Here, a set of custom-built armoire cabinets bookend a two-story rustic stone fireplace, creating a perfectly cozy area for relaxing with family or a good book. The fireplace’s mantle, legs, and corbels and the ceiling’s ridge beams and purlins are all made of solid, rough-sawn sugar pine.

Stepping down the hallway to the left reveals a second powder room and master suite. This suite includes an 11’ high coiffure ceiling with a corner fireplace. A large, stained-glass window ushers plenty of natural light into the master bath while maintaining total privacy. A whirlpool tub, his and her vanities, a linen closet, a water closet, and a large shower with a locker-style entry help round out this luxurious master suite.

Finally, the second floor includes three bedrooms. Two of these share a Jack and Jill bath and one has its own private bath. A large 14’ x 26’ bonus room above the two-car garage provides the owner with extra spatial potential inside this entrancing French eclectic asymmetrical style home.