BIG SHOW IN SHIMMO

It's a huge treat for us to view a new Nantucket luxury home in the process of being built. Not only do we get to see amazing craftsmanship, we also get to talk to the craftsmen. We see the dedication, the hard work. We take in the scent of newly milled wood and paint and plumber's putty. We view the home in its raw and undecorated state. It's a little like being invited backstage before the opening of a big Broadway show. There's excitement in it. There's electricity in the air (in addition to the blue, yellow and orange extension cords running, every which way at one's feet.)

As we drove up to view the home at 3 Harbor View Drive in the Shimmo area of the island, the grandeur of the place was just beginning to take shape. Three men were laying rounded stones for a dramatic curved wall. Several masons were moving slabs of bluestone for the pool area. And waiting on the side was an entire nursery's worth of privet, trees and boxwood waiting for the time, very soon, when they would be put in place and watered and encouraged to grow.

The front of the home provides two entryways. One is the formal front door; the other door, at the side of the home, leads to a tiled entryway, a mud room, a full laundry and a long hallway with a chamfered ceiling and a deep bench where one can hang up gear, store boots and retreat to one of the five bedrooms - each with its own private bath - on the first floor. (This magnificent home is designed as an upside-down house to take advantage of the sweeping harbor views.) One of the bedrooms features four built-in bunk beds, ideal for the family with lots of children and grandchildren. And one of the bedrooms here is something we've never seen before - the builder calls it a "guest master bedroom suite." With a large and opulent bath and a private entrance to the deck, pool and spa just steps beyond.

Outdoors, it must be noted, the property is a vision. The massive pool and companion spa, surrounded by bluestone, features an automatic, retractable, safety cover. The pool overlooks a long expanse of lawn interrupted by a few new trees. Beyond that is a view of Brant Point and the harbor.

The view, however, is even more stunning from the second floor. From the pool area, one can take the 6-foot wide spiral stair to the deck and enter the second floor there, or one can enter the first floor sitting area with its welcoming fireplace (one of seven fireplaces in this home) and from there, climb the wide and dramatic stairway to the second floor great room. This wideopen, vaulted-ceiling space, which features two hearths facing one another at either end of the room, comprises the living room, dining area and kitchen.

Any five-star chef would feel at home in this kitchen with its eight-burner (yes, eight) restaurant grade stove and oven, a massive side-by-side refrigerator and acres of prep space. The kitchen island features a continuous, two-inch-thick slab of cool, white marble that had to be delivered to the site by crane and man-handled into place by 10 strong men. (The slab around the kitchen sink only required six.)

Beyond the kitchen, hidden away, is a library/study finished in rich mahogany paneling. There is a desk and plenty of built-in shelving. The fireplace is surrounded by an ornately detailed mahogany mantelpiece, above which a flat-screen TV will eventually hang.

Opposite the library on the other end of the great room, is the master suite. It features a set of French doors leading to the second story deck and breathtaking views. There are a pair of cavernous walk-in closets as well as a master bath featuring a water closet, dual sinks, a huge, central, oval soaking tub and an ornately-tiled shower with its own tiled cathedral ceiling.

The basement offers even more space to enjoy. Here, you'll find a full-size bar, a 1,000-bottle wine cellar, an exercise room, pool room, and a seventh bedroom suite featuring a steam shower.

The guest house is no less impressive, with its open floor plan kitchen/living room downstairs, another bunk room, and upstairs, a wonderful master suite with a private deck that provides the best view on the entire property. From here, you can see parts of town, Brant Point and Second Point on Coatue.

This stunning nine-bedroom, nine-plus-bath property, with spectacular views and every luxury

one could want, is offered at $9,650,000. I