PROPERTY PROFILE
Unexpected Upside-Down House
Denby Real Estate $995,000
The Tom Nevers neighborhood is about ten minutes from town. But it is worlds away with regard to lifestyle, pace and natural beauty. Here, the lots are zoned in three-acre parcels which means that anyone purchasing a home in Tom Nevers today will likely not see more houses spring up around their property. Many of the roadways are dirt, which adds both charm and a natural traffic-calming effect. Much of the surrounding moorland is composed of thick scrub oak and pine which provides a wonderful sense of privacy even in the few densely-developed areas.

Tom Nevers is also the area where upside-down homes on the island first gained widespread popularity. For those who do not know, an upside-down house is one where the living space and kitchen is on the second floor and most of the bedrooms are on the first floor. This design accomplishes two things. One, it makes for quiet bedrooms which are often shaded from early morning sunlight - a boon for those who value their weekend sack time. And two, they provide wonderful views of the water and surrounding moors and heathlands, even for homes which are a mile or more from the shore.

The home at 21 Cornwall Street is a home with just such amazing vistas, year round. (One note about Cornwall Street that may arouse your curiosity if you're trying to find it on the map. It does not exist! Cornwall is actually what is known as a "paper road" between Tom Nevers Road and an unnamed private service lane off Kendrick Street. It exists only on paper. It may be cleared and traversable in the future, and then again, it may not.)

One downside of the upside-down house - no pun intended - is that it is often a chore to bring groceries and other items to the kitchen from one's car. But in the case of 21 Cornwall Street, this problem is negated by the clear shot from the driveway to the kitchen provided by an outdoor stairway to the second-story deck. This stairway will likely be your primary route of entry into your new Tom Nevers home.

Once inside, the benefits of an upside-down home are readily apparent. A 180-degree vista, part of which includes a distant view of the ocean, is afforded by the open floor plan of the second floor living space. The cathedral ceilings add to the effect. It's like living in a tree-house, with sun and fresh air all around, especially in the summertime when the south-facing deck receives sunlight from dawn until dusk. In the center of the space is a large and welcoming brick fireplace which faces the deck and living room area. To the left, is the kitchen which is decked out in high-end stainless steel appliances and dark granite countertops. A tall breakfast bar, which seats four, is the perfect spot for a morning cup of coffee and conversation.

Adjacent to the kitchen area is a sunny, open dining space with some notable wainscoting made from panels taken from recycled oak wine crates, each bearing the fire-branded name and images of the vineyards which produced them. This makes for a rather unique and distinctive look.

In the opposite corner is a large bedroom with its own double sliding glass doors leading outdoors to the second story deck. Between the bedroom and dining area is a full bath with a shower.

The first floor is full of charm as well. In its center is a brick hearth area which is currently occupied by a large, antique wood-burning cook stove. Such a stove could easily heat the entire home from below; however, this one currently serves a purely decorative purpose. Both downstairs bedrooms are large and cozy and they share a single bathroom located at the rear of the home which contains a large combination whirlpool tub and shower.

This custom-built Tom Nevers home with many unique details and spectacular views is offered at

$995,000.00. I