Cliff Nest
PROPERTY PROFILE COMPASS ROSE REAL ESTATE $3,650,000
A perfect in-town house is one that is

near Main Street,

but is far enough removed to get you away from the hustle and bustle; one that provides plenty of space for comfortable and easy living; one that is fresh and modern but retains some of the characteristics of its origins; one that is easily accessible from the grocery store or the beach and, one that provides offstreet parking! The house at 12 Cliff Road fills the bill and then some.

Approaching the house, you get the sense that something unusual is in store. The house is not quite in the cookie cutter mold of most houses in town. The third floor and the widow's walk break up the roof line in a way that you rarely see.

Entering the foyer, the old, wide pine flooring greets you and assures you that the 2003 restoration of this house was done with care.

To the left, you enter what almost has to be described as a great room, because the partitions have been removed and, at some point a room was added to the side of the house to create what is really a living suite. First is the living room, with its brickencased fireplace and cherry wood mantel. Beyond that is the long sitting room with windows on three sides and seating areas at both ends.

To the rear of the living room is the large and bright dining room, notable for the wood accents which appear in much of the house. The dining room overlooks a covered porch and the blue stone patio and rear garden beyond. From the dining room, you pass through to the kitchen, where you find a high, beamed ceiling, a six-burner gas stove set into the island that doubles as a breakfast bar, double wall ovens and unusual, cherry counter tops. A curved banquette bench set into the corner under the windows also affords another place to eat. There is a large mudroom, doubling as the laundry, by the back door and from here, it is steps to the outdoor shower.

At this juncture, you are torn as to which way to go. Up the back stairs? Down the basement stairs? Back around to where you started in the front hall? You choose that path and find yourself in a large den across the hall from the living room.

At the top of the front stairs, to the left is a double bedroom with its own bathroom, featuring a soaking tub. To the right is the master bedroom, with a fireplace that is the twin of the one downstairs, and one of the more magnificent bathrooms that is bathed in natural light. Past the double sink is the soaking tub. In an alcove to one side are the large, tiled shower, toilet and bidet.

A door from the master bedroom leads to another living suite which is ordinarily accessed from the rear stairs. A large, bright room, with its own bath, overlooking a rear deck and the patio below, has space not only for a king-sized bed but also for a nice sitting area.

The rear hall leads in many directions: the door to the deck; another door leading to a small interior balcony overlooking the kitchen; to the rear stairs and to another set of stairs leading to the third floor.

On the third floor, you find a unique and wonderful surprise. With space only for one bedroom and a full bath with a shower, you find yourself in a ship's cabin and it is very much first class and not steerage. The bunk is built in, along with a window seat. (There is room for a second bunk.) The ceiling is paneled in wood. Here you would wake up expecting to feel the ocean's roll. A nautical wooden ladder leads to the widow's walk.

Another surprise awaits you in the basement. It has been entirely finished! There is a huge family room with Mexican tile floor and built-in wet bar. (The pool table comes with the house!) In addition, there are two more bedrooms. The double bedroom has an ensuite bath and the single room has its own bath just steps away. There is also a large storage room.

The house is fully air conditioned and does indeed have off-street parking.

This gem of a house, a short walk from downtown and perfect for family living or as an investment property, with six bedrooms and six and onehalf baths, is offered, fully furnished for $3,650,000. I