A Weekend Home Quiz

A magnificent – monolith like – tower abode.

There are times when I come across a weekend home so unconventional, so interesting and so challenging I lean back in my chair and can do nothing but marvel at what the world has to offer. To then discover this lovely vision of quirkiness is so close to my budget of USD$100,000, I can barely contain my enthusiasm.

I wonder if you can guess where it is?

This concrete water tower is just the unusual sort of weekend home I’m looking for regardless of its location. Lush surroundings, close to water side picnic spots, low maintenance (concrete tends to be) and undoubtedly a talking point. Even better, the interior belies its grim facade with a light and airy bedroom, functional kitchen, renovated bathroom and stunning solid wood stair case. It’s also absolutely move-in ready.

Guess the location

USD$133,000

Impressive bespoke solid timber staircase provides the internal wow factor

A room with a view? Oh yes please

An airy bedroom to take in the crisp, clean  air

A small but well formed kitchen, perfect for preparing appropriately light meals

And the view? Lush, watery and exotic. I can almost feel the summer heat permeating the woodland. Could you want for anything more?

Answer the quiz anonymously here or leave me a comment if you’re feeling brave!

(Thanks for playing. The very few Francophiles among you were spot on. It’s located in France)

Please Mr Connor, this is Newport!

Ever since I first saw Mike Connor and Elizabeth Embry stride into the elegant south parlor of a Newport Mansion in the film High Society, I knew there was something special about Rhode Island. High Society – AKA the greatest film ever made – introduced me to the sultry pleasures of the Newport Jazz Festival, sailing on Narragansett Bay as clams bake on the grill and leisurely tours of Bellevue Avenue’s magnificent mansions in Uncle Willy’s convertible SL 190.

Tracy Lord gives Spy’s Mike and Elizabeth a taste of Newport home life in ‘High Society’

Dex and Pops open the glamorous Newport Jazz Festival with ‘Now You Has Jazz!’

There’s nothing I don’t like about ‘High Society’ so I’m fairly sure there’s nothing to dislike about Newport. I could care less that much of the movie was filmed on a Culver City studio sound stage in LA. I just know Newport is for me. Heck, even our formal living room is called the South Parlor by all who visit. What other sign do I need?

So naturally, our search for a weekend home must begin in Newport County, RI. With USD$100,000 to spend we may not be bidding for the Astor family cottage ‘Beechwood’ but I bet we can uncover a cozy New England gem close by. Here goes.

108 Ormerod Av

PORTSMOUTH, Newport County, RI

USD$99,000

Small but perfectly formed

This two bedroom cottage on Ormerod Ave in historic Portsmouth couldn’t have more potential. Minutes from Sandy Point – Portsmouth’s child friendly beach – and a perfect base to explore the local restaurants and antique stores. Interestingly the nearby Portsmouth harbor is the home of US Sailing and the town the Newport Polo Series. There’s so much to see and do, what’s not to love?

A white picket fence and some freshly sown lawn would quickly enhance the exterior of this cottage and those lovely pencil pines won’t encumber the sunshine. I can already see our beach towels drying on the stair rail in summer.

Small homes equate to simple renovations

OK, so the interior needs some renovation and that doesn’t concern me one bit. How much work is required is hard to tell. To me it looks clean and original, the best kind of place to renovate.

I’ll take it.

291 Hooper St

TIVERTON, Newport County, RI

USD$104,900

Hooper St cottage Tiverton, ready to move in

As my pal Kelly Green will attest, Tiverton has been on our real estate radar for some years. The house prices are bouncing back since foreclosures began in the US and it looks to us it’s getting harder to find a bargain ($50,000 homes are a thing of the past which of course is so good for Tiverton’s inhabitants and investors). And why wouldn’t Tiverton go forward when it is so well placed for weekend commuters from Providence RI or Boston MA. Sure Tiverton’s Fogland beach can get breezy but I’ve always thought we could be keen windsurfers.

This Hooper Street cottage looks like it’s in such good nick, I want to call the Realtor right now and buy it sight unseen. Clean floors, white walls and endless potential. It’s a splash over budget but it could be worth the stretch.

Who couldn’t spruce up this kitchen?

I’ll take it.

I don’t mind that these cottages aren’t in Newport proper.  I’m more Elizabeth Embry than Tracy Lord anyway. So it’s fine by me.