03 July

Adapt or Sigh

Nick Churton, of the Houlihan Lawrence London office in the UK, finds a super family friendly home in an idyllic location only forty miles from Manhattan.

The House: 20 Hoyts Lane, Bedford Corners, New York

The Agent: Caroline Shepherd

The Broker: Houlihan Lawrence

To call 20 Hoyts Lane, Bedford Corners, a gem with a hidden benefit is an understatement.

Here, we have an imposing house, reimagined by an acclaimed architect and set in 7 acres of outstandingly beautiful landscaped gardens, with private access to the one hundred miles of exclusive Bedford Riding and Walking Trails. The property is on a no-through road, so seclusion and peace from traffic are guaranteed. Plus there is an Amish-built, two-to-three-horse stable and paddocks.

So far, so great. But what about that hidden benefit? Most houses define how their occupants live: established room layouts give limited scope for change or adaptability, at least not without significant cost and upheaval. But no set of occupants is the same, and many find it a strain to live in a design arrangement that requires them to conform to a pre-ordained plan – that’s often why they move or adapt. It's the same with clothes, bespoke beats off-the-peg for fit.

Although wonderful as it is, 20 Hoyts Lane is a home that not only allows its residents to shape their living space but also motivates them to do so with minimal investment and effort. Homes with options like these are as scarce as hens’ teeth, but once in a while an opportunity like this arises.

So, if you want an elegant and beautifully situated home but don’t want a building that dictates how you should live, move quickly because another family, perhaps of a different size and stage in life than your own, will be attracted to the adaptability of this property for the very same reasons you are.

Adapt or Sigh

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