25 Hillside Rd
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5
Sqft: 5,282
Price: $2,880,000
When listing agent Yashmin Lloyds of Compass in Greenwich, CT, called Grey Stone Designs staging company, she gave Grey Stone owner and founder Kate DeCarlo a big task: turn a lived-in 1906 carriage house into a turnkey property.
To start, DeCarlo did a walk-through with the sellers and realtor to discuss staging and bringing each room up to date. Next, DeCarlo had the whole first floor painted white with trim in a deep, almost black hue.
In the entryway, the original lighting fixtures and Art Deco built-ins were preserved, but DeCarlo had the walls painted a deep blue-gray. A sitting area was created to give the home a charming and welcoming space to receive guests. She then hired a contractor to gut a caterer’s kitchen—a second kitchen off the main kitchen and mudroom—which was turned into a cozy family room. “It gave the house a lot of symmetry,” says Lloyds.
The spacious chef’s kitchen has an adjacent butler’s pantry and custom cabinetry, both providing ample storage. 
With an original fireplace and French doors leading to the garden, the breakfast nook is bright and airy.
Outside, DeCarlo had the forest green trim and shutters painted a deep, sexy black and updated all light fixtures. Then, she cleaned out a greenhouse that hadn’t been used in 10 years and gave it a fresh coat of paint to make
it a functioning and trendy space once again. “Millennials are the leading buyers in today’s market and there are two things they do not want when buying a home: They do not want to buy their mom’s—or better yet, their grandmother’s—home, and they’re too busy to have to update the home on their own,” says DeCarlo, who helps sellers invest a little to make their home look and feel current, thus enabling them to sell faster and for a better price.
A neutral palette, original fireplace and lots of large windows set the tone for the serene master suite.
The living room and dining room space showcases a wall of windows to the wisteria-framed stone patio.
This home appeals to weekenders from New York City, young families just starting out and downsizers, says Lloyds. “It isn’t your typical cookie cutter house,” she explains. Plus, the location is great for buyers who want convenience to amenities while still having the feeling of being worlds away.
“You are across from the high school and right in town, but you feel like you are in backcountry,” says Lloyds. “It’s a little bit like a secret garden.”
CONTACT
Yashmin Lloyds
Compass Connecticut
Greenwich, CT
917-597-0178, ylloyds@compass.com
