This 1903 Connecticut estate feels straight out of a gothic novel
I spend way too much time looking at old houses online, but this one stopped me in my tracks. It is a massive estate from the Gilded Age in Sharon, Connecticut, sitting on over a hundred acres of land, and the vibe is completely surreal.
First impressions from the driveway
You drive up to this place and it immediately feels like the opening scene of a movie. The fog hanging over the grass makes the whole building look incredibly dramatic.
The way the morning light hits the house through the mist is honestly hard to believe. It has this quiet, slightly eerie look that you just cannot fake.
Even the stone stairs out front look like they have been sitting undisturbed for a century. The stone urns on the sides are absolutely massive.
The woods on the property have this spectacular lighting when the sun breaks through. It feels less like a backyard and more like a state park.
There is also a huge carriage house on its own parcel of land. It spans over five thousand square feet and looks like a whole separate mansion.
Up close, the front of the main house is incredibly imposing. The columns are towering and make you feel tiny standing on the porch.
Inside the front doors
You walk inside and you are greeted by this heavy staircase made of wood. The carvings on the banister are incredibly detailed.
The entryway ceiling has this ridiculous plaster detailing that must have taken months to finish. The iron doors leading inside are just as detailed.
Looking down the long table in the main hall shows just how deep this house goes. You can see right out the back doors to the rolling hills.
Every single doorway has some sort of stone arch with carved details. This is the kind of craftsmanship that you simply do not see in modern builds.
Moody rooms with massive fireplaces
The living spaces have a very academic, historic feel. This library room has dark walls painted green and a fireplace made of carved stone.
The ceiling in here has a heavy pattern with geometric shapes that gives the room a cozy feel that feels enclosed despite how large it is.
Pocket doors slide back to connect the living areas, letting you look straight through to the next fireplace room.
The fireplace in the next room is even more detailed, with a massive stone mantel that dominates the space.
It is the perfect spot to sit with a book on a cold afternoon. The proportions of these rooms are just grand.
The formal dining space looks like it belongs in a museum. The wood paneling on the walls is incredibly dark and rich.
Huge french doors in the dining room open right up to the terrace, letting in some needed light.
The sunny side of the house
When the sun actually comes out, the house loses some of that gothic moodiness and looks incredibly clean. The boxwood hedges out front are perfectly manicured.
From the side, you can see how sprawling the architecture really is. It looks like a classic European villa.
There is a stone gazebo structure on the side of the lawn that looks like a great spot to hang out on a warm day.
The back of the house is surrounded by gardens that are deep green that make the white stone pop.
The wild backyard situation
My favorite parts of the property are the spots where nature is starting to take back the stone structures. These steps are completely overgrown.
There is an old pool made of concrete that looks completely abandoned, complete with a stone statue of a winged statue.
There is also a calmer lily pond bordered by a stone balustrade that looks incredibly peaceful.
You can find old stone walls crumbling at the edge of the woods if you go exploring.
The forest paths on the estate are perfect for long walks, especially when the fog rolls in.
It gets incredibly quiet out here. You can easily lose yourself in the woods for an afternoon.
From the air, you can see how the estate is completely surrounded by woods. You are totally private out here.
The property covers over a hundred acres of rolling hills in the Connecticut countryside. It is a massive slice of history.
