42 Picketts Ridge Rd, Redding, CT 06896

Sixty-three years of love, raising children, creating art, and caring for the land and nature...this classic New England barn house has a wonderful history. Arthur Shilstone, nationally-recognized illustrator & fine artist (and a WW2 veteran of the famous "Ghost Army"), along with his marvelous wife Bea, left city life behind to embrace the beauty, the culture, & the slower pace of small-town life in Redding, staying close enough to NYC to enjoy Wednesday matinees. Now the barn & the extraordinary property are ready for a new caretaker. The barn offers a spacious well-designed cook's kitchen, a living room w/exposed beams & beautiful vintage doors opening to the very private patio. No words can describe the 2-story Great Room that served as both Mr. Shilstone's studio & the place for relaxing in the evening. Filling the room w/the natural light an artist needs, the astonishingly large window is a stand-out feature of the home. Two large bedrooms & full bath complete the 2nd floor. The 3rd floor inc a loft overlooking the Great Room, two more bedrooms & full bath. The Shilstone estate offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the best of country living: breathtaking land, a home ready for a new touch & a town with small-scale schools, the iconic Mark Twain Library (started by the man himself), family-owned farm stands, lively arts/music culture, organized sports programs & 100's of acres for hiking/kayaking...all minutes away from Ridgefield's Main St. & Westport beaches.

** The barn, along with the two antiques across the road, was originally part of a large farm. The farmer lived in the white Saltbox and built the grey farmhouse next door for his son. Originally built in 1830, the barn was converted to a home in 1930. ** The basement, as it's called on the floor plans, is on the main level, accessed through the kitchen. Half of the large space on the left holds the mechanics. The other half of the space is a workshop with a slop sink, likely a good place to install the washer and dryer. The separate space on the right side of the basement has been used as a garage.