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Friday Front Porch Feature: A House Perfect for a Retreat

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Are you looking for a spacious private retreat with exciting features. Then this is the home for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 1030 Simonds Road.

This five-bedroom and five-bathroom post and beam home was built in 1986. The house is 4,102 square feet on a little over seven acres. 

The house comes with kitchen appliances like a cooktop and dishwasher. It also features an attached two-car garage, a sauna, fireplace, finished basement, wraparound deck and lots of natural light.

We spoke to real estate agent Carrie Swift Heck with Compass Massachusetts LLC.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Heck: This seven-acre property has beautiful grounds and gardens, and also abuts Trustees of Reservation's Mountain Meadow Preserve land and hiking trails. The outdoor space feels made for gardening and relaxing. There's a wraparound deck along the front and side, and a second deck in the back garden area as well as a pergola covered in vines. The home really feels like a part of its natural habitat. 

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The house feels like it has space for everyone to have their own privacy, but also has a strong focus on gathering. You can easily see your family in the eat-in kitchen playing games by the wood stove, playing pool in the basement rec room, or having holiday gatherings in the great room. The light coming through at all angles, garden views from every room on the main floor, and the unique beam ceilings all make the home feel very cozy for a home of its size. 

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

The current owners bought the home only a decade after it was built. They've raised their family there and made it their own. After three decades in the same family, it's ready for its next chapter. 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

While this home certainly has something for anyone, it has been a family home since it was built, and was built with family in mind. That being said, it has all the makings of a home-away-from-home retreat as well — with a soaking tub, sauna, and central wood-burning fireplace. I can see it being a great getaway for winter skiing and summer adventuring. 

Are there any recent renovations or standout design features?

There is a newer addition that is a large primary suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom with a separate shower and soaking tub. They really maximized the natural light by adding two walls of windows, a skylight tube in the closet, and a picture window above the tub. They took advantage of the renovation to put on an enduring metal roof in a fantastic granite color.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

I would say that the possibilities are endless. There are: two primary suites; a third-level bonus space; a huge garage with loft space above; a sauna, wood stove, and pool table in the basement; a wet bar in the dining area. This home has so many cool features that could easily be reimagined in today's script. 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 




Tags: front porch,   Real Estate,   

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Creative Pause: Venerable WTF Taking Time to Innovate, Strategize

By John TownesSpecial to iBerkshires
The pace and pressures of change have intensified in all sectors of society. The creative economy is no exception.
 
Non-profit arts organizations have always had to adapt to changing times. Some of these issues are common and perennial, including the need to raise funds, attract audiences, and remain relevant and sustainable.
 
In addition, while the COVID-19 pandemic was several years ago, it has taken time
to recover from the universal shutdowns of 2020 and their aftermath.
 
These issues were highlighted in the Berkshires recently with the announcement that two prominent cultural institutions in Northern Berkshire County — the Williams Theatre Festival and the FreshGrass music festival at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art were cancelling their 2026 summer seasons.
 
Both organizations, which are separate, will use the time to regroup, with plans to return in 2027.
 
While the announcements raised concerns about the impacts on the cultural tourism economy this summer, the overall slate of cultural attractions and activities in the Berkshires appear to be on track. The cultural sector is not monolithic, and other individual organizations are either proceeding as normal or expanding their offerings.
 
The season cancellation at WTF was because of a combination of factors, said Raphael Picciarelli, WTF's managing director for strategy and transformation. He shares administrative oversight responsibilities with Kit Ingui, managing director of operations and advancement.
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