Storybook Homes
That Leap Off the Page
by INHABIT EDITORS
Make your fairytale dreams a reality at these enchanting listings across Corcoran.
We all want one, that kind of home that seemingly exists only in works of fiction. The picture-perfect prewar Manhattan apartment, the charming French château, or even the hillside hobbit holes of the Shire.
These inspired properties prove that desire needn’t be held captive in fantasy’s realm. Where would you live out your once-upon-a-time?
New York’s Upper East Side has been the setting for countless stories, and this four-bedroom co-op feels right out of a classic novel. The entrance gallery, with its handmade stained glass windows and herringbone wood floors, encapsulates the home’s prior-century allure. An expansive living room sports custom woodwork, wood-paneled beamed ceilings, and sunny south-facing views over 72nd Street. The windowed kitchen looks nothing like you’d expect in NYC, boasting a wood-burning fireplace — with a brick mantel — and vintage appliances set atop imported European tile floors. A grand dining room, and a handsome wooden bar, complete the space.
In a reveal usually reserved for a superhero’s secret hideout, the home inside this relatively unassuming shingle-style, timber frame barn has a hidden surprise: a sprawling, open great room with double-height ceilings and a towering stone fireplace, framed with original beams and bathed in natural light. The primary suite fills its own wing on the second floor, a private palace containing a walk-in dressing room. Rear sliding doors open to a backyard where this Bridgehampton four-bed continues to wow. Make the stone patio your al fresco dining room thanks to an outdoor kitchen or lounge poolside among impeccable landscaping.
Though this hobbit hole isn’t technically in the Shire, it’s located in an area that’s pretty darn close: the Catskills. Inspired by the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, this unique house was built under a grassy knoll and stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Close to the waterfalls of Palenville, this Saugerties three-bedroom is also near all of Woodstock’s delicious restaurants for all seven of a hobbit’s daily meals. Inside, many of the rooms have curved walls reflecting the house’s unusual shape, while outside, there’s a pavilion and a garage. The hill only covers the back of the house, allowing for natural light to stream in through the windows and glass front door.
Straight out of the pages of Grimms’ Fairy Tales, this Truckee four-bedroom chalet features decorative half-timbering on the outside, wooden Alpine balconies, and a tower with three floors of arched bay windows. Inside, there’s a spacious great room with a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams that combines the kitchen, dining, and living areas. The great room opens up to a viewing deck with mountain views and sports a built-in breakfast bar as well. The rest of the house has a similar European flair, including a large bathroom in the primary suite with a bidet, a jet bathtub, and a sauna. Plus, there’s also a cozy stube — a room just for drinking beer.
Bienvenue to a house that feels like Provence, but is conveniently sited in South Charlotte’s Pellyn Wood and minutes away from SouthPark. This four-bedroom maison is part of Courance, a unique subdivision that was built to recreate a French village, complete with cobblestone streets, gas-lit street lamps, and fountains. The houses’ limestone exteriors, wooden shutters, and brick accents make the subdivision look like a scene from Beauty and the Beast, while interior details like arched doorways, imposing fireplaces, and stained-glass windows add fairy-tale touches. Plus, there’s a cedar shake roof and gas lanterns outside to complete the spell.