Some of summer’s best days are spent with sand between your toes, listening to waves crash upon the shore, but when you live in a four-season locale, such as Saratoga Springs, not every day can be a beach day. So, the next best thing is a New England style home with a seaside vibe.
Augusta Martin has the ocean flowing through her veins. She grew up in New London, Connecticut and was on her first boat by the time she was six months old. From the age of six until she was in college, Augusta sailed competitively, and by the age of 12 she was helping to launch the wooden sailboat she’d built with her father, Bill Miner, in their garage.
A photo of them on the boat greets you in the foyer of her new 3,900 sq ft, 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath home. The exterior’s combination of cedar shake, clapboard siding, and stone are a welcome addition to the Oak Ridge neighborhood where Augusta’s former house is also located – literally right across the street!
“I loved the neighborhood and when this lot became available, I couldn’t pass it up. Land in Saratoga is always a smart investment,” she said.
Three years ago, Augusta began sketching the designs for her new home. Then, she started watching the way the sun hit the property. Next, she turned to her longtime friend, John Witt, President of Witt Construction for his expertise. "I loved everything John did and had hoped one day to partner with him and build something I dreamed of." They’d worked together previously on the basement of her other home, but this was a much bigger project (one that grew to be more than a thousand square feet larger than Augusta had anticipated!)
“John did such a great job making what I wanted come alive. It’s perfect!” she said.
The backyard features a rectangular in-ground pool, a covered black flare bluestone patio, double-sided fireplace and three distinct seating areas. Jerome Pollock of Creative Stone Designs did the home’s masonry work and the landscaping was completed by Staucet’s Landscaping and Nursery just in time for the Capital Region Parade of Homes this summer where it won numerous awards including Best Kitchen design for the custom millwork done by Mike Biss Woodworking.
Although Augusta does love to cook, she’d rather be outside swimming, walking, or biking. She spends her days as a leader for a large multi-state Health Plan where she has worked for 15 years and evenings entertaining for family and friends.
The home’s wine room is conveniently located just off the foyer and holds several hundred bottles. Opposite are stairs leading down to the lower level, which will house a future small gym and guest suite. At the foot of the stairs is the tip of a Pocock boat shell similar to what Augusta's father raced in at Yale in 1948 and on the shiplap walls hands his oar he gave to his granddaughter.
This section of the main level also includes a contemporary style office where top of the line nautical artwork from Newport’s Onne Von Der Wal gallery is displayed, and one of Augusta’s favorite spaces – the powder room. Here, extra privacy is created by a partial wall covered in easy-to-clean vinyl paper separating the toilet from the washing area which features a large oval vessel sink, mixed metal boat hardware,
and beautiful blue seagrass wallpaper.
The bright white kitchen, elegantly rounded dining room, and living room are within an expansive open floorplan that feels sophisticated but casual. In the living room, large windows flank the leathered granite fireplace while the 70” television is positioned off to the side. Tucked into the corner is the sunroom where Augusta enjoys relaxing with Buckley, her five-year old Great Pyrenees rescue. It’s a cozy area with an art television and fireplace.
Upstairs, there is a comfortable loft for lounging and two coastal chic bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, for when Augusta’s son and daughter, both in their twenties, come to visit. In the other half of the space is a large walk-in closet (which houses only a portion of Augusta’s clothing – most is located on racks that run the length of the room above the three-car garage, which she claims was a "game changer" - and the master suite.
Separated by a pocket door set into the rounded wall, the master contains a built-in slate grey upholstered bench, and ceiling fan above the bed that resembles a wooden boat motor. The master bath has a large, polished marble vanity, spa tub, and Carrara marble walk-in shower.
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