The home is an authentic log cabin- without the inconveniences of traditional cabin construction. It was originally built in Montana, disassembled and then rebuilt in Franklin Lakes. The Montana Western pine used to build the house had already completed the typical process of shrinking and settling that one must contend with in more traditional log cabins before the home was built. The chink-style sealing between the logs adds further solidity. The current owners built it for themselves in 2003, and has lived in the home full-time ever since.
The versatile open floor plan of the main floor living spaces takes advantage of the direct views of the lake. The main attraction is the great room with cathedral ceiling and a double-sided fireplace made of Colorado stone. On the other side of the fireplace, the gourmet kitchen features a granite and butcher block center island. Radiant heat underneath the bamboo floors can be found all throughout the home- including 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, an office/library, and a music room.
The location combines the convenience of living on Franklin Lakes Road, with the picturesque seclusion of a real cabin in the woods. In fact, you would never even know the road was so close- the house is deeply set back on the 2-acre property, and buffered by mature trees. With the south-facing views of the lake in the background, each morning dawns as fresh and picturesque as a morning in the Adirondacks or rural Montana. The Indian Trail Club is a mere minute drive away, a perfect place to share your enthusiasm for the lake and its local trails with your neighbors. Within the idyllic, forested property, you would never believe that Manhattan is only an hour’s drive away.
The lower level is currently set up as office space and a gym- the private entrance allows for a creative use of this level, either as a distinct living area or private business. From this level, one also has access to the 10x 15 heated therapeutic pool. The pool, with a counter-current system for distance swimming, is installed in the back corner of the garage (walled off on 3 of the 4 sides from the 3 car bays). This does take away some space from 2 of the bays, but they are deep enough that they can easily fit a moderately sized vehicle.
If in certain lights and at particular angles this home already looks familiar to you, there is a good reason. Because of its unique, rustic appearance, coupled with its convenient accessibility to New York City, the home is listed online for location scouts, and has since been used in several film projects and photoshoots. The impressive Colorado stone fireplace and the natural wood has previously made it a perfect location for both a Victoria’s Secret and a Pottery Barn photo-shoot. It was also most recently used in the Saturday Night Live short, a “Bambi” remake trailer in the style of the host’s, Dwayne Johnson, many action movies, where Bambi and his cohorts take revenge on the local hunting lodge. Don’t worry: No anthropomorphic animals nor hapless hunters were harmed in the making of this film.
Click here to view the official listing.