"This property is about walkability and accessibility," Realtor Scott Pellerin of Coldwell Banker Realty described 9 Columbus Avenue in Niantic. Pellerin represents the seller of the two-bedroom European-styled home that's a short stroll to the beach. The current asking price is $1.49 million.

"Imagine living here and being able to walk into downtown, have a nice dinner and see a movie," Pellerin suggested.

OnlyInYourState.com credits Niantic's village as one of Connecticut's "best kept secrets."

9 Columbus Avenue in Niantic was built in 1896, and it was once the converted carriage-house home of Artist Roger Wilson Dennis, an American impressionist painter and the former Conservation Department head at Connecticut College's Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

When Pellerin's client, the current owner, acquired the home in 1999, he branded it "TIMTTOR," an acronym for "This is my time to relax."

The interiors are warm and inviting, like a familiar embrace.

"It is a unique and charming house," Pellerin said. "People say that it's like being transported back in time, because it's cozy and quaint, with the high ceilings, exposed beams and the wide-board floors."

The floor plan's star is a great room with 9-foot ceilings and built-in bookcases. Wood and stone are running themes in the interior design, exemplified in the den, where there's a slate floor, a stone fireplace and more built-ins.

A Dutch door in the dining room opens out to a three-season sunroom, which then leads out to a bluestone patio. It's appended with a custom-crafted pergola, a hot tub, built-in fire table and grill.

The kitchen and two baths have been remodeled in recent years. To the kitchen, the homeowner added Schuler cabinetry, a subway-tile backsplash, farmhouse sink, granite surfaces, Kohler fixtures, and high-end stainless appliances from Wolf and Zephyr.

The owner also upgraded the home's heating and cooling mechanicals.

One of two bedrooms, the primary bedroom has a cathedral ceiling, with a Palladian window that invites natural light to fill the room. Just off the primary suite, there's a 12-by-14-foot space that's been leveraged as an office. Interior French doors define the two rooms. It also has exterior access, where there's an outdoor shower — an invaluable feature for a near-beach house.

"There is a second full bedroom with a bay window that overlooks the side yard, which could be a home office, as well, so, you have some flexibility," Pellerin said.

The house, the detached two-car garage and a potting shed are sited on a 0.64-acre lot, with gardens designed by a Conn College grad student as part of his thesis work.

"That's another unique feature of this home, how private it is," Pellerin said. "As you're driving down Main Street and make the turn onto Columbus Avenue, past Tony D's ice cream — what used to be Tasty Treats — heading toward the beach, and pull up to this house, it's like you're suddenly in a park, but you're still in downtown Niantic. It's a little secluded oasis that's 100 yards from Main Street and 200 yards from the beach."

Residents of Niantic can purchase beach passes to any of the town beaches; two of those beaches are within walking distance, the listing agent noted.

Property: 9 Columbus Ave., Niantic

Bedrooms: 2

Baths: 2

Square Footage: 1,831

Acreage: 0.64

Asking Price: $1.49 million

Seller's Agent: Scott Pellerin, Coldwell Banker Realty; Mobile: (860) 235-6345; scott.pellerin@cbmoves.com