Where the River Rolls By

August 16, 2024 12:15 am • Last Updated: August 14, 2024 11:57 am

Step inside the transformed 13 River Drive in Gales Ferry, a waterfront home with upgrades and captivating views

The four-bedroom Cape-style colonial at 13 River Drive, Gales Ferry, is offered to the market for $725,000. This is a waterfront property on the Thames River, with an expanded and renovated 1937-period house, plus a detached three-car garage on a 0.77-acre lot. The property is listed by Heather Sawyer, a Realtor with William Pitt Sotheby’s in Mystic.

By Gretchen A. Peck

Heather Sawyer is a Realtor with William Pitt Sotheby’s brokerage in Mystic. She’s also the listing agent for 13 River Drive in Gales Ferry, a four-bedroom Cape-style colonial—waterfront on the Thames River. Sawyer is hosting a public open house at the property on Saturday, August 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Sawyer’s clients acquired the property in 2018 and began the first of two major renovations.

“We trimmed and painted the entire interior,” the seller explained to Welcome Home. “Every surface was touched. During that renovation, we also added cabinetry to the dining room and to the kitchen, where we added drawers, refaced and painted the cabinets.”

The current owners added an expansive deck to the house, made with mineral composite decking and stainless cable railing, which allows for air flow and views of the Thames River.

They sought to make the kitchen more functional and enlisted Martin Cabinet, Inc. in Plainville to bring that vision to life.

“For example, there was a tall stand-up cabinet without any shelves, where people could put things like brooms and vacuum cleaners—non-functional blobs of cabinetry. We took that out and made a coffee bar, instead, with glass-front cabinet doors above. There’s also an island peninsula that sticks out into the kitchen, and we replaced all the cabinetry under that peninsula, which had been otherwise very inefficient.

The kitchen is part of the open plan first floor. It spills seamlessly into the dining and living areas. There’s also a foyer, a home office, full bath, laundry and one of the four bedrooms on this main level.

In 2022, the sellers added this a sunroom to the main level, with skylights and sliding doors that open out to the deck.

“Then, in 2022, we decided that we really wanted just a little bit more room, so we put a beautiful addition on the back,” he said. They hired a contractor neighbor to complete the project, who added a sunroom, with a vaulted ceiling, skylights and sliding doors that open to the deck and yard. It grew the home’s square footage by about 700 square feet, he estimated.

Upstairs, there are three additional bedrooms, including a primary suite, with a private bath and two walk-in closets.

The kitchen was one of the first renovation projects the sellers took on when they bought the property. They had custom cabinets and drawers built to create a more functional space.

A fine artist, the homeowner appreciated the river-facing vantage point of a second-story bedroom that he used as his home office and studio.

“I sit up there looking out at the river, and it’s very easy to be inspired,” he said.

The riverfront setting makes the property outstanding.

“The sunsets across the river are just phenomenal. We’re at the widest point on the river, with the exception of the mouth, and it’s one of the few places on the river where you don’t see industry,” he noted.

To further capitalize on the water vistas, they had a new 20-by-30-foot deck built with mineral composite decking from Deckorators. “In theory, it’s supposed to last forever,” the seller said. “We put on the typical white posts, and then we ran stainless cabling. The previous deck had glass panels, so you could see through it, but you didn’t get any air flow. We wanted to be able to see through the railing and also have air flow. When we’re sitting out on the deck, you can look up river and down river.”

A true open plan design creates an unimpeded flow from the kitchen to the dining area, on to the living room and ultimately leading into the sunroom.

Not only does the property have frontage on the Thames River, it has a floating dock and a CT DEEP-approved mooring, as well. Though the current owners didn’t keep a boat on the mooring, he said other neighbors along the riverbank keep boats on their moorings and travel to places like Fishers Island, Long Island, Watch Hill, Misquamicut and Block Island.

By car, it’s an easy trip to the nearby casinos, state parks and coastal beaches.

A prior owner added the detached three-bay garage to the property. Its horizontal-trussed construction allows for the bays to be wide open, without vertical support columns as impediments. The second floor affords about 600 square feet of unfinished space.

One of four bedrooms, this space was used by the current owners as a home office and art studio. It serves up spectacular sunset views over the Thames River.

“It’s the perfect spot if somebody wants to add an in-law apartment, a movie room, or a gym,” the seller suggested.

The sellers have enjoyed their time being part of this community. “This street was one of the high points for us and one of the saddest parts about moving,” the seller said. “Everybody looks out for each other. We’re all very close knit.”

Property: 13 River Dr., Gales Ferry

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 2

Square Footage: 2,778

Acreage: 0.77

Asking Price: $725,000

Listing Agent: Heather Sawyer, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Mystic brokerage; Mobile: (310) 953-1686; hsawyer@wpsir.com

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