2603 N Pownal Rd, Pownal, VT 05261

Visitors call it the tree house or the chalet. It has been my labor of love for nearly 20 years. My dream home is built atop a 1960's owner-built frame house perched on a rock outcrop overlooking the Taconic Range. The house is comfortable in all seasons even though not quite finished, but I am now of an age to pass my passion along to someone who will appreciate its unique nature. The open living areas feature a 20-foot, uplit ceiling, a rock outcrop that runs right through the living room, open fireplace, vertical pine live-edge "tree", a library, and two large pentagonal windows either end that makes you feel you're right in the Vermont woods. The main bedroom has an ensuite half-bath and walk-in closet; the guest suite has a full bathroom; the main bathroom is Japanese-style with a whirlpool bath facing a tall window looking out at a rock face and a sauna that can seat six. Plus, there is an partly-finished loft space that could be a den or a small bedroom, or both. The kitchen-dining area features cherry floors, a wood stove, cabinets faced with reclaimed wood, an induction range, and soapstone countertops. The main bedroom has spectacular views of the Pownal valley from the bed and an ensuite half-bath. All upstairs rooms have radiant heat beneath natural slate or tile, augmented by a heat pump that cools the air in the summer. Plus an open fire place. A fan system moves warm air from the wood stove in the dining room, to the family room upstairs and from the south-facing porch up into the main bedroom. Installed in the loft is a Heat Recovery Ventilator moving warmed air from the peak of the living-room ceiling back down to the kitchen area and main bedroom. The living-dining area also has baseboard heat from the oil furnace that provides hot water. Cleanup outside in the summer is a challenge -- you'll need to be agile as a mountain goat to reach all the brush with a weed whacker, but it has kept me in good shape! The house is comfortable but buyers should understand there are outstanding projects: finish electrical installation, install some decking, finish some hardwood floors, the main bedroom closet needs furnishing, and not all the wood trim is done. There is leftover flooring lumber and lots of tools and building supplies should you want them. A new water softener will be installed this month. It needs more light fixtures. There is sometimes air in the pipes (well water has to come up 30 feet over the rocks so the challenge might be just the way the system has to work to prevent freezing) but we're working on that. Around the house there are some trees that need trimming or removal. The porch is not insulated yet and there is a solar hot water collector waiting to be connected to baseboard heaters to add passive solar heating in the winter.