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    A Famed Travel Writer Lists His Remote Island Retreat in Maine for $1.3 Million

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    Around 23 years ago, Paul Theroux picked up a private retreat off the coast of Maine. Now the Hawaii-based travel writer and prolific novelist of more than 50 books—among them The Mosquito Coast, which was adapted into a 1980s movie, as well as a more recent TV series starring his nephew Justin Theroux—has decided to part ways with his longtime Calf Island home, hoisting the place on the market for a relatively affordable $1.275 million.

    Tucked away on a seven-acre parcel offering sweeping coastline views paired with more than 3,000 feet of waterfront footage on Wheeler Bay, the property features a post-and-beam main home and separate guesthouse that were handcrafted in the late 1970s by late contemporary artist and furniture-maker Duane Paluska. In addition to a combined four bedrooms and two baths in a little more than 1,700 square feet of living space, there are also pathways meandering through serene spruce-lined meadows, a mix of sand and pebble beaches, and a ramp leading down to a floating dock with a row boat.

    The floating dock houses a boat used for padding to the nearby mainland.

    Kate Sfeir

    Highlights of the primary dwelling include a window-lined living room displaying rustic hardwood floors and a vaulted wood-beam ceiling, along with a simple, “functional” kitchen that has an accompanying dining area warmed by a wood-burning stove. Per the listing, which is held by Joseph Sortwell of Christie’s International Real Estate, a large open room upstairs also has plenty of space for a bedroom and a living area.

    Elsewhere is the wood-shingled guesthouse, which has two bedrooms, a bath, and an open living room sporting a loft and another wood-burning stove, plus its own porch. A small shed and boathouse also can be found on the premises.

    The main home has an open-concept great room housing a living and dining area, plus a kitchen.

    Kate Sfeir

    “Being a coastal New Englander really shaped my life,” the 83-year-old Maine native once told National Geographic. “I would find it almost impossible to live in an inland city or town. I simply can’t do it. I need to live where there’s the smell of the sea, where there’s water.

    “I also like the idea of forest next to a sea—like the Maine coast or the California or Oregon coasts,” Theroux added. “Where there’s sea and forest going up to the sea. That’s heaven to me.”

    Click here for more photos of Paul Theroux’s private island retreat.

    Kate Sfeir More

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      in Luxury

      Harry Connick Jr. Is Asking $12.5 Million for His Coastal New England Retreat

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      You’ll need more than a wink and a smile to pick up this Massachusetts estate! As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the coastal 1.3-acre spread long owned by award-winning singer, pianist, and actor Harry Connick Jr. has just popped up for sale in the Lower Cape Cod enclave of Chatham, asking $12.5 million. The listing is held by Paul Grover and Matthew de Groot of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Robert Paul Properties.

      Records show the New Orleans-born crooner and his wife, former Victoria’s Secret model Jill Goodacre, paid $5.3 million back in early 2006 for the Oyster Pond Lane property. Tucked away behind tall hedges and a lengthy tree-lined driveway, the charming wood-shingled structure boasts five bedrooms and six bathrooms in a tad over 5,300 square feet of two-level living space, all of it accented throughout with the original pine floors, reclaimed wood, and numerous fireplaces.

      The backyard has an inviting freeform pool, an expansive terrace, and a fire-pit conversation area.

      Jack Vatcher Photography

      Built back in the 1960s but extensively renovated during the couple’s tenure, the blufftop structure overlooks Chatham Village and Oyster Pond, a saltwater basin that flows to Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also a staircase and a raised walkway leading down to a boathouse and a private dock, plus an attached two-car garage.

      Other highlights include an entrance hallway displaying a traditional staircase, along with a cozy family room sporting built-in bookcases flanking a wood-burning fireplace. A gourmet kitchen is outfitted with a built-in buffet, an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances, and a dining area flaunting two sets of French doors spilling out to the backyard.

      A private balcony in the primary bedroom overlooks picturesque water vistas.

      Jack Vatcher Photography

      Accessed via a private staircase is an upstairs primary suite, which comes complete with a water-view balcony, a walk-in closet, and a luxe bath equipped with dual vanities, a soaking tub, and a glass-encased shower, as well as a study where Connick worked on his tunes. Outdoors, the park-like grounds are dotted with manicured gardens and mature trees and host a fire pit and a freeform swimming pool surrounded by a brick-clad terrace.

      According to WSJ, Connick and Goodacre have decided to let go of the house, which is being sold fully furnished, because they are spending less time on the Cape now that their children are grown.

      In other musician-related real estate news, Kendrick Lamar reportedly just dropped $40 million on a nine-bedroom estate in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood, while his current arch nemesis Drake wrangled a sprawling Texas ranch for $15 million. Meghan Trainor also scooped up DJ Zedd’s rockstar-worthy mansion in L.A. for $17 million.

      Click here for more photos of Harry Connick Jr.’s Cape Cod house.

      Jack Vatcher Photography More

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      in Vacation Homes

      Inside the Most Expensive Summer Rental on Martha’s Vineyard

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      Martha’s Vineyard has long been a popular summer getaway for high-profile vacationers, including Oprah Winfrey, the Obamas, Larry David, and Bill Gates. This year, the most expensive rental to ever hit the island will cost you an eye-watering $1 million per month. 

      Located at 18 Point Inner Way, overlooking the picturesque Menemsha Pond, the roughly five-acre waterfront compound is available to rent for four consecutive weeks between May and July and September and October. Nestled within the pastoral town of Chilmark, one of New England’s priciest ZIP codes, the sprawling contemporary compound has a whopping 11 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms split between the main house and two additional residences, including a writer’s cottage.

      Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the main house with natural light.

      Bob Gothard/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      “The lush green surroundings, invigorating coastal breezes, and overall sense of serenity make it an attractive destination for those in search of an escape,” notes the listing, which is held by Tom Wallace of Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty.

      To justify the hefty price tag, the coastal estate offers a slew of amenities. Inside the main house, which was originally built in 2012, you’ll find two top-of-the-line chef’s kitchens, a home theater with massaging recliners, a sauna and steam room, and a 30-foot indoor pool. There’s also a large water-facing deck with a built-in grill, a pizza oven, a fire pit, a wooden bar, and an outdoor dining area for up to 24 guests. Of course, sweeping views are a given.

      The five-acre compound can be rented for $1 million a month.

      Bob Gothard/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      In addition to the residence, the grounds also include an entertainment building, which holds an indoor basketball court with a professional shooting machine as well as a large fitness studio with Technogym and Peloton equipment. Down below, there’s a six-car garage equipped with Porsche and Tesla charging stations.

      Outside, there are plenty of recreational activities to keep everyone busy. The tennis court can also be used for pickleball; there’s a cedar jungle gym for the kids; and seafarers will appreciate the home’s 115-foot private deep-water dock that’s nicely stocked with paddle boards and kayaks. Even better, guests can choose between three boats to cruise around on the pond, including a swanky 55-foot Novamarine BS160 that was custom-made in Italy. Also in the fleet are a Mastercraft X26 ideal for water skiing or wakeboarding and a 26-foot Zodiac Open 7.0 speed boat if you’re in the mood for something quicker to zip around in.

      Click here to see more photos of 18 Point Inner Way.

      Andrew Azoulay/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, dining, travel and topics…

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      in Vacation Homes

      18 Point Inner Way in Photos

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      Published on February 28, 2024

      Andrew Azoulay/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      Diane Sawyer’s Coastal New England Oasis Sells for Close to Asking

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      Once again Diane Sawyer is associated with breaking news—but this time, the latest juicy tidbit is centered around her own New England home. Barely two months after the TV broadcast journalist’s longtime residence known as “Chip Chop” first hit the market, the sprawling seaside compound has already traded hands for a smidge under the $24 million asking price, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

      Records show the speedy buyer is David Malm, managing partner of Webster Equity Partners, who paid $23.9 million for the 20-acre estate resting in the coastal enclave of Martha’s Vineyard. Per WSJ, the investor now lays claim to $100 million worth of luxury homes on the Massachusetts island and neighboring Nantucket, including a historic house on Edgartown’s inner harbor he paid $15 million for earlier this year.

      Designed in the late 1930s by Neoclassical architect Eric Gugler and ultimately completed in the mid-1940s, the property was purchased by the news anchor and her late film director husband Mike Nichols in the mid-1990s for $5.3 million. The couple subsequently undertook an extensive restoration in conjunction with Tate Builders, which included adding dormers, and replicating antique windows and doors.

      Originally built for stage actress Katharine Cornell, and designed by Neoclassical architect Eric Gugler, the New England-style home is topped with 10 chimneys.

      Nestled on two separate parcels of land tucked between Vineyard Sound and Lake Tashmoo, and boasting a combined mile of private shoreline, the seaside spread features a wood-shingled, New England-style main house boasting three bedrooms in nearly 5,000 square feet of living space.

      Numerous additional structures include a two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage and a pair of modern beach cottages affectionately referred to as “The Shacks” because of the fishing shacks they replaced, plus two more detached guest bedroom suites known as the Pond and Ocean pavilions. There’s also a swimming pool and Har-Tru tennis court on the premises.

      Several ancillary structures are scattered across the 20-acre property.

      The 77-year-old anchor known for programs such as ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America and 20/20, previously told WSJ she is selling this “magic place” because “the rhythms of summer have changed” as her family has grown, and “there is less free time for long visits to the island.”

      The listing was held by Mark Jenkins of Wallace and Co. Sotheby’s International Realty; Malm was repped by Tom Wallace of Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Diane Sawyer’s New England compound. More

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      in Luxury

      Diane Sawyer Is Asking $24 Million for Her Coastal New England Oasis

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      A sprawling seaside compound owned by veteran news anchor Diane Sawyer has popped up for sale in the coastal Massachusetts enclave of Martha’s Vineyard.

      Nestled amid windswept dunes directly overlooking water views from every vantage point, on two separate parcels of land tucked between Vineyard Sound and Lake Tashmoo, the estate known as “Chip Chop” just hit the market for $24 million, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

      Records show the TV broadcast journalist and her late film director husband Mike Nichols paid $5.3 million back in 1995 for the property, and subsequently embarked on an extensive restoration in collaboration with Tate Builders. Spanning 20 acres, the seaside spread is showcased by a nearly 5,000-square-foot main house boasting three bedrooms and numerous other structures, all with access to a combined mile of private shoreline.

      Originally designed in the late 1930s for noted stage actress Katharine Cornell by Neoclassical architect Eric Gugler—most known for his remodeling work on the West Wing of the White House during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration—the wood-shingled, New England-style main house was ultimately completed in the mid-1940s.

      Other buildings include a two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage and two modern beach cottages affectionately referred to as “The Shacks” because of the fishing shacks they replaced, plus two more detached guest bedroom suites known as the Pond and Ocean pavilions. There’s also a swimming pool and Har-Tru tennis court on the premises.

      According to WSJ, the 77-year-old anchor known for programs such as ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America and 20/20, is selling because the rhythms of summer have changed” as her family has grown, and “there is less free time for long visits to the island.”

      “Five grandchildren have run through the halls, learned to swim in the warm waters, gathered moss in the forest,” she said. “At Thanksgiving, both enormous fireplaces in the great room give off warmth and golden light. We have always felt so lucky to be together in this magic place.”

      The listing is held by Mark Jenkins of Wallace and Co. Sotheby’s International Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Diane Sawyer’s house. More

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      in Luxury

      The Tom’s of Maine Founders Are Selling Their Longtime New England Estate

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      Back in the early 1980s, Tom and Kate Chappell acquired a historic estate in the heart of Kennebunk, a charming coastal city in the southern reaches of Maine. There, in what is often referred to as a “true piece of Kennebunk Maine’s history,” the founders of Tom’s of Maine raised five children who are now grown and married, and they became widely known as artists, authors and philanthropists.

      The couple also sold a majority stake of the successful natural oral and personal care product company that they launched together in 1970 to Colgate-Palmolive in 2006 for a whopping $100 million. Now, 40 years later, the Chappells are finally ready to part with their longtime home, putting the 20-room structure up for sale at just over $2 million.

      Originally built for merchant Nathaniel Frost in 1799, and meticulously restored and upgraded during the Chappell’s tenure, the Federal-style premises were also occupied at one time by New Hampshire Sen. Charles Cutts, who was elected as the U.S. Secretary of State in 1814.

      Built in the late 1700s, the Chappell’s Federal-style house is often referred to as a “true piece of Kennebunk Maine’s history.”

      Photography by Peter G. Morneau

      Sited on almost an acre of land dotted with organic gardens bearing apple trees, herbs and vegetables, the property includes a main house and guest quarters—for a total of six bedrooms and a matching number of baths in nearly 7,500 square feet of living space boasting no less than eight wood-burning fireplaces throughout. There’s also an attached three-car garage that resembles a big red barn.

      Especially standing out on the main level is a double-height entry foyer displaying a curving traditional staircase, which flows to a living room on one side and formal dining room on the other. A traditional arched door off the foyer leads to the rear of the home, which holds a classic kitchen outfitted with leathered granite countertops, a French Lacanche range, slate farmhouse sink and walk-in pantry.

      In the formal dining room, homeowner and artist Kate Chappell has painstakingly matched the original stenciling done by Moses Eaton.

      Photography by Peter G. Morneau

      An adjacent octagonal-shaped sunroom is currently being used as a casual dining area, and sports a vaulted wood ceiling, freestanding gas stove, and sliding glass doors spilling out to a wood deck and grassy courtyard; and elsewhere are an office, a family room and study, plus a trio of upstairs en-suite bedrooms that each have a fireplace.

      As for the guest quarters, two separate apartments come complete with a total of three bedrooms, as well as their own living room and kitchen. The property also is powered with solar panels, and warmed by a geothermal heat system and energy-efficient heat pumps; and per the listing held by Andi Robinson and Elaine Prendergast of Sotheby’s International Realty, the Chappell family likes to say, “The home is all natural.”

      Click here for more photos of 99 Main Street. More