House of the Week: Manlius home was designed to resemble an Italian villa - syracuse.com

MANLIUS – It was the land which first brought Frank and Frances Pavone to 8901 Peck Hill Road in Manlius in 1994.

“We fell in the love with the land,” Franks said. “It had just the most breathtaking views of the sunrise and the sunset.”

Frances said she felt like she was “on top of the world” when she was there, watching the lights of Syracuse twinkle in the darkness.

It was there, on those 11 acres, that they decided they would live and raise a family. And the place where Frank would design his masterpiece.

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With little to no experience in architecture or home design, Frank Pavone planned his new house, sculpting his plans into Styrofoam, creating something which would resemble the elegant villas he remembered from his native Italy.

“I like to learn new things,” Frank said when asked how he did it, before adding, modestly, “it was persistence and not so much talent.”

His wife, who selected the paint and was responsible for much of the decorating, disagrees.

“He is very good,” she said. “He is a man of many talents.”

The finished product, with four bedrooms and six bathrooms, was exactly what they had intended; a place where people can feel comfortable and relax.

“I was so at home there,” Frank said, mentioning how a sense of serenity would wash over him as he drove up the long driveway under a canopy of trees after a long day at work.

The design of the home also takes advantage of the thing which first brought the Pavones there.

Frank says his favorite place in the house is the balcony off the master suite which looks out over the quiet peaceful backyard.

“I enjoy having a cup of coffee there in the morning,” he said, “and enjoy the views of nature. It so serene.”

For Frances, her favorite spot is one floor below.

Off the phenomenal chef’s kitchen, is a small alcove where she enjoys reading while looking out over the incredible back patio area designed by landscape architect. Edward Basta.

Today, they both feel the time is right to move on. The home is too big for just two people.

But they have mixed feelings.

“We have put a lot of love there and our kids have grown up there,” Frank says. “We have grown very attached to it.”

“I hope the next people love it,” Frances said, and make their own memories.”

The couple shared a poem that Frank wrote about they designed and lived in for almost 25 years, entitled “A Patch of Paradise.”

Its last stanza reads:

Here my burden I ease, my mind revitalize

and in the morning, excited as a child I rise.

When the slow knell rings for my demise

lay me here, on my little patch of paradise.

An open house is scheduled for Sunday, February 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

THE DETAILS

Address: 8901 Peck Hill Road, Manlius, N.Y. 13104

Price: $850,000

Size: 4,887 square feet

Acreage: 11.32 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $3,131 (based on this week's national average rate of 3.70 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $24,962 (Based on assessed value of $658,700)

Built: 1995

School District: Fayetteville-Manlius

Kitchen: The incredible chef’s kitchen, Frances Pavone says is the place in the house for people to congregate. It features granite countertops and high-end built-in appliances like a Viking stove and double ovens. There is plenty of storage in the cherry wood cabinetry. A custom-made wooden butcher-block counter is among Frances’ favorite features, built low to kneed bread for baking. There is a dining area off the kitchen which can seat ten people. The small alcove off the kitchen is among Frances’ favorite spots for reading and drinking coffee while looking out onto the patio.

Living areas: The home was designed by owner Frank Pavone to be a place of comfort and relaxation. He also wanted did not want people “to walk into a room to get into another room.” The home features soaring ceilings in the front foyer and living room. The family room has a fireplace and looks out onto the patio and swimming pool area. The home includes an office or study behind double doors and a formal dining room which can seat at least 25 people. One of the home’s more interesting features is an elevator which was installed for the owner’s elderly parents but comes in handy bringing things up from the basement.

Master bedroom: The spacious master suite is another favorite of the owners. “We really love that room.” The bedroom is massive and includes a gigantic walk-in closet. The room features a gas fireplace and a coffee bar. A balcony off the room is over the patio and loves out over the property. A great place to take advantage of the natural views of the property in the morning and at sunset. There are a total of four bedrooms in the house.

Bathrooms: There are six full bathrooms in the house. The master bedroom features double vanities, a tub and separate shower unit. Each of the four bedrooms has its own private bathroom. The first-floor bathroom has a unique Jacuzzi-style tub.

Finished basement: The spacious finished basement was the “place for the children to play.” It has a full bathroom and is roomy enough for a pool table, ping-pong table and an exercise room. It has access to the outside.

Outdoors: It was the 11 acres which first brought the Pavones to this spot. They fell in love with the land and its gorgeous views. The owners call the property “very private, very serene,” and wanted something which would resemble an Italian villa. A very long driveway is covered by trees which create a canopy effect in the summer. Two rows of pine trees in the back continue the privacy. There is an attached, heated three-car garage with extra-wide doors. Landscape architect Edward Basta designed the beautiful back patio with in-ground swimming pool and installed propane barbecue grill. There is also an installed waterfall feature.

Agent: James and Tracey Siciliano

The House2Home Team

Hunt Real Estate ERA

Address: 7650 Highbridge Road, Suite 210, Manlius, NY 13104

Phone: (315) 877-2987 or (315) 256-0596

Email: house2home@huntrealestate.com

Website: House2HomeCNY.com

If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, “Save this Home,” in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.