Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Curtis Schilling Pitches His House on to the Market

SELLER: Curtis and Shonda Schilling
LOCATION: Woodridge Road, Medfield, MA
PRICE: $8,000,000
SIZE: 7,981 square feet, 7 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: The three story residence is showcased by formal public rooms, family living space, a gourmet kitchen with family room, a home theatre. The gated entry leads to a private drive. The grounds of 25+ acres include a heated swimming pool, an all sports court (tennis, basketball, ice skating rink/seasonal) and a professional batting cage. Two walk up attics.

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: As most of the children well know, Your Mama is not much a sports fan and we can not even begin to explain the difference between the Red Sox or the White Sox without the help of Blackle and/or an assist by our ball crazy buddy Fiona Trambeau, a trampy and boozy gal with a serious and somewhat embarrassing fetish for professional sportsmen. However, thanks to a blabbermouth we'll call the Boston Brahman we do know that Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Curt Schilling and his wifey Shonda have recently put their Medfield, Mass. mansion on the market with an $8,000,000 asking price.

Property records show that in January of 2004 the two time World Series winning mound man purchased the 25.99 acre estate tucked down a very long drive and in the woods southwest of Boston from Drew Bledsoe, another big name professional sports star Your Mama has never heard of and knows not a thing about. Records reveal that Mister and Missus Schilling forked over an even-steven $4,500,000 for the three story and 7,981 square foot sprawler that includes another 4,181 square feet in the finished basement level.

In addition to that swirling circular stair case that spans three floors and gives Your Mama the head spins worse than a giant pitcher of cheap gin and no brand tonic, the the uber traditional residence, which listing information labels as Colonial, includes formal public rooms and ample family quarters with 7 bedrooms and 6 full and 2 half baths. The house is also well stocked for entertaining family and friends with plenty of parking, a large and comfortable looking home thee-ay-ter, large decks extending from the back of the house towards a free form heated swimming pool, a professional batting cage, natch, and a tennis court that is somehow able to do triple duty as a basketball court and an ice skating rink in the winter. Listing information also shows there are four fireplaces and an attached 8-car garage, plenty of room for a fleet of those horrid ATV things and perfect for someone like Your Mama's Daddy who is a classic car enthu-zee-ast.

If we're being honest, and we always are, Your Mama is not a fan of this particular brand of bland interior day-core where mirrors and clocks substitute for real art. We have a nervous reaction to burgundy velvet sofas riding astride beige wall to wall carpeting, and while we know the color red is supposed to stimulate the appetite, we feel strongly that a red walled dining room is simply a tie-erd cliché. Surely there are other more clever ways to work red into a dining room than slathering the walls with blood colored paint. And let's not even discuss the dining room set or the chandelier that is hung too close to the ceiling. The large gore-may kitchen is also not to our particular taste and we're frightened by the faux greenery tucked into the island cabinet, but we do think a large open plan space like this would work very well for a large family with young children and can imagine that those who like traditional homes and day-core will swoon over this family friendly kitchen.

We haven't a clue why Mister and Missus Schilling would sell this place and move on considering this would seem to be an excellent spot to raise up their four youngsters according to their religious and right leaning Republican views. But they are. Maybe they want something even larger? Maybe they want something smaller? Or maybe it has something to do with Mister Schilling professional team affiliations? Who knows?

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

2004 was that the year when real estate started to jump up 300%

I am curious to see what they get for this estate esp in MA

btw bono sold his condo in manhattan, for less than he bought it.

Alessandra said...

What a boring property. Not even 25+ acres can save it for me.

Mama, Curt Schilling is famous for the bloody sock during the World Series wherein he played through an injury and tremendous pain and helped his team win. I respect him for that, but I find his choices in architecture to be less than interesting.

Anonymous said...

Ummm, yeah, he goes by Curt Schilling, not Curtis Schilling. Curtis Schilling is what *his* mama prolly called him back when he was a little boy and she was mad at him!

StPaulSnowman said...

How very gentle of Mama not to comment on the bar code stripe effect in the master bedcube.

Anonymous said...

EEEEK!

Anonymous said...

Viewing the pics, I was overcome with a sense of indifference. In candor, short of a life altering windfall, I'll never be on any realtor's radar for a property in this price range. But, if I were, a home like this would be ruled out during the initial keyword search criteria process.

My best to the builders that churn these out and to the cash-fortunate people that buy them. Places like this are just not my cup of tea, which I hope tempers the lofty validity of my blasé opinion. As they say when viewing art: I know what I like.

so_chic_darling said...

I'm with you sandpiper,even if I had that kind of money I would not want to live in something that looks like a hotel to me.I will never understand this kind of residential architecture,and as for the interior decoration it looks like an expensive nursing home.

Anonymous said...

Why do conservatives always seem to have houses patterned after a suite at the Ramada Inn?

Is it because they only hire straight designers?

Anonymous said...

I can't understand why the main staircase twists through the kitchen space.

Flora

Anonymous said...

Why do conservatives always seem to have houses patterned after a suite at the Ramada Inn?

Is it because they only hire straight designers?

April 9, 2008 10:46 AM

Not and fyi they do hire gay designers and even have gay friends! shock gasp!

Anonymous said...

Mama, the alliteration is stunning!

"look at that dreadful chair," wahoo! I laugh just reading the name.

I'm with you, Flora, is that the main staircase swooping right past the kitchen? Dubious planning, indeed.

Anonymous said...

I'm more inclined to think that the spiral staircase is a secondary one to some other main staircase in or near the entry. Looking at the photos, it would seem that this staircase is located under the domed cupola (thus providing the light seen in the photos) and if you look at the roof, that cupola is off to the side, and towards the rear of the house. Now I have seen some STRANGE floorplans, but MOST do follow some sort of convention where there would be a grand staircase in some grand foyer that is just not pictured, maybe because the realtor doesn't feel like putting anything extra into the website for an $8 million mansion than he does a $325,000 split entry tract home. Really, would ten or eleven pictures posted REALLY break the bank? Why just nine for an 8,000 sq ft. mansion? That's about one picture per thousand square feet. Anyway, a home of this size would most certainly have a "back" staircase, and those usually decend into the kitchen/family room area, a la the circular one, thus my thoughts that this is just a very elaborate and nicely executed secondary staircase.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the more pictures thing, I always think when they don't show them--there is nothing good to show. Anyway, the only thing good about these big monsters is the awe of the size--then that get's old and your kid's are 2,000 sq ft apart from you doing all kinds of drugs/isolated, and downloading all kinds of gay porn. It's better to live in a 3 room house sleeping on the same bed. Just kidding about the 2nd part--have your laugh for the day!
No but really all I would want to do is go home and kill myself in a big empty house like this--see what happened to Micheal Jackson--too unconnected to the real world. There is a noose in Candy Spelling's "gift" room right now. No, she has a great relationship with her only daughter--she would never do that, just drown her sorrows in alcohol. My advice--take the makeup off, get real with life, and find a bible-so you can see how amazing--peace and joy it is to live a christian life--God/Jesus will give you a new take/lease on life!!!!

Anonymous said...

What's with the faux turrets in the back of the house? The aerial view is bugging me. The interiors are awful! As much as I am drawn to traditional design, both inside and out, I find this place so incredibly boring and disjointed. That being said, the grounds look like they have great potential. Look at all the trees!

Anonymous said...

Don't open JASON.

Last time I did, got a virus.

luke220 said...

This was Drew Bledsoe's white elephant, which he had custom built after he moved to New England. He offered it for sale at $9 million initially. Schilling got a bargain at $4.5 million, which is about what it is worth today.

Let's just say that the new quarterback has much better taste in real estate.

Anonymous said...

Jesus would not like such a big house!

Anonymous said...

willids...LOL
What are you smoking? The spiral staircase is a secondary? Alrighty. Yup, sure. Looks like a back stair to me. Ummm.

When you find the grand staircase, toss up a link.

PS Sorry all. Tired and cranky.

pch said...

Drew has a great sense of humor and some unexpected interests -- his latest thing's a vineyard in Oregon or something. But I agree with Luke that his taste in architecture isn't exactly stellar. This makes the Soprano's house look understated and classy.

Hey Sandpiper. I actually assumed that was a back staircase, too -- they're not super-common, but I have seen similarly grand secondary staircases.

Hey 1:02. Maybe this atheist missed something, but I'm not sure that accusing Candy Spelling of over-dependence on the makeup counter and the liquor cabinet is the best way to show her the love of Christ.

Anonymous said...

that place is worth well 4.5MM - 300% appreciatation about 1.6 MM if even that, I am sure it will sell for 400k in this market, who wants to buy a 1MM estate in MA ? then again who has the money to do it ?

I hear the job market tanked out there.

Anonymous said...

PCH,

Not discounting that there would be a back staircase here. What gets me is the expense of this freight car of custom millwork being dedicated to the back way. I've gotta believe it's the main.

But I could be soooo wrong.


Little Buddy...Where are you?

Anonymous said...

lgb is ok, spoke with him today he'll be back. He has been sick and lost a good friend in the mix.

Anonymous said...

Oh people people people. It's definitely the "back staircase" as you are all calling it. Sometimes it's simply refered to as "the kitchen stair" exactly like that, "kitchen stair". Very New England traditional term and style. This one is way over the top though. Usually it's just a shortcut from the upper bedrooms to the kitchen without having to go all the way to the grand foyer in the front of the house, down the stairs and then all the way back to the kitchen just to get a midnight snack.

Anonymous said...

Doubtful. Firstly, boring to build two staircases that look identical.
Secondly, that is a fairly grand "kitchen stair." Usually they are just wide enough for a laundry basket.

Anonymous said...

...especially in New England.

Anonymous said...

If it is the back stairs, why is it identical down to the last baluster of the main stairs? No one I know makes backstairs that fancy. I remain sceptical; I looked hard at those photos before posting.

Flora

pch said...

My brother told me about a fellow student at his rather prestigious architectural school who came from a massive family in Utah and insisted on designing ginormous breakfast nooks in each of their initial projects. As far as she was concerned, a breakfast nook needed room for no fewer than twelve kids. And it apparently took a lot of effort to disabuse her of this notion.

In the same way, I suppose it's somehow possible that the designer of this house comes from a background that thinks it's charming/rustic/homey to place the landing of the main staircase in the kitchen. But there's a part of me that refuses to believe any architect worth his/her salt would be that idiotic. I mean, this ain't Little House on the Prairie.

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's playing into the Great Room design that's sweeping the nation!?

I protest.

Anonymous said...

Based upon the pictures provided, I am of the opinion that the staircase photo is an aerial shot of the "back stairs" we can see in the kitchen shot, and that there must indeed be a second staircase with a less tight spiral in the main entry foyer...I have seen "back stair" that are indeed that elaborate in many of the new mega-mansions they are building along the Main Line here in Philadelphia...but hey, I could be wrong, just my 2 cents, I'll try and dig for additional photos on this place and see if we can't end this nagging mystery once and for all, LOL...;-)

Anonymous said...

That staircase may have a lot of millwork but it looks way too narrow to be called "grand". The listing information doesn't even mention it. It is just in Mama's comments.

My vote is with the backstairs children.

Anonymous said...

Hey kids,
I mucked around the various listings and editorial write ups and am still hard pressed to come up with anything difinitive on our "WTF" back stairway debate. I did find one write up specifically identifying "the" spiral staircase. And, the big round rear extension is an added large breakfast nook; seating for twelve.

Also read mention of the family's reason for selling... they'd like to get into a neighborhood environment for their children, and are in no rush, per mom.

I'm less astitude than Our Mama on all things sports, but seems Curt has a miserable shoulder problem. Plus, his contract with the Sox expires at the close of 2008 season.

Maybe they're ready to kick back and enyoy the fruits of his athletic success. Nice story.

luke220 said...

Schilling probably won't play this season due to shoulder injury. Good thing that they are not in a rush to move- at that price it won't be anytime soon.

I'd say it is the back stair. Keep in mind that Drew Bledsoe had the house built- he was just a kid making a lot of money at the time. I haven't seen any references to an architect- the place may just be a builder's special.

Bledsoe is now selling his latest house in Westlake, TX. Interesting that his new one is on the market for under $2 million. Guess one monstrosity was enough for him.

Anonymous said...

it is obviously the back stair because you can see it enters right into the kitchen in a photo...no main stair does that

Anonymous said...

He's retiring and the close of 2008season, or so "they" say.

Anonymous said...

Sandpiper....

Thanks for the quick smack-down on a first time poster. I can't back up what I say, but right or wrong, at least I put a name in the blank, not like some of these people who aren't creative enough to come up with some name and just go by "anonymous". I usually enjoy your comments, just not the ones directed at me, I guess. As for tired and pissy, my 13 month old baby girl just spent two nights in the hospital with croup, so I know what tired and pissy really feels like.

Anonymous said...

Rough times, willlds, I hope she's OK. Croup is scary as hell.

The lighting is identical on the stairs in both pics. What I can't tell is if the flooring is the same.

Alas, perhaps the case of the mystery stairs in a house we all feel is not particularly noteworthy shall remain unsolved.

I just opened wine. I should enjoy quickly before I have to remember which goddamn mattress I stuffed all my money in.

Have a nice weekend all.

Anonymous said...

Oh Willds,
No, no, no. It was meant in fun. Honest. Nothing more than that, believe me. My apology if I hurt your feelings.

Two nights at hospital with sick baby girl? There is nothing worse. My little one was hospitalized at about the same age for a severe flu with fever. It's a parents' nightmare. Take care and hope all is well.

I do agreed with you observation. And back stairs are such a cool thing. But I keep going back to expense and magnitude of this staircase as a secondary. But people have spent money on stranger things, so who knows. :)

Hey Bentley,
Have been trying to figure it out, like being stumped on a crossword puzzle, with no luck yet. Learned other thing tho, like Bledsoe had the house on market for 18 months, beginning at ...ummm... $8M, before it sold to Schilling for less.

luke220 said...

Sandpiper, just one clarification- Bledsoe brought the property on at $9 million, dropped to $6.5 then sold it for $4.5.

Anonymous said...

Luke,
Thanks for the Monday morning quarterbacking. Glad you're in my corner.

Anonymous said...

Sandpiper...

No hurt feelings here, I was more commenting on people's lack of creativity in posting as "anonymous" rather than making something up to describe them. As silly as this sounds, I actually put more weight into the comments made by people with names rather than anonymous comments. I mean, how hard is it to make up a name, even if it doesn't mean anything to anyone else but ourselves (i.e. WillLDS, sandpiper, PCH (which will forever be known as Peaches). Anyway, I am a lover of architecture and sarcastic satire (same word?), thus my love of Mama and her blog, and most everything I say is intended to elicit a chuckle, I just don't come across that way when I'm not face to face. And thanks for the well wishes on the baby gurl. My cutie is home now and back to playing and tormenting two very relieved and over protective dogs.

Anonymous said...

Hi willds,
Good news on baby gurl. How quickly they bounce back, but agony til that moment finally arrives.

I'm not the welcome wagon by any stretch, but I hope you stick around!

Anonymous said...

You're definitely paying more for the name attached to this property. This house in the same town is much nicer and is almost half the price, much better deal even though it has 2 less bedrooms and only 10 acres

Anonymous said...

http://www.hammondre.com/homes/Detail.cfm?PageNum_Search=2&SearchType=MapSearchRegional&State=MA&County=&totalCity=1&City=Medfield&PriceLow=0&PriceHigh=99999999&Bedrooms=1&Baths=1&PropertyType=House&PropertyType=Condo&Submit=Please+wait...&SQFT=0&YearBuiltLow=&YearBuiltHigh=&Style=&Stories=&LotSize=0&SortBy=Price sorry this is the for the above post

luke220 said...

Wrong, no one is going to pay double just because Curt Schilling lived there. It didn't work for Bledsoe, either.

The house 5:08 mentions is on the same street as Schilling's. The next least expensive in the town is half again as much.