Just off the south shore of Nova Scotia in Mahone Bay sits a 10-acre private island designed for complete security. The original owner, a real estate developer and engineer, acquired the land after 9/11, seeking a safe haven away from New York City. The current owner is now parting ways with the $8.3 million island, which is listed by the Tim Allen Properties Team at Coldwell Banker Global Luxury.
“Strum Island is a unique and private retreat with a rare combination of a charming location, meticulous design and foresight with the island’s infrastructure," Allen said in a statement. “An intimate connection with nature makes it a sanctuary unlike any other."
Mike Rogers
The island is centered around the Lodge, a 9,500-square-foot residence with six bedroom suites, each named after an Impressionist painter and decorated with reproductions of their artwork. The primary bedroom, which honors Gustav Klimt, features jade onyx finishes. There’s also a pop-up TV, a walk-in closet, and a private deck. The other bedrooms pay homage to Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Renoir.
If you own an island with lots of bedrooms, you can expect company, and the home’s ample entertaining spaces are meant to accommodate small crowds. The great room has a walk-in fireplace with a custom iron grill, plus a hand-carved walnut bar, while the dining room comfortably seats 12 or more, and the cherry and walnut chef’s kitchen is anchored by a statement blue Lacanche range. A cherry-paneled wine room includes two beverage fridges and limestone floors, a separate media room boasts a Dolby surround sound system, and there’s a home theater for good measure. Throughout, you’ll find Dakota mahogany granite floors, cherry and hemlock beams, and handcrafted stained-glass lighting. The property is being offered completely furnished, down to its Waterford crystal stemware and fine china service set for 24.
Several other charming structures dot the island: a boathouse offers two additional bedrooms and a full kitchen; the so-called Rose Cottage is equipped with a hot tub; and a beach hut opens to the shoreline, with 600 feet of private beach. A covered dining pavilion with a fireplace and wicker seating is dubbed the Lobster Temple, and there’s even a heated doghouse for Fido to take a comfy snooze.
Terilyn Lemaire
Enhancing its self-sufficiency, Strum Island is planted with numerous fruits and veggies. An orchard sports pear, peach, plum, and apple trees, with an on-site apple-cider press for making your own drinks, and the vegetable garden has more than 600 crops, from tomatoes to beans, and there’s a separate plot for berries and grapes. A red barn completes the bucolic picture.
As for getting to the island, there’s a private mainland wharf from which you can board one of the two boats included in the sale. Or, there’s also a helicopter pad where you can land a chopper.
From the article by Tori Latham
