If you appreciate excellence, you will understand what makes this property so special. From its inlaid wood, tile and slate flooring and intricate moldings to its 10-foot ceilings and Ludowici terracotta tile roof, with details like a wrought-iron grille over the coat closet window to call bells to summon the staff, this 1911 Tudor Revival Normandy-style home is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Built of Wissahickon schist, the main 9,024- square-foot, 3-story stone main house features 8 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half baths, and 6 wood-burning fireplaces. Originally designed by noted Philadelphia architect Charles Barton Keen, it was updated in the 1930s by architect Sydney Martin, has been renovated multiple times since and was just painted throughout. A detached garage with 5 bays includes a 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment with kitchen and family room. Protected by a conservation easement, this stunning 3.6-acre garden oasis boasts specimen trees and an enviable location across from Carpenter’s Woods, Philadelphia’s first bird sanctuary, and abutting the Wissahickon Valley Park, with miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In one of the most architecturally and naturally stunning neighborhoods of Philadelphia, the property offers easy access to Chestnut Hill, Center City and beyond.
Off the circular driveway, follow the slate walkway through graceful arches to the front door and the grand entrance foyer beyond. In front of you, the sun room offers gorgeous views of the terrace and rear yard through 3 sets of French doors. Its slate floor coordinates with the colors of the elegant hand-painted Gracie wallpaper in the living room to its right and the dining room to its left. Both are accessible through beautiful sliding pocket doors from the sun room or through double doors from the foyer. The living room features a fireplace with a recently paneled surround. It also opens to the terrace through French doors. An archway leads to a sunlit music room with thick moldings and deep window sills. To the right of the foyer is a cozy, wood-paneled office with a fireplace and built-ins. Nearby, a magnificent circular staircase leads to the second level, and a stairwell leads to the lower-level caterers’ kitchen, which opens to an outside patio.
To the left of the sunroom, bowed glass windows fill the formal dining room with light. It’s a welcoming setting for both formal and informal meals, with a fireplace, intricate moldings, built-in glass cabinets, stunning wallpaper and French doors to the terrace. Just beyond, the bespoke gourmet kitchen was renovated in 2011. It boasts 3 Sub-Zero refrigerators—a refrigerator, a freezer and a wine cooler with refrigerated cabinet drawers—and a Wolf range. Notice the dental moldings and the handsome silver pot rack above the double-thick marble center island with seating for 4. Once used as staff quarters, the wing off the kitchen now houses a breakfast room, informal family room, pantry and powder room. Back staircases lead to the second level, the lower-level and the backyard.
On the second level, the interconnected rooms off the main hall in the back of the home—dual bedrooms, baths and sitting rooms—could be converted to a large primary suite. French doors open to a balcony over the music room overlooking the backyard. Across the center hall are 2 bedrooms with en suite baths, one recently updated; 2 additional bedrooms that share a full bath in the hall; a homework room and a closet room with built-in cabinets. Stairways at either end of the hall lead to the third level, which has a playroom with built-ins and arched windows, 2 additional bedrooms, a bath, cedar closets and access to the attic.
In-ground pool and Har-Tru tennis court(needs renovation), and it’s the perfect setting to raise your family and entertain guests. The property has parking for 20+ cars and is just 5 minutes from the Chestnut Hill West rail line. 2 miles from the heart of downtown CHil