KAREN J. BURKE

Description

Nestled amidst the leafy canopies of Gladwyne on Philadelphia's Main Line, this enchanting 1905 Gothic Revival manor home would appear as though it was seemingly plucked straight from the pages of an English fairy tale. With its massive stone walls, wood beams and impressive scale, this architectural gem stands as a testament to a bygone era while offering every modern comfort with details executed to perfection. On 2.8 level acres hidden along a picturesque private lane, the property offers a 4-bedroom, 5.2 bath main residence, a 2-bedroom guest cottage, garages, gardener’s cottage and beautifully designed outdoor spaces and gardens. Massive leaded-glass doors open to an interior of soaring ceilings, custom Indiana limestone floors and archways, reclaimed antique stone, leaded glass windows and doors and rich millwork and cabinetry, all working in tandem to create magnificent, captivating spaces. A great hall with massive beams supporting its 25-foot ceiling is a showstopping setting for gatherings of any size. It accesses one of three terraces that look out over the gardens and specimen trees of the rear grounds. Sunlight pours through the broad, leaded-glass window of the formal dining room. With an adjacent wet bar, butler’s pantry, wine room and enormous, well-appointed Downsview kitchen, it’s easy to imagine this home as a setting for memorable events. The Gothic elements are carried off perfectly in the kitchen, down to stunning artisan millwork and hand-molded Moorish tile backsplash. In this heart of the home, open to the kitchen, is a comfortable family room with a fireplace and access to the rear gardens. The main level is completed by a library/study with picture-window sliders to the property’s lush rear gardens. A full bath is adjacent to this room, making it a potential first-floor bedroom. A large home gym/yoga studio/flex space completes the main level. The second floor originally used as a ballroom and as such features early 20th-century, canvas-covered, hand-painted ceiling beams. This formerly festive space now contains four bedrooms, all en-suite and all with vaulted ceilings. Each bedroom has its own personality with lighting, millwork and bathrooms that speak to the home’s one-of-a-kind character. The owner’s suite feels fit for royalty, all the more so with the newly completed, sumptuous Italian marble bath. In this and other bathrooms, Sherle Wagner fixtures provide the finishing touch. Approaching the guest house, one feels as though they could be in England with the half-timbered exterior of these former stables, a perfect match for the main house. Guests can enjoy inviting, modernized living space with one or two bedrooms, sitting/dining area, full bath and kitchenette. The spacious grounds embrace nature's splendor and are a hideaway for moments of solitude. For buyers seeking a storybook setting and elegant residence less than 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia, tour this property and see for yourself why it is a pinnacle of quality, style and privacy on the Main Line.

Features