On the Market: Classically Contemporary House in Gladwyne
This distinctive Peter Batchelor composition pours traditional Main Line elegance into a contemporary container that makes it look fresh and new.
700 Mill Creek Rd., Gladwyne, Pa. 19035 | Images via Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty; sketch: Peter Batchelor via Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty
Many of the newer mansions in Gladwyne, the region’s swankiest zip code, show off the architectural affectations “McMansion Hell” loves to skewer. And inside them, you’ll find plenty of evidence that their owners have more money than taste.
This house for sale is not one of those newer mansions. On the contrary, it’s a one-of-a-kind work that expertly blends contemporary and traditional design in a way that elevates them both.
As the sketch above shows, noted Main Line architect Peter Batchelor took advantage of this house’s sloping lot to create a pair of structures that employ the low-slung aesthetic of contemporary houses to ground themselves on the site.
But on the inside, these houses don’t feel low-slung. The ten-foot-high ceilings give the rooms an expansive feel, and the large single-pane windows open them up to the outside.
Living room
Dining room
And the rooms themselves follow an open plan. The living room is especially spacious, and the formal dining room bright and airy. Whether you choose to furnish them in a traditional style (as in the living room) or a more contemporary one (as in the dining room), the rooms will flatter your decor.
Kitchen
The kitchen has the equipment you need to entertain on a large scale. It has a separate refrigerator and freezer, a six-burner gas cooktop with grill, three wall ovens and two dishwashers. A large butler’s pantry with additional sink and counter space sits next to it.
Breakfast room
The kitchen is also one with the airy breakfast room, whose French doors open onto a deck ideally suited for outdoor entertaining and relaxation.
Master bedroom
Master bathroom
The master bedroom has a skylight and a large spa bathroom.
Sauna
This house also has some really sweet extras, too, like the sauna in its gym, a totally open sunroom next to the pool, and a downstairs billiard room. An elevator connects all three of its levels.
Terrace and guest house
And there’s a guest house that could be used as a home office next to it, with an attractively landscaped terrace between the two.
Finally, it offers both privacy and convenience. It sits on a gated and wooded 2.88-acre lot across the street from parkland, and it’s a short drive from here to the Narberth and Ardmore town centers.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 5
BATHS: 6 full, 3 half
SQUARE FEET: 8,352
SALE PRICE: $2,395,000
700 Mill Creek Rd., Gladwyne, Pa. 19035 [Lisa Yakulis | Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty]
