On the Market: Moderne Duplex in Rydal

That's right, duplex. You could legally rent the guest house that's part of this handsome villa to a tenant as an apartment. But you don't have to.


house for sale rydal moderne retreat exterior front

912 Rydal Rd., Rydal, Pa. 19046 | Bright MLS images via Keller Williams Realty

Here’s a one-of-a-kind find in the near northern ‘burbs: A handsome house for sale on a lovely wooded lot that’s big enough for you to feel like you’re living in the deep woods.

And you can share it if you want to.

The house is actually two structures: a spacious three-bedroom main residence and a one-bedroom guest cottage connected to the main house via a breezeway.

Abington Township legally classifies this house as a duplex. That means you can rent the guest house to a tenant if you wish and earn some extra income to help take care of the mortgage and upkeep.

Or you can have this splendid suburban retreat all to yourself.

house for sale rydal moderne retreat foyer

Foyer

The house itself was built in 1940 in the Moderne style, a transitional style that paved the way for Art Deco to become midcentury modern. In appearance, it actually more closely prefigures the modern than it streamlines Art Deco.

house for sale rydal moderne retreat living room

Living room

But on the inside, the owners have chosen to furnish and outfit it in the Arts and Crafts style. The furnishings, lighting and fixtures harmonize very well with this house’s simple, airy and open spaces. You might want to see if you can persuade the owners to let you buy the furniture as part of the package.

house for sale rydal moderne retreat dining room

Dining room

house for sale rydal moderne retreat breakfast nook

Breakfast nook/study

house for sale rydal moderne retreat living room towards kitchen

Living room, view towards kitchen

This is an “upside down” house, which means the main living spaces are on the upper floor. They include a large living room with a vaulted skylit ceiling, a dining room with a large picture window, a breakfast nook currently used as a study, and an updated kitchen with cabinetry that complements the interior style.

house for sale rydal moderne retreat kitchen

Kitchen

Separating the living room from the kitchen is a large stone fireplace. The fireplace’s low side wings let you see from one room into the other.

house for sale rydal moderne retreat master bedroom

Master bedroom

master bathroom

Master bathroom

The master suite is also on this floor, and it too has a vaulted skylit ceiling. Its bathroom is especially stylish, with black granite and glass blocks playing against the warm wood of the linen closet and vanity.

Down below you’ll find a two-car garage, another bedroom and a family room with a stone fireplace. The family room could also be used as a third bedroom.

Sliding doors from both lower-floor rooms lead onto the spacious stone patio from which you also enter the home via stairs leading to the main floor.

The guest house has its own living room, kitchen, bedroom and full basement.

The duo sit on a two-acre lot that’s set well back from the street. The lushly planted lot also contains a pond.

And the entire package couldn’t be more conveniently situated on the whole. Rydal Regional Rail station is a short walk from here, and the shops and services that line The Fairway are a stone’s throw from your house. Because the West Trenton Line tracks separate your house from the commercial district, walking there is impractical, but it won’t take you long at all to drive there.

THE FINE PRINT

(figures include both dwellings)

BEDS: 3

BATHS: 3 full, 1 half

SQUARE FEET: 5,075

SALE PRICE: $585,000

OTHER STUFF:  This house’s sale price has been reduced twice, most recently by $14,900 on Aug. 30th.

912 Rydal Rd., Rydal, Pa. 19046 [Anna Skale | Keller Williams Main Line]