On the Market: Georgian Revival Mansion in Gladwyne
All three King Georges would go mad for this very solidly built, very lavishly outfitted pleasure palace.
“They don’t build ’em like they used to.”
How many times have you heard someone say that in the course of lamenting what passes for luxury houses these days?
I have news for you: That statement just ain’t true. Or rather, whether it’s true or not depends on how much you’re willing to spend.
If you have a Toll Brothers budget, you will get Toll Brothers quality. Your house will look very nice, and it will have all sorts of nice features, and it won’t blow down in a stiff wind. But you might want to watch out for when it rains.
But if you have all the money in the world to spend on your house — or even just a nice little pile of it — you can get a house like this Gladwyne Georgian Revival house for sale.
Not only will you not have to worry about water seepage, you probably won’t have to worry when the nuclear Holocaust comes, either, for this house is built like a tank.
It looks like a typical turn-of-the-century Georgian Revival manor. And that’s exactly what it is, except the century that turned was the 21st — this house was built between 2001 and 2004. It’s the product of an all-star collaboration involving architect Frederick Kissinger, builder E.B. Mahoney Builders, interior designer Florence Hawkins and landscape architect Charles Gale and Associates.
And they pulled out all the stops in putting this estate house together.
The listing agent’s description reads like a building engineer’s report:
“Construction is 2 feet thick poured concrete (steel reinforced) underground walls 10 feet deep; on top of which are 12” x 8” concrete block to roof apex, surfaced by custom made over-sized 8” x 4” “Monticello” brick to roof apex, backed by two running courses of 6” x 6” wood studs with double insulation, and 5/4 drywall. Interior ceiling height is 16 feet on first floor except for the family room, where the ceiling height is 25 feet. Lower level ceiling height is 10 feet except in the movie theater, where the ceiling height is 14 feet. Second floor ceiling height is 12 feet except in master bedroom, where it is 16 feet. Attic ceiling height is 10 feet.”
Sound durable enough for you?
What’s more, you will be able to ride World War III out in grand style and supreme comfort within these walls. Just be sure to board up the windows before the bombs fall.
King George — I, II, or III, take your pick — wishes from beyond the grave that he could have had it this cushy back when this country was a British colony.
There’s no real need to describe this house’s features in detail; the photos speak for themselves. But some things are worth pointing out.
For starters, those high ceilings mean you won’t feel claustrophobic anywhere in this house, not even in the more intimately scaled basement. And an attic with 10-foot-high ceilings should give you plenty of room to store the stuff that you have no idea what you want to do with.
For another, even though the very Gladwyne interiors are just a little bit over-the-top, they are beautifully put together and channel the 18th century very well. (Even the kitchen, which is filled with late-model appliances.)
Also, the en-suite bedrooms all have bathrooms that are color-coordinated with the bedrooms. One of them even has the same porcelain-pattern wallpaper its bedroom does.
The one exception to this rule: The master bedroom suite. Its his-and-hers bathrooms have distinctively masculine and feminine decor.
Not only will this house get you safely through the next global conflagration, it will get you through the current crisis in style and comfort too. No virus should make its way across the Philadelphia Country Club to your front door and through those thick walls unless someone slips up on vetting visitors.
And even though said country club is shut down for the duration, you have your own country club right here in the basement. You can enjoy cocktails in the lounge, then repair to the wine cellar for an intimate dinner with your beloved.
When you need to take off the pounds you put on eating dinner, it has a fully equipped gym.
And even though maintaining one’s social distance should be no problem on the golf course, since the golf course is closed, you can always practice your strokes on the simulator in the home theater.
When everything opens back up again, your friends will no doubt enjoy spending time with you down here. They’ll also enjoy relaxing and dining on the rear terrace that spans the entire width of the house at the main-floor level.
Of course, this Gladwyne Georgian Revival house for sale has everything you need to work from home as well. But it’s also very convenient to the Conshoshocken/West Conshohocken edge city office cluster, and just before you get to the towers, you can hop on the Schuylkill Expressway or the Blue Route to get to other destinations expeditiously.
If you’re one of those survivalist types, this house will serve as the ultimate shelter. Just remember to lay in extra non-perishable supplies in the attic. And if you’re not, you will live like a king here anyway. Better than one, in fact.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 4
BATHS: 6 full, 2 half
SQUARE FEET: 12,922
SALE PRICE: $4,850,000
1106 Bryn Tyddyn Dr., Gladwyne, Pa. 19035 [Lavinia Smerconish | Compass]