TED FUGEE

Description

There are houses that shelter you, and then there are houses that stay with you. This late-19th-century Fairmount row is one of the latter: a place where history lingers in the light, where craftsmanship whispers from every carved detail, and where stories unfold, room by room. This is a rare home that hasn’t lost itself to time or renovation trends. Instead, its original details have been lovingly protected: the doors with their layered history, the moldings that frame each room, the hearths that once warmed generations. And yet, it lives comfortably, an elegant blend of provenance and modernity. Set on a tree-lined block, the red-brick facade rises with the quiet confidence of a bygone era. A deep Italianate cornice frames the roofline, tall windows watch the street like old friends, and the stooped entry, softened by time, welcomes you. Your first step inside feels like a love letter to the past. Through the original wood door, find a marble vestibule with pressed paper wallpaper leading to a foyer and staircase where newel post and turned balusters remind you of the home’s Gilded Age origins. Paneled walnut doors with original Eastlake hardware separate the parlor from the foyer in classic Victorian spatial planning. Bathed in soft natural light, here in the parlor, time seems to slow. Yellow pine floors glow with more than a century of footsteps, and every doorway is framed in original millwork; every window, deep-cased. Light pours through tall sashes and stained glass, shifting gently across the floors as the day moves on. High ceilings with plaster crown molding are crisp and linear. The decorative fireplace with a tiled hearth of figural motifs, fluted pilasters, and carved ribbons, point to Eastlake influence and anchors the room with quiet grandeur. It’s the kind of space that invites morning coffee rituals and long afternoons curled up with a good book. The dining room with its etched glass butler’s pantry and back staircase is made for winter evenings, slow conversations, and the kind of gatherings that become family lore. A glass door leads to a private breezeway, allowing light to fill the space. In the kitchen, history settles comfortably into modern life. A Wolf range, Fisher & Paykel refrigerator, and Miele dishwasher are juxtaposed with an original butler’s cupboard, a deep farmhouse sink, and marble tile floors. A sun-soaked breakfast room with a skylight and an attached powder room provides the conveniences of contemporary living. Out back is a bluestone patio sanctuary framed in bamboo, a beautiful continuation of the living space. Upstairs, the rear sitting room offers a softer mood: a curved bay window framing treetops and afternoon sun, a second decorative marble fireplace, tall bookcases, and an Eastlake secretary to house novels, travel journals, and collections gathered over a lifetime. The en-suite primary and attached boudoir are as elegant as they are practical. The bathroom with its delicate Victorian tile and clawfoot tub, and the bedroom’s floral-carved built-in closets offer authenticity and grace. This suite lives like a sanctuary – lush and private. On the third floor, find three additional bedrooms, a laundry room, and a marble hall bath with Victorian tile and a clawfoot tub. Outside the front door, the magic of Fairmount awaits: cafes, trails, markets and parks, are just a stroll away. Enjoy a morning espresso at Musette and then a short walk to the Ben Franklin Parkway, modeled after the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris, where you'll find the Philadelphia Art Museum, The Rodin, The Barnes, and Calder Gardens. There is a serenity here, an authenticity no renovation can fabricate. This is more than a home. It is a love letter to craftsmanship. A keeper of stories. A place where past and present live gracefully side by side. And now, it awaits its next chapter.

Features