This grand Victorian house (1878) features a front porch that welcomes summer breezes, friends, and visitors to Powelton Village, a lush, tree-lined community in West Philly/University City, close to Penn, Drexel, and public transportation. Inside, stairs lead up to the second and third floors that comprise the family home. Large windows and skylights create a light-filled space. Mini-splits provide cooling air and bonus heat while ceiling fans in every room throughout the home keep air circulating. The great room is truly great with hardwood floors, a decorative fireplace with a marble mantle, plus a secure door that leads directly onto a peaceful outdoor deck. Stairs from the deck lead down to trees, gardens and a stone and brick-patterned patio. Back upstairs, an arched entryway invites you into a kitchen with an abundance of cupboards and stainless steel appliances. Guests and family members can pull up to the counter-bar area and converse with the chef du jour while the next meal or baked treat is being created. Toward the front of the home, you'll find a large first full bathroom with a soaking tub and attractive wooden vanity. On up a few steps, you’ll find the first bedroom, with more hardwood floors, a closet and small ensuite bathroom. The huge 2nd room at the front of the home, with lovely crown and baseboard moldings, was used as a library by the current owner. Two big windows flood the room with light. An arched wall highlights a smaller window that separates two built-ins with shelves for books and collectibles. Go back to the hall and up the steps to the third floor under a big skylight offering even more light. Bedroom #3 in the back of the home has been a primary suite in the trees. It is creatively painted and has a big bathroom. Head towards the front of the home for bedrooms 4 and 5. Bedroom 4 was a playroom for children. A large closet in bedroom 4 has been transformed into a convenient laundry space. The washer and dryer will remain. Massive bedroom #5, with fantastic brick-red painted walls, was most recently used as a large active office. It has an enormous storage closet plus a second large linen closet in the hall. The first floor of the home -- a delightful 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment -- has been used as a very successful rental. This flat has more hardwood floors, great room built-ins, a big country kitchen, a front bedroom with giant windows, a decorative marble fireplace mantel, big closets and a back bedroom with direct garden and patio access. This flat's washer and dryer are in the basement. Storage space abounds as the large basement extends the entire length of the house. Well-maintained and/or updated mechanicals are here including two new gas hot water heaters. The two units have separate mechanicals as well as separate heat and electric service. Radiators bring comfortable warmth in the winter. The aforementioned mini-splits in the upper home provide summer air conditioning and supplemental cold-weather heat. This wonderful home is being sold As-Is and is priced accordingly.
