On the Market: Restored historic gem in Chestnut Hill for $1.795M
When Bruce Botwin was looking to upgrade from the house he shared with his girlfriend and two teenaged children in 2005, one home in Chestnut Hill stood out from the rest because he felt it was “unusual architecturally.”
On the Market profiles homes for sale in the Philadelphia region.
When Bruce Botwin was looking to upgrade from the house he shared with his girlfriend and two teenaged children in 2005, one home in Chestnut Hill stood out from the rest because he felt it was "unusual architecturally."
"It's not any type of particular style," said Botwin, a real estate appraiser. "The house is like Victorian and Gothic-Romanesque. It's a few different styles."
Moving form Northwood, Botwin knew this historic gem on Norwood Avenue would need much work. The 7,270-square-foot stone home, which was built in the 1860s and is attributed to renowned architect Samuel Sloan, hadn't had any major updates since the 1960s.
"There was a lot of great woodwork and architecture but it needed everything done; wood refinishing, paint on the walls," Botwin said. "The house was intact but we had to get it up to standards."
The history also fascinated him. The home, named Edgcumbe after Mount Edgcumbe in England, had two major additions: one in 1881 when a south wing was added and the lawn was extended, and one in 1916 when the third-story was installed.
But in 1980, the home's fate was tested. It was going to be demolished by the Chestnut Hill Hospital to expand the hospital's property, but the demolition was halted by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society.
When Botwin moved in with his family, he would spend the next decade bringing the home back to what it was. This would be his first large-scale restoration project.
"We didn't want to change the integrity," he said.
Botwin removed the kitchen, and put in a family room. He built a new kitchen adjacent to the family room, and enlarged both spaces.
"Both rooms have custom moldings and ceilings that are made to appear like old plaster or tin," he said.
The hardwood floor in the family room was also replaced to match the original hardwood floors throughout the house.
In the new kitchen, one feature remains from the first one: the large architectural chestnut hutch.
"[The hutch] was put in the new kitchen space and retrofitted with glass doors and lighting after it was stripped back to original chestnut wood," he said.
He also had all of the cabinets handmade by Bucks County cabinet maker Roger Wright.
Other renovations include upgrading all the bathrooms, installing new plumbing and electric systems, and adding exterior lighting and a stone wall in the front.
Original architectural wood details surround the home, including the coffered wood ceilings and wood paneling.
"The foyer, dining room and living room contain wood carved walls and ceilings with stairway spindles and fireplace mantels of carved detailed wood," Botwin said.
The home has seven fireplaces; each with wood-carved mantels, hand-painted stained glass windows in the dining room and second floor landing, and a game room on the third floor with a skylight.
Outside, there is a carriage house, where Botwin rebuilt the slate roof. Botwin uses the space as storage, but housed two horses and a car there a couple of years ago.
Now after bringing the home back to life, Botwin has put the seven-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home on the market for $1.795 million. His children are now out of the house, and he is looking to downsize – preferably in the area.