Haven: Urban dwelling unique inside and out

Just a few turns from the narrow streets of South Philadelphia's Queen Village, a totally unexpected village appears.

Nestled together are nine handsome homes that look as if they've been transported from England or France. These gated residences give little clue what's behind their facades.

So it's no wonder that when Paul Neuwirth and Delaney (she uses only one name) stumbled on this rare find after scouring the area for a house, their hearts quickened.

"The minute we walked in, we loved it," says Delaney, a business writer and more recently a poet, who still beams when she remembers their moment of discovery.

It didn't matter that the townhouse, designed in an "L" shape, had six distinct levels - seven if you count an outdoor roof deck with mega-views.

Though that may seem daunting, the couple are easily adaptive. They loved the townhouse's privacy, its open look and feel, its location, and its enormous potential to put their own imprint on it.

For two people who enjoy and embrace whimsy, this unusual space seemed to beckon. It still does.

Delaney and Paul, then both divorced, met by phone in 1982, through his work as a CPA and managing partner of the Philadelphia office of Grant Thornton and hers as a Chicago corporate business writer. Each noted a potential spark.

When they met face to face a few months later, that spark ignited. Geography was definitely an issue, inasmuch as Delaney was living in Chicago, but once love entered the picture, she moved to Philadelphia and his Queen Village home.

But that other love at first sight, in a village within a village, was realized when they bought the townhouse in 1988.

Visitors who know in advance about its many levels are almost always surprised by its easy flow. What they discover, explains Paul, is that the levels are only half-stair flights, unlike the elevations in a typical Philadelphia trinity.

"The house redefines what people assume: It's absolutely livable, and actually works better for us than even we expected," he says.

Delaney especially enjoys the many moods and personalities of their urban dwelling. Case in point: The first and lowest level has become a library that doubles as a wine cellar, a room lined with books, family photos, a piano, delightful art and accessories, and a refined British film-set vibe that says, "Just sit down and enjoy this space."

Move back up to level two, to the brick-walled foyer area. Go a half-flight up, and you're on level three, the main living room. Here, the mood is more contemporary. A silver-blue leather sofa announces itself quietly, and art is everywhere.

Highlights of this space include a quilt wall hanging with accents of orchids, purples and greens that was created by Delaney's mother. It's a hint that bursts of color turn up in unexpected places here.

On level four are the dining room and kitchen. Delaney and Paul love this area for its simple elegance and the instant sense of hospitality it imparts. A traditional table and chairs and china cabinet coexist with a tin parrot as a reminder that whimsy also lives here.

More evidence of the eclectic touches: a stuffed toy raccoon on a stairwell; a Raggedy Ann here, handsome collections of shells and art glass there. A favorite piece is a magnificent and intricate wooden box that holds other boxes within it.

Best of all, Paul and "Laney," as she also is known, can tell fascinating backstories about where and how they have found their glorious treasures.

Proceed to level five, and there's a cozy guest room and a home office that started out as hers but is now community property. Paul, retired from his former life as an accountant, is now actively involved in real estate management, with special attention to their second home in an Alabama community they love.

On the top level are a full master suite and roof deck. A slightly reconfigured master-bath area is one of the only physical alterations that was important to these homeowners.

Their penchant for spotting the beautiful, the unusual, the exotic, or the quirky is shared with some very special VIP guests. Paul's three sons and his seven active grandsons add quite a bit of activity to this otherwise adult kingdom.

"They're amazing and wonderful," says Delaney, "but yes, it gets a lot more peaceful when they leave!"