Hot House: ‘Sunset Hill’ 7900 Ruxwood Road, Ruxton, MD 21204
English country style estate, circa 1931, in stucco and stone with slate roof. 5,775 sq. ft., with 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 3 fireplaces, recently updated and in virtually perfect condition. Gourmet kitchen/breakfast room/family room with fireplace. Formal living, dining rooms, study, large master suite with spa bath and glass shower, dressing rooms, den, guest suite. Pergola overlooks stone patio, large pool. Poolhouse w his/hers baths. Terraces, sweeping lawn, stonework, specimen trees. Unfinished basement, central a/c, attached two-car garage: $3,495,000
What: An inviting county manor on 3.3 landscaped acres. House was once owned by Jerold Hoffberger — longtime president of the Baltimore-based National Brewing Company (Natty Boh, Colt 45), former owner of the Baltimore Orioles, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hoffberger later became a breeder of thoroughbred race horses, and this house was named after his famous stud farm in Harford County. It has a pleasant gravitas, with lots of rich wood paneling and steel casement windows all around. No eccentric Victorian detail, no European style embellishments. It’s also unusually comfortable, designed for family entertaining, with a large but cozy family room off the eat-in kitchen.
The master bedroom is luxurious, with windows overlooking the garden, walk-in closets, dressing room and a big master bath that has a window to the trees. Best room is the main floor office or den off the living room, which is wood paneled, with French doors leading out to the wisteria covered-pergola . From here, you overlook the magnificent pool and pool house with their stone surround. From here, life looks pretty good.
Where: Up a long private drive, a few neighboring house in the distance. There’s a grand and welcoming circular driveway, garage hidden over on the side. Large open lawn areas look like a natural venue for sports and games. It’s a kid friendly house (as long as the kid can swim). Ruxton Road Exit 12 from 83N to Old Court Road. Take a right onto Ruxwood Road. Good access to Rt. 83, Towson, downtown Baltimore.
Why: Pergola and pool area offer Architectural Digest style opportunities for outdoor entertaining.
Why Not: No first floor master.
Would Suit: Family looking for compound.
NB: His and hers bathrooms in pool house a nice touch. So inconvenient to share…
