Hot House: 1 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, 21117
Circa 1891 Carpenter Gothic style house, completely updated, on three private acres across from the Greenspring Valley Hunt Club. Composite shingle with brick chimneys, stone walls and patio, professionally landscaped. 6.685 sq. ft, with five bedrooms, five full two half baths, five gas fireplaces. Full attic, two car garage, swimming pool and tennis court: $1,299,000
What: A grand house, deliberately understated, a la Steve Jobs’s house in Palo Alto, Warren Buffet’s house in Omaha. Built in 1891, the choice of architectural style — a late Victorian Gothic Revival – was an anti-industrial, “return to the golden age of man” aesthetic, originating in England, and closely associated with conservative philosophies. This house was an American take on Gothic Revival, called Carpenter Gothic, using wood rather than stone as a medium. (See the farmhouse in Whistler’s American Gothic.) That said, the house is now a fully twenty-first century home. The circular drive winds around a stand of river birches (property has been beautifully landscaped over many years by Maxalea). A long front porch leads into a big, open plan ground floor, entrance hall has dark-stained, heart pine floors. Living room, dining, kitchen, breakfast and family rooms flow well, and lead out onto a stone patio, poolside. Kitchen’s not huge, but high-end, with granite countertops. All bright, clean, modern and well-proportioned. Many luxury details, nothing needs doing. Upstairs a large master suite with dressing room, modern bathrooms. Lots of closets throughout. Additional bedroom or office suite in the other wing, and third floor has a huge but cozy family room with a couple more bedrooms and bath down the hall. Nice views from every window. Basement and attic unfinished, but user friendly. Central air, intercom, sound system.
Where: Garrison Forest Road is a half mile off Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills — far enough to not hear the traffic, close enough to make shopping, school or work runs a breeze, if you’re not trying to get back from the city at rush hour. Driving northwest on Reisterstown Road from 695, take a right onto Craddock Road. After .5 miles, take a left onto Greenspring Valley Road and then bear right onto Garrison Forest. Your local is Linwoods, as well as Lenny’s Deli and Crystal Thai at the Valley Village shopping center (also home to the great National Wallpaper store where you can choose new wallpaper for a few places in the house). McDonogh and Garrison Forest schools are nearby, as well as Woodholme Elementary and Owings Mills High School.
Why: One Garrison Forest Road address will look great on personal stationery.
Why Not: Tennis court is a slightly shorter “game size.” Great for family play, but true competitors will want to extend it a bit. Or walk over to the club.
Would Suit: Modest billionaire, aspiring V.P.
NB: Grounds overlook the driving range of the GSVHC golf course. Beautiful views, no worries about development.
Contact: Prudential Homesale YWGC Realty
Hot House is sponsored by American Land Title Corporation, commercial and residential settlement agents.
