Hot House: 1107 Bryn Mawr Road, Baltimore MD 21210
English Tudor-style home, circa 1929, in brick with slate roof. Six bedrooms, 4.5 baths over 3,021 sq. ft. and three levels. Front sleeping porch, screened, and all other bedrooms upstairs. Master bedroom has sep soaking tub, glass shower. Main floor living room with fireplace, formal dining room, kitchen, butler’s pantry, library and sunroom. Bluestone walls and patios, fishpond, English style gardens on 1.54 acres. Two car garage, unfinished basement, central a/c: $1,145,000
What: At the recent, and very crowded, broker’s open house here, realtors stopped at the door of the sleeping porch in awe. With each one, a “wow, this is so cool,” was followed chillingly by “no buyer’s gonna keep this.” Hopefully, a buyer will prove them wrong. It may not be the most practical of rooms, but sleeping out here will provide an increasingly rare and valuable commodity — a deep connection with nature — without having to leave the house. For a child, it will supply memories that will last a lifetime. The experience of hearing an owl soaring past, hooting in triumph, a screaming rabbit in its talons, is not to be underestimated. The rest of the house is eminently civilized, and feels very English. Cozy, light-filled rooms, a big sunporch off the kitchen overlooking lush gardens, a pine paneled library, interesting windows and woodwork details. The house is in need of updating, as the current owners have been here for a very long time, and judging by the furnishing, have been busy leading a full and colorful life. Here’s wishing you the same. Keep the porch.
Where: Poplar Hill, north Roland Park. Bryn Mawr Road forms a circle with Harriton Road, and this house is in the middle of the circle. There are more imposing houses in posh Poplar Hill, but this location has a great deal of charm. It’s reached via Bellemore Road, which leads east off of Falls Road near Northern Parkway. Bryn Mawr Road forks left off of Bellemore. There’s a Whole Foods just a half mile away. Lake Falls Village is a mile or so north, with Pepe’s Pizza, Tropicool Italian Ice (just opened for the summer!), The Ivy Bookshop and Sushi Hana. Public and private schools and Eddie’s in Roland Park are about a mile and a half via Northern Parkway.
Why: Buy it for the sleeping porch alone.
Why Not: Backyard, though lovely, is open rather than private. Could be fixed with landscaping.
Would Suit: J. Peterman.
NB: Sleeping porch is at the front of the house, not over the back garden – luckily it’s a quiet street.
Beautiful. Although I don’t think references to screaming rabbits captured in the talons of owls “hooting in triumph” is the best way to sell the sleeping porch.
Stephanie, you are probably right, I think I was carried away by
a personal memory …
Ha!
I grew up here! It really is the best porch around, and although it doesn’t overlook the garden, it does face north and stay nice and cool in summer. But, you missed the best thing to do as a kid on that porch: watch summer thunderstorms! We used to love scaring ourselves silly out there, and then falling asleep to the sound of rain once things calmed down.
Sounds wonderful Sarah, lucky you.
Ugh. I hate the modern mentality. “Let’s turn it into a deeluxe teevee room!”
Me too ….