1523 W Joppa Rd, Ruxton, MD 21204
Hot House: Light-filled country house with seven beds and seven baths, guest house, 2.23 acres on Joppa Road. Asking price: $1.925 million
What: This house is a traditional “country” house with a beautiful 70-foot long shaded porch with its Haint Blue bead-board ceiling to keep the bugs away, lots of windows that would have caught the breezes coming up the hill, and numerous trees. There are several similar houses along this stretch of Joppa Road, all built in the early years of the 1900s, that originally served as summer houses for families whose primary residences were in city neighborhoods like Mount Vernon and Bolton Hill.
Just east of Bellona Avenue, on Joppa Road, this house has numerous stellar features, including seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms; garage space for five cars in two buildings; an in-law or au pair suite; family room; den; storage space, including a “wrapping” room; and beautifully landscaped grounds. One of the many upgrades is a heated two-car garage with a studio apartment above for out-of-town guests or a personal art or yoga studio. The original three-car garage has space both above and below it for storage.
As you enter the house through the front door, you are welcomed by an inlaid wood compass on the floor. Along with the living and dining rooms with ten-foot ceilings, there is a home office, a kitchen and great room, and a sunny sunroom, overlooking the valley to the west.
The second floor houses the main bedroom with en suite bath, as well as walk-in closets. There is also a second bedroom and bath with access to a porch overlooking the grounds and two more bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bathroom. The third floor has three more bedrooms and an oversized bathroom.
This house is a perfect space for a multi-generational family with additional family and friends who come to visit for longer periods. After not having seen grandparents and grandchildren for a year, having all of the family in one place, albeit slightly distanced would be doable and comfortable in this home.
Where: The house is on Joppa Road, between Bellona and Charles Streets, just a half-mile or so to the Shops at Ruxton. It’s just a few miles west to Greenspring Station and a few miles east to Towson. The entrance to the JFX is nearby and it’s a quick drive to the city. With more than two acres of land, the house has plenty of space surrounding it but is still close to what you need.
Final Appraisal: The realtor’s mantra is location, location, location. And it seems to also be space, space, space. After the past year working from home, online schooling, and Zooming with family and friends, all we want now is space to be together, but not too close. With seven beds and baths, and more than two acres, you will have all of the space that you crave. The listing for the house is here.
