1320 Bolton Street, Bolton Hill, Baltimore
Hot House: Beautiful and huge Bolton Hill townhouse with Chinese Chippendale details; five bedrooms, four baths; 3,600 Square Feet; Asking price: $990,000.
What: Bolton Hill is one of Baltimore’s most beautiful city neighborhoods, and has been used as a stand-in for Georgetown, London, Philadelphia and other elegant 19th century areas. The houses are large and gracious. There are brick sidewalks, old trees and charming carriage houses. This house is filled with thoughtful details, modern amenities, leaded glass windows and lush gardens.
A house like this townhouse (or rowhouse, if you prefer) in Bolton Hill can be a blank canvas for the new owners. Classic “brown” furnishings in mahogany and birds-eye maple and old family portraits anchor this house in the 19th century, but contemporary art and furnishings would elevate it to a modern house, completely at home in the 21st century.
A double set of front doors, and leaded glass windows introduce visitors to the elegance that lies beyond. A huge living room with elaborate mill work and a lovely fireplace welcome friends. A bar with a sink, dishwasher and microwave will enable you to prepare any cocktail you can imagine, with the glassware you’ve found in your full butler’s pantry. A deep red dining room has a huge Palladian-style window at the end which overlooks the beautiful enclosed landscaped garden and lush greenery.
As in many of these old houses, the kitchen is on the lowest level, keeping it separate from the main part of the house. Step up from the lower level with a professional kitchen and sitting room, into the same garden, which leads to a two car garage with Chinese Chippendale railings along the top.
The second floor has a main bedroom, along with another room currently being used as a home office/study. The floor is completed with huge closets from Chesapeake Closets, a gorgeous bathroom and a cozy library for all of your books and collections. The third floor is home to three bedrooms and a full bath.
The mature garden has been professionally landscaped with bluestone and brick, as well as a variety of plants, a high brick wall and a row of trees to ensure privacy. The garden has been thoughtfully lit to enhance its beauty throughout the evening. It’s a little in-town oasis.
Where: Bolton Hill is one of Baltimore’s premiere neighborhoods, located in the center of the city. It’s convenient to the JFX (I-83) and to Penn Station with MARC and Amtrak service. It’s close to the cultural center of the city, in walking distance to the Meyerhoff and the Lyric Theatre and all of the activities at MICA. With a two-car garage, there are no parking problems.
Final Appraisal: Not everyone wants a house with a huge lawn and all of the associated work. This house, reminiscent of the fin de siècle (the 20th, not the 21st!) life in Baltimore. Enduring elegance in a classic historic neighborhood makes this house one to consider seriously. The listing for the house is here.
