Hot House: Elegant Laurence Hall Fowler-designed home in Guilford. Five beds/4 baths. 4,242 Square Feet. 217 Wendover Road, Baltimore. Asking price: $999,500.
What: Designed by the classic Beaux Arts architect, Laurence Hall Fowler, this house typifies his mix of elegance and a little quirkiness. As you walk up the brick path to the house, it looks like a classic brick Colonial. But then you begin to notice the details – the elegant entrance, the ball-capped corners, the decorative brickwork, and more.
Inside, you’ll see a curved hallway with built-in bookshelves, a convenient wet bar, a powder room and coat closet, and a winding staircase. A large living room with a fireplace and several sets of French doors is to your right. Following that is a dining room, with more French doors and a fireplace.
The wet bar and dining room both lead to the kitchen with its Sub-Zero and Viking appliances, along with an island with a built-in stove top. There are also three dishwashers, perfect for a large family or someone who does a lot of entertaining.
The kitchen leads to a breakfast room and a large family room with a twelve-foot ceiling, fireplace and more French doors. In the L-shaped space between the kitchen and the family room, you’ll find a beautiful terrace looking over the back gardens.
Upstairs, the primary suite has an adjacent bath and walk-in closet. The other two bedrooms on the second floor share a large bathroom. The hallway has a second staircase leading to the third floor with two bedrooms and another bath, plus some storage space.
The basement includes a recreation room, laundry room, storage space and a full bathroom. There is access to the outside from this level.
The current owners have replaced all roofing with new slate, repointed the all-brick exterior and renovated much of the interior. Additionally, there is a multi-zone central air (including Space-Pak for upper floors), basement waterproofing with French drain system and two sump pumps, 75-gallon water heater, integrated indoor/outdoor SONOS sound system with individual zone controls.
Where: This home is located in the heart of Guilford, close to Sherwood Gardens, Johns Hopkins and Loyola universities. Downtown Baltimore and the Inner Harbor are minutes away via St. Paul Street, while Charles Street leads north to Towson, and several private schools are nearby.
Final appraisal: The sellers are offering a $10,000 closing credit for a limited time.
The listing for the house is here.
