On the Market: Lakefront home in Medford Lakes for $1.75M

On the Market profiles homes for sale in the Philadelphia region.

Bob Cattanea had his eye on a particular Medford Lakes home before it even hit the market in 1998.

Cattanea, who had been living on the other side of the Burlington County borough with his wife, Daria, and their three teenage children, was fascinated with this home on Chippewa Trail because of its secluded location right on the lake.

"It's one of those houses that everyone in town knows about," he said.

Once Cattanea, a technology consultant, saw the home was for sale, he and his wife decided it was the perfect time to buy it. Cattanea said that in addition to the home's location, it offerred a chance to upgrade so that he could set up a home office.

"This property is unique in the sense that it's not really surrounded by neighbors," Cattanea said. "It's in complete seclusion; there's a private island right in front of the property."

So the Cattaneas moved into the home, which is right on Upper Aetna Lake – one of the 22 lakes in the borough – and it became more than just a residence. It's where one of their daughters got married, where they held numerous retirement and anniversary parties, among many other special occasions.

To make it more of an entertainment space, they put in 2,000-square-feet of decks and elevated porches on four different levels overlooking the lake.

Off the master bedroom, they added in a balcony, which Cattanea said resembles a tree house.

"It looks over the lake – you're literally up in the trees," he said. "There are no houses; there's nothing there but nature."

The lake can been seen from almost every room in the home including the screened-in family room, kitchen, and entertainment room on the ground level, all of which have glass walls.

"The walls of custom glass provide a feeling of being a part of all the natural beauty that surrounds us year-round," Cattanea said.

Major renovations completed by the Cattaneas in the interior include upgrading the kitchen with granite countertops and built-in cabinets, upgrading all of the bathrooms, and adding in a large office suite on the first floor next to the entrance. In that room, they put in two offices, a large foyer and a bathroom.

Outside, the couple installed stone walkways around the front of the property and added in gardens and plantings that were modeled after Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Delaware.

Other notable features in the home include a vaulted tongue and grove wood ceiling in the master bedroom, a two-story stone fireplace in the living room, a curved glass wall that separates the living and dining rooms, a wet bar, and a climate-controlled wine cellar. Outside, there's a hot tub built into the landscaping, as well as a detached two-car garage.

Now after a decade-and-a-half, the Cattaneas have put the 5,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on the market for $1.75 million.

Their kids are now out of the house, and Cattaneas are looking for a smaller home – but one that is still on the water and located in Medford Lakes.

"From elegant receptions to water themed barbecue's with lots of guests, we have made a ton of memories that will last a lifetime," Daria Cattanea said.

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