House of the week: A five-bedroom Victorian twin in West Philadelphia for $850,000
With stained-glass details and modern amenities, this West Philly home sits on a large lot with space for outdoor entertaining.
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As Jake Schneider recalls, “it was a little daunting for a first house.”
The five-bedroom, 3½-bath, 3,300-square-foot Victorian twin was built in 1890.
But after living in the home for about seven years, Schneider and his wife, Deirdre Aaron, emerged sufficiently unscathed by the experience that they are repeating it — buying another old house in the area to be closer to their 4-year-old son’s school.
“We didn’t have the horror stories of other [older] homes,” Schneider said. The house was in fairly good shape “and we liked the idea of owning a Victorian.”
The couple, both lawyers, bought the Cedar Park house in 2017 after renting in Center City. They loved the neighborhood.
But owning an older home “was a learning curve,” Aaron said. “For a while it was our other child.”
Her husband cited, for example, the challenge of determining the best type of mortar for a minor repair job.
Because the couple is not particularly handy, “we trusted the experts,” Aaron said. For example, they had an artisan at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts restore a stained-glass window.
The house is on a lot that spans 28 feet by 100 feet, including a spacious backyard with permeable pavers.
The vestibule with a stained-glass double door leads to a living room with high ceilings and a decorative fireplace.
The floors are original hardwood with walnut inlay.
The eat-in kitchen has recessed lighting, an island, a gas stove, a double oven, and a microwave.
The primary bedroom is on the second floor with direct access to an adjoining room that can serve as a home office or nursery.
Another room on this floor could serve as a bedroom or living room, and the large bathroom has a dual-vanity sink and stall shower.
The third floor has three bedrooms, two baths, and a laundry room. There is also a full basement.
The home has updated electric and solar panels and whole-house water filtering.
It is listed by Carrie S. Waterman of Compass Real Estate for $850,000.