Rarely will a home become available that has been so lovingly and expertly renovated and restored. One of a continuous row of charming bay-fronted houses, 397 is the end house and the most lovely. The current owners spent years, under the guidance of an architect, restoring and improving the house.
Beginning with what meets the eye, you will find a center-stair configuration with an original curving staircase. The parlor floor has a renovated kitchen with real zinc countertops and custom cabinetry. Storage is added under the counters via a 19th-century dry goods store cabinet. The fridge and stove are GE’s Monogram line and the dishwasher is Bosch. The stove has been vented to the outside. A bay window with a window seat completes the picture, and allows the cook to have company.
The dining area is adjacent to the kitchen with a new tin ceiling (matching the original tin ceilings throughout the home). The parlor has a decorative marble mantle and all the floors are the original wood, beautifully restored. From the parlor a door leads to the deck, overlooking a deep and lushly landscaped garden with an extra raised garden at the back.
The floor above the parlor has a guest room overlooking the garden, a completely re-done full bath, and an open room that serves as an upstairs living room and media center. The bath boasts oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, heated towel racks, and a deep soaking tub.
The top floor comprises a master bedroom and full bath, and an office which can easily be another bedroom. This bathroom was also completely re-done with a new skylight, polished nickel fixtures, and a heated towel rack.
On the garden level, one can enter either under the stoop or from the private rear garden. This floor has ample storage, all the mechanicals, a bathroom ready to be finished (all plumbing in place and a working toilet) and a large rec room.
The appearance and layout of the house are wonderful, and the underlying structure and updates are equally impressive.
- Two-zone central air conditioning system installed with compressors on roof
- All new plumbing
- All new electric systems
- Custom noise-limiting windows by Marvin
- Completely restored bay window
- Restored, solid staircases (Rebuilt undercarriages, but all original wood and railings remain)
- Joists replaced under second-floor tub and in living room area (strong enough for a grand piano)
- All walls re-plastered by hand (only drywall is in bathrooms)
- New front door and transom, designed to look original
There is a substantial amount of unused square footage on this property - 1,400+ according to city records. (Please be sure to verify with appropriate professionals.) This means that exensions and-or additions are likely possible.
