Just Listed: Renovated Victorian in Doylestown
The team that rebuilt this classic house for sale near the heart of town had an artist's eye for design. They made this house modern while respecting its history.
121 Cottage St., Doylestown, Pa. 18901 | Bright MLS images via Class-Harlan Real Estate
Doylestown, the Bucks County seat, has a rich stock of charming 19th- and early-20th-century houses that give the borough its character and appeal.
Fortunately, it also has a rich stock of architects, designers and builders who understand what it is about those houses that give them their charm. This means that when they get their hands on one in need of renovation, they modernize it in ways that reinforce rather than subtract from that charm.
Take this handsome Victorian house for sale just northeast of Doylestown’s center, for instance.
A 2017 renovation turned this 1895 classic into a showpiece designed to accommodate modern demands and tastes. Yet its architectural details and historic character survive intact.
Front porch
That much should be clear from its exterior, and doubly so from its welcoming front porch. The elaborate woodwork and detailing have been masterfully preserved and refreshed.
Living and dining rooms
Dining room and kitchen
Inside, the designers opened up the main floor but kept such details as the stained glass in the front door and the exposed brick leading from the dining room to the kitchen. Plantation shutters enhance its old-school style.
Den
You’ll also find exposed brick surrounding the fireplace in the den, which has its own entrance from the front porch. The separate entrance makes it a great candidate for a home office or studio.
Kitchen
In the back, the kitchen pulls off the balancing act beautifully with a combination of farmhouse cabinetry and a sink to match on the one hand and cutting-edge appliances, including a blazing-fast, high-efficiency induction cooktop, on the other.
Mudroom
Spaces like the mudroom in the rear and the master suite on the second floor also combine modern design with the reclaimed aesthetic.
Master bedroom
Master bedroom
Master bathroom
Whether it’s the new shiplap paneling in the mudroom, the reclaimed sliding barn doors in the master bedroom, or the reclaimed-wood vanity in the master bathroom, this house’s renovators found ways to bring the past into the present.
Carport and backyard
That also holds for the new two-car carport and storage shed in the backyard, which has the same kind of detail in its pediment as the front porch.
New imitation slate shingles, a dual-zone climate control system controlled by Nest thermostats and new high-performance Andersen windows are among the modern features you won’t notice when you inspect this house for sale. What you will notice in addition to what’s described here is how convenient it is to both the center of Doylestown and a large neighborhood park.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2 full, 1 half
SQUARE FEET: 2,117
SALE PRICE: $979,000
121 Cottage St., Doylestown, Pa. 18901 [Margaret Roth | Class-Harlan Real Estate]
