Just Listed: New Construction Townhouse in Dickinson Narrows
This standout modern house makes the most of its extra-wide lot.
Want a modern house that makes a statement? This thoughtfully designed, ultra-stylish house at 1611 S. 6th Stl., Philadelphia, PA 19148 definitely makes one. In fact, it says, “Whoever buys this house is making a smart move.” / Photography by Shaun May Photography via Jeff Frederick, Giappo Design+Build, unless otherwise noted
Okay, let’s be honest here: those two- and three-story rowhouses that you find all over pre-Auto Age Philadelphia neighborhoods are clones. Unless they got modified or rehabilitated, they all look alike.
But even so, they have aged more gracefully than I suspect many of our modern descendants will. Consider this row of houses on the western edge of Dickinson Narrows:
Modern rowhouses in the 1100 block of South Sixth Street / Photograph by Sandy Smith
Don’t they look like hundreds of other modern rowhouses you’ve seen? I’d say their neighbors built a century earlier easily outclass them.
Now compare that trio with the house you see at the top of this article. Which of the houses in these two photos do you think will still look great decades hence?
My money’s on this Dickinson Narrows new construction house for sale, which sits at the end of the block containing that bland row.
This house is the first from-the-ground-up project Jeff Frederick has produced as the head of his own company, Giappo Design+Build. It definitely commands its corner and stands out from the crowd.
It also stands out on the inside thanks to Frederick’s design skills and willingness to sweat the details.
Main floor, view from rear
This becomes evident the moment you step through the front door and walk into the main living area. As this house sits on a 20-foot-wide lot, it offers extra room in every room.
As in the houses Frederick has rehabbed, this house has a kitchen that commands the floor, even more so in this case because it sits forward of the living room.
Kitchen
It also features a creative solution to a space problem, namely, how to fit a dining room into the space.
“When I was laying out this floor plan, I knew I wanted to have an open area in the back and to put the kitchen in front,” says Frederick. “But then the problem was there wasn’t anywhere to put a dining room. So I came up with the idea of having the dining table as a sort of extension of the kitchen island.”
The pine dining table looks like it grew out of the island. And it means one less piece of furniture for you to buy.
Frederick also knew what to do to produce an elegant kitchen while keeping the house price moderate. Working with his suppliers, he was able to outfit the kitchen with a Carrara marble island and backsplash that contrasts with the white marble cabinetry. He also put in a five-burner Bertazzoni range, Samsung refrigerator, Sharp microwave drawer and Summit wine fridge.
“These cost only $4,000, but they look like they cost $10,000,” he says of the range model. “They look like they’re Wolf.” And they perform like they’re Wolf as well.
Living room
Rear patio
The kitchen/dining room and living room together make for an ideal space for entertaining. A large four-panel sliding door at the back of the living room lets sunlight pour into the main floor. It also makes the living room and rear patio a single indoor-outdoor space for even more flexible dining and entertaining when the weather’s right. Your guests can use the powder room just inside the front door.
Stairwell; second-floor landing at left and view from the top floor at right
Another detail Frederick sweated that you will appreciate is the floating stairwell, which is almost a sculpture in itself. The oak floors feature a herringbone pattern at the floor landings, and the wall sconces flank long, slim windows that further emphasize the verticality of the space.
Top-floor wet bar
The second floor contains two bedrooms and a hall bath. One of the bedrooms has a private balcony. Outside the top-floor primary suite, a wet bar also serves the roof deck. (Its wine fridge, a 24-inch Frigidaire, actually cost less than the 15-inch Summit on the main floor.)
Primary bedroom
The bedroom has a Juliet balcony with large French doors that also let loads of sunlight in. You will no doubt want to throw those doors open wide on nice days — or nights.
Primary bathroom
The primary suite also contains a large walk-in closet and this stylish bathroom. It features a dual floating vanity and a large-format porcelain tile floor and walls. The controls for the shower head and wand are placed where you won’t get wet turning them on or off.
Basement multipurpose room
The basement contains a fourth bedroom, a third full bath and this multipurpose space that could serve as a media room, playroom, home gym, or whatever you might want to make of it. The shelf, a necessity turned into a virtue (pipes, electrical lines and foundation support lie under it), is big enough that you could serve a spread on it when you invite friends over to watch the big game.
Roof deck
And above it all, a full-floor roof deck with non-slip tiles gives you a panoramic view of your surroundings. You could also put a grill up here if you want to.
This thoughtfully designed, strikingly modern house is also close to Dickinson Square Park, the Bok business hub and rooftop bar, and shopping and dining on East Passyunk Avenue. SEPTA bus routes on Moyamensing Avenue, Snyder Avenue, Tasker and Morris streets and 7th and 8th streets can take you to points further away and the Broad Street Line.
This Dickinson Narrows new construction house for sale, then, has it all: Style that stands out. Plenty of space. Classy amenities. Thoughtful design. There is, however, one thing it lacks: a breathtaking price tag.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 4
BATHS: 3 full, 1 half
SQUARE FEET: 2,400
SALE PRICE: $699,900
1611 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, PA 19148 [Michael Scipione | Coldwell Banker Realty]
