Built circa 1905 in the historic arts & crafts community of Rose Valley, the house at 36 Rose Valley Road retains its original character while offering amenities for comfortable, gracious modern living. Designed by John Bisseger, Rose Valley Shops furniture designer and draftsman for architect William Price, this unique home incorporates elements of the chalet style of Bisseger's native Switzerland into the community's arts & crafts aesthetic. This 5-bedroom, 2.5 bath home is set on a .52-acre lot amidst mature trees and exuberant gardens. Walking trails provide Rose Valley residents with access to town features like the Rose Valley Swim & Tennis Club, Hedgerow Theatre, the School in Rose Valley, and the Rose Valley Museum. The Moylan-Rose Valley SEPTA station is less than 1/2 mile away; for those who work at home, this house provides a home office with its own porch. The design provides great connectivity between indoors & outdoors with a front door and small porch. a rear door from the driveway into the mudroom & laundry area, another door from the kitchen/dining area to a backyard terrace, and the side door from the large covered porch. The current owners completely reconfigured the back of the house in 2008, creating a large, open-concept kitchen & dining area. A series of windows face north, east & south, flooding the rooms with light through most of the day. A bench (with storage beneath) provides seating at the dining table. The renovated kitchen provides ample storage in the custom cherry cabinets with a large breakfast bar open to the dining room. Beautiful soapstone counters and a creative Mercer tile backsplash add color & energy to the space. A 5-burner gas range anchors the main wall. From the kitchen, one accesses the staircase & living area (great for entertaining & circular flow) or the rear mudroom, which has a renovated powder room, washer & dryer, and a walk-in coat closet with a window. The living room has a smaller nook with an arched, cased opening. Now set up as a music room, it could be a cozy space for the TV or other uses. On the west side, a window seat provides seating with storage beneath. The unusual, original Rumford fireplace anchors the room, with a large storage closet to its left. On the 2nd floor, 4 bedrooms occupy each corner; two of the guest bedrooms have 2 closets & the 3rd has a walk-in closet. A renovated hall bathroom to serves the guest bedrooms. The owner's suite is connected to one of the other bedrooms as well as the main hall. There are two large closets within the bedroom itself, as well as a 3rd walk-in closet within the en-suite bathroom. With a vaulted ceiling and 7 windows, it's flooded with light in all seasons. A jetted tub and separate shower occupy one wall while the walk-in closet, sink and privy room complete the bath. On the 3rd floor, the 5th bedroom overlooks the rear yard and has multiple windows and storage within the eaves of the roof lines. The final room is the surprise worth waiting for: the perfect space for your home office, with the best view in Rose Valley from the chalet porch out front. In addition to the balcony, the 3-story balloon framed structure is highlighted by detailed barge boards along the West wall with carved details attributed to Rose Valley artisan John Maene. Set back and elevated from the road, the house is surrounded by lush evergreens and specimen plantings that provide four seasons of interest. A large and level side & rear yard provide great space for outdoor entertaining & play. An original 1-car carriage structure remains tucked into the rear corner. While currently used for storage, it could be restored for a vehicle, or the next owner can expand to a larger 2-car garage: the current owners obtained a zoning variance to construct such. Those building plans and the variance transfer to the new owners. A large garden shed was installed in the rear yard, while raised garden beds provide the home chef with vegetables & herbs. 2021-01-24
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