Property Highlights
| Historic Mansion in Radnor |
| Beautiful Architecture |
| 12 bedrooms! |
| A Frank Vernese Built Home |
Property Description
264 ITHAN CREEK ROAD
VILLANOVA, PA. 19085
$1,295,000
SITTING PROUDLY AT THE TOP OF A HILL THAT ONCE OVERLOOKED ITHANVILLAGE AND ITHAN CREEK, THIS MAGNIFICENT HOME, BUILT FOR J. OGDEN HOFFMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD, IS AN IRREPLACEABLE MONUMENT TO MAIN LINE HISTORY. DESIGNED AND BUILT IN 1901 BY FURNESS, EVANS & CO. ON 38 PASTORAL ACRES, "ITHAN DERLWYN" WAS ONE OF THE GRAND ESTATE HOMES OF ITS ERA. WHILE MODERNIZED AND UPDATED FOR 21ST CENTURY LIVING, DERLWYN MAINTAINS MUCH OF ITS ORIGINAL BEAUTY, GRACE AND CHARM.
STYLE: 3 story GeorgianRevivalMansion AGE: 108 Years
EXTERIOR: Stone LOT SIZE: 1.98 Acres
BEDROOMS/BATHS: 12/5.1 WATER/SEWER: Public/On site
HEATING: Hot water radiators COOLING: High Velocity System
GARAGES: 2 car attached BASEMENT: Full, mostly unfinished
TAXES: $11,995 SCHOOLS: RadnorSD
POOL: In ground w/ slate patios RadnorElementary School
ENTRANCE: Massive fluted columns and a covered portico welcome visitors to the grand Entrance Hall. The columns and covered brick veranda continue along the front of the house and provide views of the expansive lawn.
FIRST FLOOR: The grandeur of the home begins at the front door that is surrounded by leaded glass windows and opens into the grand foyer (15'4"x14'4") with 10ft ceilings, beautiful marble fireplace, elegant wide staircase and lovely arched French doors into the Living Room. This magnificent room (35/9ft x17ft) displays the elegance and grandeur of life at the turn of the century, and is notable for the lovely marble fireplace, exquisite millwork, chandelier medallions, carved pillars, custom cabinetry, and many large windows and doors to the veranda. This room opens into the Library (17'x17') that provides a quiet fireside retreat. Both the Library and the Living Room have French doors leading to the formal Dining Room (20'x16'10"), a splendid room for hosting the most elegant banquets. The Dining Room offers wainscoting, a lovely black and carved white marble fireplace, casement windows with a wide window seat and capped with a leaded glass sunburst window. Doors lead from both the Library and the Dining Room into the Conservatory (22'5"x11'8") where the brick floor and windows on three sides create a delightful informal spot for summer living. French doors open from the Conservatory onto the slate terraces, pool and gardens. Returning to the Dining Room, a swinging door opens into the Butler's Pantry (11'2"x6'3") with lovely glass fronted original display cabinets and many cabinets for storage. The completely renovated Kitchen and Breakfast area (22'5"x15'11") is a cook?s delight. The highlights of the Kitchen include natural stone tile floor, medium cherry cabinetry, curved granite island with breakfast bar, recessed lighting, and deep porcelain farmer's sink. The focal point of the kitchen is the cooking alcove with two side by side stainless steel dual fuel ranges with 8 gas burners, a spigot for filling large pots, designer tiles and custom millwork. Additional appliances are the side by side KitchenAid refrigerator and dishwasher. The eating area of the Kitchen also features built-in cabinetry and open shelving. A door from the Kitchen leads to a mudroom, a gardening room, and a door to the two car garage. On the opposite side of the kitchen, a hallway leads to the back stairs, a Powder Room and another side entrance from the driveway.
SECOND FLOOR: The grand staircase is open from the Foyer to the third floor and light streams through a magnificent stained glass window on the ceiling of the third floor. The curved staircase features ornately carved spiral balustrades and a wide staircase that ascends three floors. On the second floor, a wide balcony wraps around the staircase with bedrooms opening from this hallway. There are hardwood floors throughout and all ceilings on the second floor are also 10'. There are 5 main rooms on this floor that are also connected by doors leading from one room to another, and each bedroom has its own fireplace. All of the doors and door hardware are original solid wood eight panel doors with glass knobs. The Master Bedroom (17'9"X16'8") features two large closets and a beautiful fireplace with original vintage tiles, while the Master Bath (10'8"x8'5") has a style all of its own with two sinks, tub and stall shower, wall sconces and lovely chandelier.
The Master Bedroom connects to the Master Sitting Room (17'10"x14'10"), a cheerful and bright room with lovely antique fireplace and doors to a rooftop deck. The next room serves as a cozy Den (16'9"x13'11") with built-in bookshelves, a triple window, fireplace with mirrored surround and wonderful built-in dresser. There are two additional Bedrooms (18'x13")(15'6"x13'9"), both with wonderful fireplaces, that share a hall bath. From this central hall area, a hallway leads to a separate apartment (former servants? quarters) that contains a newly renovated full bath, a huge walk in closet, and two craft and hobby rooms (13'x8")(12'x10'10"). The back staircase from the kitchen arrives at the 2nd floor in this separate apartment, and then continues up to the third floor.
THIRD FLOOR: The grand staircase continues to the third floor that also has an open balcony hallway. This floor contains five additional rooms, two full baths, the Laundry Room and a second Kitchen. The first room (16'6"x16'2") is a fantastic playroom with built-ins, benches, and appealing nooks and crannies. The second room (18'6"x17'10") serves as an office, and is completely wired for office equipment. The third room (17'9"x13'5") is the children?s office with room for two desks and two separate computers. The complete eat-in kitchen features a range, dishwasher and refrigerator, and is adjacent to the Laundry Room. Another Bedroom (13'x12) and hall Bath lead to the final Bedroom (23'3"x16'10"), a beautiful room with half moon windows, amazing original cabinetry, and a private bath with stall shower. There are hardwood floors throughout the third floor also, and some replacement windows have been installed on this level.
BASEMENT: The basement is very large and mostly unfinished, although there are a few spaces that were finished and used at one time.
THE GARDENS: This magnificent home sits at the top of a hill and enjoys views of its expansive lawn and gardens that slope towards IthanCreekValley below. The gardens are professionally landscaped and provide an idyllic retreat for summer living. Wrought iron fencing surrounds the pool, and the carefully designed landscaping features an outdoor fireplace with slate patio and pergola. The in-ground pool is 20'x40', is 8' deep and has a diving board.
EXCLUSIONS: Two lanterns mounted on each side of the staircase archway; microwave.
INCLUSIONS: All appliances.
RENOVATIONS BETWEEN 2006 AND 2009
**New locks on all doors;
**8 interior fireplace grates;
**Major cable and electrical rewiring;
**Pool has new custom cover, new filters, pump and hoses;
**In pool area, 3 new cement patios;
**Around pool, removed all old and broken slates, regarded and trimmed trees;
**Pond - installed new pumps, fountains, redug and unclogged all old mechanisms and Installed new stones and Belgian block border.
**Exterior - Scraped and repainted front door;
**Exterior - replaced many sections or rotted dentile moldings (still needs to be painted)
**Replaced mailbox;
**Installed four new sections of wrought iron fencing around pool;
**Extensive landscaping: moved cherry laurels around holly trees and planted in a row
At the gate; Grading next to parking, removed stones, flattened ground and filled parking area.
**In back yard near abasement, ripped out shrubs and replanted laurels;
**Conservatory - Removed wallpaper on ceiling and installed new lights;
**Library - Installed four new sconces;
**Great Room - Installed two large chandeliers, four sconces and installed doors and knobs on shelves;
**Dining Room - installed two new chandeliers and four sconces;
**Entry Hall - installed new chandelier;
**Powder Room - Stripped wallpaper and repainted; repaired plumbing;
**Kitchen - Installed three new chandeliers and two sconces; rewired and installed new Disposal;
**Garden Room - installed new chandelier;
**Garage - Repaired ceiling leak and reinforced ceiling;
**2nd floor Studio - Sanded, scraped and repainted walls; rewired and installed new Sconces;
**Wardrobe closet - Reconfigured with handing clothes bars; Installed new hot water Heater.
**Small Bathroom - installed new sink, vanity, mirror, floor, lighting, custom cabinet, paint;
**Installed new Chandelier in Robin's Nest bedroom;
**Adjoining bath - installed new chandelier, two sconces, new vanity & sink;
**Second floor hallway - installed new lighting;
**Dressing Room - installed two new sconces;
**Master Bedroom - Installed five crystal sconces, shades;
**Master Bath - Scraped, repaired & painted ceiling and walls; installed chandelier and Sconces;
**Third Floor Brick Room - two new sconces;
**Playroom - installed closet shelving and lights;
**Office - scaped and painted;
**Bathroom - installed shelving;
*Stained Glass Window - installed two halide lights and timer.
**PLEASE NOTE: The Septic System is original to the property and had an extensive inspection at the time of purchase three years ago. RadnorTownship has plans to install public sewers on Ithan Creek Road, but no specific timetable has been given. Buyers are advised to talk to the township Engineer for more information.
, but no specific timetable has been given.Buyers are advised to talk to the township Engineer for more information.
Bebe Forster and Rob Forster
WWW.THEFORSTERGROUP.COM
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