Early 20th century home transformed in 2015
Contributing writer
One goal in renovating an older home is to make it a more comfortable and up-to-date place to live. Owners of the nearly 100-old home at 3525 Blossom Heath Road in Kettering held that goal in mind and added another one: to keep its character and charm intact.
They worked with John Albrecht, now owner of Rhoads Estate Homes, to do interior and exterior renovations.
Jeanne Glennon of Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors said, “This is a special home. When you bring together creative and conscientious owners with one of the Miami Valley’s premier builders, we are given a property with timeless and intrinsic value.”
Albrecht managed everything from kitchen redesign to handcrafted built-ins that look like luxury furniture and refurbishing the slate roof with flashing and copper downspouts to meeting standards of a Smart Home complete with Lutron programmable lighting and Sensi Wi-Fi thermostats.
“It was completely gutted and rebuilt in about a year,” said Glennon. “It’s a combination of craftsmanship and technology, a blend of Old World and 21st century styles.”
With an impeccable interior of more than 4,560 square feet of living space, this home is listed for $995,000.
Large sections of stone trim and arches add a Romanesque accent to the facade that incorporates Tudor and Elizabethan features. One archway leads into the covered entrance and to the arched front door with 12 wood panels and three leaded glass inserts near the top.
Features in the entry include an arched art niche, oak flooring and an open staircase accented with turned white spindles and a stained handrail.
Triple crown moldings surround the formal living room, where wide pilasters flank the fireplace. Corbels support the custom-designed mantel, and original Rookwood tile covers the hearth.
Widely arched windows surround the sun room, which overlooks the back yard, where perennials complement pines, ornamental grasses and evergreens. Another wide arch frames the double doors to the pavered patio.
Boxed windows wrap around a corner in the banquet-sized dining room.
In the more casual breakfast room, a built-in wood banquette wraps around a corner with inset back cushions. French doors open to the paver patio, where an alcove away from the sitting area provides ideal space for a barbecue grill.
Custom millwork abounds in the kitchen with its oversized cabinets and Cambria-topped counters incorporating four separate refrigerated drawers, a warming drawer, a six-burner Wolf gas range, Bosch dishwasher and a side-by-side see-through Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer. The 12-foot center island has lighted display cabinets at each end and a recessed area for bar stools. Earth-toned slate backsplashes are accented with miniature pewter shapes.
Classic Albrecht-designed built-ins including bookshelves, cabinets and decorative carvings accent the family room, which sits under a coffered ceiling.
The half bath features a tray ceiling with moldings and a vessel sink with mother of pearl inlay.
Original coved ceilings are seen throughout the entire upper level, which offers four bedrooms, three remodeled baths and a laundry room.
The main bedroom suite is comprised of bedroom, sitting room, bath and walk-in closet/dressing room.
The bedroom retains its original decorative fireplace and tile hearth. An archway connects to the sitting room, which features a wall of built-ins with a TV alcove.
Custom built-ins in the walk-in closet include shoe racks, cubbies, bureau drawers, mirrors, a packing station and a more-than-ample dressing area.
Granite tops the long double vanity in the main bath, where a second vanity counter is flanked by built-in wardrobes and bureau drawers. Textured tile surrounds the shower with decorative borders.
Another bath, which connects two bedrooms Jack-and-Jill style, has a deep tub and tile-clad shower.
The fourth bedroom, currently used as an office, has its own private bath.
The basement offers a workout room, a recreation room with custom built-ins, a half bath and a second laundry room.
Glennon said the owners had all the landscaping refreshed.
“The garden blooms in sequence with perennials. There are birch trees, hydrangea, giant hosta and day lilies – it’s low maintenance,” she said.
KETTERING
Price: $995,000
Directions: Far Hills Avenue to Winding Way, left on Blossom Heath Road
Highlights: About 4,560 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths, built 1929, major renovations in 2015, updated kitchen, remodeled master suite and baths, Smart Home technology, circle driveway, fence, patio, lawn sprinkler, storage, attached 2-car garage
For more information:
Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors
Jeanne Glennon, Felix McGinnis
(937) 409-7021 or 602-5976
www.3525blossomheath.com
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