A Pennsylvania estate features a home built around a circa-1801 bank barn, accented by a dramatic modern silo and surrounded by lush gardens that lend the property a storybook feel.
The landscaped 6-acre property, called Walmere Manor, is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in Blue Bell, part of Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania.
Meandering gravel pathways wind through vine-covered arches and gardens. A 1-acre pond has its own dock and a bubbling fountain.
The home was built in the mid-1980s and is a mix of antique and modern that is “bursting with character,” said listing agent Arthur Herling, of Long & Foster Real Estate. The stone walls and wood beams of the 19th-century barn accent several of the living spaces while the front door comes with a vintage skeleton key, adding further to the home’s fanciful aesthetic.
In the 1990s, an addition was built in the shape of a silo, with four bands of windows that rise to the top of the structure, flooding the space with light and presenting views of the open pastures and woods from a separate living area. A winding staircase accesses two additional levels: one with a full bath and the other with a bonus space.
A long galley kitchen connects the main house to the silo. There is plenty of butcher block counter space with a breakfast bar, walls of modern white cabinets and double stainless-steel oven. High windows flood the room with natural light, and one end of the kitchen is a Dutch door in keeping with the farmhouse architecture.
Begin and end each day in one of three bedrooms, including a main suite with original wide-plank wood floors and a bathroom with a soaking tub, stall shower and double vanity. A separate laundry area sits nearby on the same level.
Up a spiral staircase that echoes the first are two additional bedrooms and a full bathroom off the hallway.
A two-level attached deck overlooks the gardens and the sprawling property, a perfect spot for outdoor entertainment. There is also a three-car garage at the end of a wide driveway, but cars aren’t the only mode of transportation this property can support.
Herling said the property is ideal for horse owners since it also features a three-stall stable for one or more trusty steeds, with plenty of room for riding. Just outside of the neighborhood, Whitpain Township is peppered with coffee shops, restaurants and parks.
The estate is truly the stuff of fairy tales. “You will not find another property like this in Blue Bell,” Herling said. “It is a must-see.”
The property is listed for $2.5 million.
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