Description
20 Bala Ave is a stately, beautiful three story home on a corner lot located in one of the best school districts in the country, Lower Merion. Built in the early 1900?s, this impressive stone home has been lovingly maintained by the same family for over four decades, preserving many of the homes' original artisanal details. From the hardwood floors to the leaded glass windows to the panel moulding, those who enjoy homes from a time where beauty was an integral part of home construction will appreciate 20 Bala Ave. The front door opens to an enclosed stone front porch with hardwood floors and replacement casement windows for a nice breeze. This room is large enough to function as a sitting area as well as a receiving room for coats, shoes, books and bags. Intricate glass doors open from the porch to the living room featuring original windows, a gorgeous wood staircase with under-stair storage, original moulding, handsome hardwood floors and a wood burning fireplace. The dining room is flooded with natural light by a wall of original leaded glass windows and provides a proper eating area for both formal and everyday occasions. A small butlers pantry connects the kitchen to the dining room, allowing for extra storage space for servingware, kitchen overflow and sorting mail. The eat-in kitchen has plenty of wooden cabinets with space for a table, a 4 burner gas range, dishwasher, and a built-in stainless steel fridge with a pantry to the right. A door off the kitchen opens onto a small wooden porch and a gardening shed, perfect for all the tools needed to tend the surrounding gardens. The yard is completely fenced in and offers both grass and mature plantings. 20 Bala Ave has 2 staircases, a formal front stair in the living room and a back staircase from the kitchen. The second floor has a generous landing at the top of the stairs and offers 3 large bedrooms and 2 full baths, along with several deep closets. The front bedroom has an attached bonus room with a door to one of the full baths, creating an ensuite with dressing room. The back bedroom on this floor has an extra seating area as well as a door to a small balcony overlooking the backyard. From the second floor landing you will find a door that opens to a third staircase leading to the top floor. This floor offers 2 more big bedrooms, a full bath with clawfoot tub, an enormous storage closet, and a kitchenette, making it a perfect space for an au pair or guests looking for apartment style privacy. For those who prefer to convert the kitchenette back to a bedroom, 20 Bala would offer 6 full sized bedrooms or a third floor living room. The basement provides a ton of extra storage space as well as a laundry room with walk out access to the backyard. What's more, the house comes with a detached garage and parking area providing 3 car parking. Located in the Lower Merion School district just minutes away from public trans lines in to Philadelphia and all the mainline has to offer, 20 Bala Ave is an amazing home in a perfect location.