429 W Ellet St

Philadelphia, PA 19119

Humans instinctively prefer the high ground, and the site of a house matters. This stately twin, built along the high side of Ellet Street, just may be the best location in Mount Airy; not only for the views, the light, and the privacy, but also for its proximity to the highlights of the neighborhood: ten minute walk to the commuter rail station, even less to Mount Airy Village for coffee, groceries, and an easy walk to the great parklands of Northwest Philadelphia, Carpenter's Woods and the Wissahickon Valley. There are three entrances to this open, airy house. From Ellet Street, you walk up a staircase, lined with woody shrubs and perennials that brighten every season. Hydrangeas, roses, rhododendron, hostas, and lilies are just a few of the mature specimens. There are landings and patio spaces to stop and take in views of the garden or to sit and soak in the sunshine. From the front door, enter into a lovely foyer with turned staircase directly in front of you. There is a second door on this side of the house which leads you directly to the kitchen to make it easy to off-load groceries and deliveries. The most convenient entrance is the door in the garage you access from the shared alley in back of house. The garage door leads directly into the laundry area with no steps, and in inclement weather is a true luxury. Standing in the foyer, your eye is drawn to the left to the big, light-filled living room with its huge picture window and three additional windows, hardwood floors, and high ceilings. To the right of the foyer, which also houses a convenient powder room, is the dining room and newly renovated kitchen, completed by the present homeowner in 2017. The photos speak for themselves. The custom kitchen includes classic white cabinets, unusual Brazilian granite countertops, top-of-the-line LG appliances, and rich brown engineered-wood flooring for easy maintenance. The open plan of the first floor gives you a sense of intimacy (everyone can see each other), but also a sense of commodiousness. Every room is large. Every room is filled with light. Up the turned staircase to the second floor brings you to three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Enter the main bedroom, situated at the front of the house, through an anteway that houses an ample closet. The bedroom has a private bath with stall shower. As you walk down the hallway from the main bedroom, you will find the second full bath with tub/shower combination, the second bedroom on your right, and the third bedroom straight ahead at the back of the house. There are no cramped quarters, the landing and hallway are wide, and each bedroom offers space and storage. Because the home's 2000+ square feet are spread over two floors, rather than the three that is typical of homes built earlier in the 20th century, each room offers you the kind of space that 21st century people and their furniture require. With four zones of mini-split generated heating and cooling, the house offers the kind of energy efficiency not usually found in a house of this age. One of the bonus features of this property is the basement with two finished rooms, a second powder room, and the laundry. From the first floor basement door, down the stairs, you reach a finished, carpeted room with a wood-burning fireplace. Off this large, flexible space is one more room measuring 7x9 that could become your exercise room, home office, home classroom, studio or whatever you imagine. There are two exits from the basement level, one into the garage, and one to the exterior where there is a fenced area that currently gives the owner's dog a place to go. Another great house in the rapidly appreciating Mt Airy. Come see it before it is gone.