The entrance and foyer.
Any home that’s more than 160 years old is bound to have a few secrets. The current owners of 1812 Delancey Place found that out firsthand while renovating their five-floor, approximately 5,000-square-foot townhouse a few years ago. But rather than letting surprises disrupt their plans, they welcomed the chance to repurpose original design elements. “We unearthed a window that had been walled up with several panes of pebble glass intact, black with dirt accumulated after more than a century,” says the lady of the house. 
The kitchen is washed in natural sunlight
“We restored the glass and incorporated it into a custom-designed china cabinet door and in a transom window over the French doors leading into the kitchen.” She adds that they also “recycled” the original front doors for a doorway to a new kitchen pantry and restored all of the home’s brass hardware, including the original mail slot. The home boasts five working fireplaces with one crafted from gorgeous Pennsylvania blue limestone that predates the residence. 
The Pennsylvania blue limestone fireplace pops with gold accents
A custom chef’s kitchen with premium appliances, a private roof terrace with irrigation and speaker systems and an elevator are other attractive features. The homeowner says that one of the goals of their extensive renovation was to host special occasions and holidays for family and friends. “That has always been a vital part of our life, so we designed spaces specifically to meet that need,” she says. “The kitchen is the heart of the house with cozy indoor and airy outdoor entertaining areas, which flow seamlessly into the spacious living/dining room literally steps away. This heart of the house has provided the inviting entertaining space we value and made the house a home.” Priced $3.975 million; for more information contact Mary Genovese Colvin of Compass, 215.806.1500, onthesquarerealestate.com
Photography by: Plush Image Corporation
