The exterior of 1 Wingate Court
Two key factors went into the making of 1 Wingate Court: First, the homeowners wanted to live in a neighborhood that was safe for their children to play outside, and, second, they needed a home that provided an abundance of space for their growing art collection. That was when the couple turned to Chestnut Hill’s Joel Levinson, an award-winning architect in the area for 53 years, to plan their future dream home.
Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac on the grounds of Philadelphia Cricket Club, the location immediately addressed any concerns over safety. The couple gave Levinson creative freedom with the exterior of the estate, resulting in a modern brick facade with an eye-catching terra-cotta tile turret. Inside, the aesthetic reflects the homeowners’ preferences and even their personalities. “My husband was a real astronomy nut and also very much into physics, and a lot of the inspiration of the curves, angles and the celestial feeling really came from him,” says Janet, the lady of the house. “I, on the other hand, am very much into feng shui. So I have certain strong feelings about space and placement of things, and I don’t like a cluttered look.” The result? An open floor plan with a massive family room encircled by a secondfloor wraparound balcony; an oval-shaped dining room; and a light-filled kitchen clad in white custom cabinetry. In total, the three-floor estate houses four bedrooms and seven baths.
The massive family room has an abundance of wall space for art
The 6,895-square-foot home also features lofty walls painted bright white, a stark canvas to display the family’s art collection. Elsewhere, an abundance of windows provide ample natural light and views of the dense greenery on the just-under-2-acre lot. One specific window detail comes to mind when speaking to Janet: a pyramid skylight over the main stairway. She says, “[At night], if you stand on the top of the landing, you can actually see the moon perfectly centered in that window. Or in the morning, you can see the sunrise.”
Upstairs, two bedrooms sharing a Jack and Jill bath and a master bedroom await—along with a gray and white marble en suite bath dotted in blush pink accents. “I love the window seats,” Janet says, adding that they act as inviting reading nooks and have ample storage. When asked about her favorite space in the house, she immediately references her office: a room surrounded by two window walls that face the back of the property. Throughout the estate, it’s clear that everything is in the details—especially inTake a Look at This Massive Flourtown Home Featuring a Hidden Passageway a Sherlock Holmes-inspired secret passageway in the cherry wood library that leads to the bar. How do you open it? Well, you’ll just have to visit to find out. $1.75 million, Michael Sivel, 215.380.1296; Jennifer Rinella, 215.287.7650, thesivelgroup.com
Photography by: Linda McManus; Nick Wnorowski
