1949 Madison Rd., East Walnut Hills
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Photograph courtesy of June Newman, Comey & Shepard Realtors
The key word for this impeccable renovation is restraint—because often what you keep is more important than what you change. For this six-bedroom stucco manse in the East Walnut Hills Historic District, that looks like original plaster moldings, accordion French doors, and light fixtures. The finest of these historic features are the twin first-floor bay windows: They hug the dining room and formal living room, and are trimmed with radiator-concealing wooden benches. (There are new windows throughout except for these and scores of other original leaded glass windows.)
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Photograph courtesy of June Newman, Comey & Shepard Realtors
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Photograph courtesy of June Newman, Comey & Shepard Realtors
These details exist in comfy harmony with newer amenities like a three-car garage, an irrigation system that keeps landscaping perky during the summer, and LED exterior lighting. And then there’s the luxe kitchen that looks like it could have been original—if they’d had Sub-Zero fridges back in 1911, when this home was built. The high-end appliances and roomy custom cabinetry, however, are dead giveaways (the good kind) of a contemporary treatment. The result is an exquisite historic home that’s livable and even cozy. The master suite exemplifies this vibe, with a beautifully appointed bathroom and second-floor balcony accessible through French doors, plus two walk-in closets. The master bath itself sports a double sink, soaking tub, heated floors, steam shower, and access to one of the closets.
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Photograph courtesy of June Newman, Comey & Shepard Realtors
There are more over-the-top amenities inside: a full English pub–style wet bar in the basement with custom millwork, copper ceilings, and an adjacent family room; a live edge single slab black oak kitchen table with seating for four; and a stylish-but-functional laundry room. But it’s the exterior that steals the show. Head out back for a first-floor veranda and a terraced yard with a river valley view (and seasonal views of the actual river), all overlooking a pergola-covered patio with a fireplace, plus a wooden play structure. And, despite the Madison Road address, you can enjoy a surprisingly peaceful front yard, which is protected from noise by the most thoughtful additions of them all: A circular driveway and a bank of traffic-blocking trees.
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