MARLA SCHECHTER

Description

Located on 22 bucolic acres in Chester County, the William Peters House offers authentic 18th-century features with cleverly camouflaged 21st-century amenities. Originally constructed in 1750 and now on the market for the first time in 60 years, this prestigious Georgian-style home awaits the next stewards in its long and storied history. At 6,046 square feet, the three-story home offers six bedrooms and four and a half baths, a cozy library with built-in bookcases, a formal dining and living room, and an original 18th-century kitchen with a large, walk-in fireplace. A total of nine wood-burning fireplaces have been meticulously restored, and the more modern amenities, such as the multi-zoned heating and cooling systems and a full house generator, are all invisible under the house's historic interior. Original wood paneling throughout includes unusual recessed panels, restored mantels, and multiple built-in display cupboards, while the windows contain wavy, handmade glass. Outlets and registers are hidden in baseboards and light switches concealed below chair rails for an authentic 18th-century experience. In 1963, the Georgian-style house was relocated and lovingly reconstructed to exact replication by Judith and John Herdeg. John, who served on the board of Winterthur for 50 years, and Judith worked with local historical architect Albert Kruse. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property includes period-appropriate gardens of native plants, planned in coordination with world-renowned Belgian landscape architect Francois Goffinet. In 1994, an orangerie was added with soaring ceilings, heated terracotta floors, a large fireplace, and 10-foot tall glass-paneled doors that allow in great swells of natural light. An ideal space for entertaining, the orangerie contains an intimate bar, French doors that open into a sunken lawn, and a brick patio with a screened-in porch overlooking alighted allee of maple trees to the north. More recent additions to the house include an expansive, renovated chef's kitchen with a large island and curved bank of cabinets offering amenities to accommodate modern living, including abundant storage. A room-sized cedar closet and an elevator with basement, first and second floor access additional modern conveniences. Despite its august provenance, the Herdegs' raised an active family who thrived in the secluded setting. Homeowners and visitors enter the property via a large, floral iron entrance gate, then proceed down the long, curved drive. An eight-foot-tall deer fence protects the native gardens and encircles some forest and a back stream. Within the fencing there is ample space for a horse barn and livestock grazing.

Features