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By Beth S Buxbaum
A statuesque Federal stone house, sitting at a crossroad in the heart of Langhorne, catches the fancy of Peter and Linda during their search for a home in the area. Taken by its imposing beauty, they would share thoughts of what it would be like to live there. “We felt a connection to the house the minute we saw it,” Linda explains, “but it wasn’t for sale.”
While only able to judge from the outside, they felt that no house they had seen recently could even touch this historic home’s grandeur. “This house was unique and unlike anything else we had seen in the area,” Linda says, “and we were taken with its elegance.” They looked at a few other houses in Langhorne and in a few neighboring towns, but decided to take a break from their search. About a week later, a fax passed across Linda’s desk and it was “the house.” They were surprised and excited. After longing for this house to be theirs for months, the opportunity was now upon them. Without delay, they went to see the house. “When we toured the house we knew right away it was the one,” Linda adds. In addition to the house’s external appeal, as they stepped inside they knew the interior was perfect. “We are collectors and knew it would be a house that would lend itself to displaying our varied treasures,” she explains.
As avid antique collectors, it was clear to them that this home’s period architectural and design elements would do justice to all of their cherished pieces. “This house has character, with beautiful floors, moldings, a dumb waiter, and other little special elements that you don’t find in newer homes,” Linda says.
One major feature that attracted them to the house was that it had five fireplaces. One fireplace was the original walk-in fireplace in the dining room. Built in 1771, the house’s living quarters consisted of a dining room and kitchen until 1842. At this point the house was expanded vertically; adding four bedrooms with two on the third floor and two on the fourth floor, as well as a bathroom and an attic. In terms of the property, Peter notes that at some point in its history it was a farm, a blacksmith’s housed in the old bank barn and a golf course. “We found blacksmithing tools and slag from the horseshoes in the barn,” Peter adds, and there were also horse drawn mowers in the barn.” Intrigued with its past, both Peter and Linda felt that this property’s long and varied history is part of its unique charm.
Older homes, in general, were a preference for both of them. Peter lived in a converted barn on a farm in New Hope and Linda had an old house in Morrisville. With their appreciation and love for old houses they were excited to be the next owners of this 18th century masterpiece. After a bidding war, they purchased the property in September, 1999. Anxious to make this house theirs, they assessed what absolutely needed to be done initially. “The interior was basic and in good condition,” adds Linda. “This house was always kept in good repair,” Linda continues, “it was perfect and there was nothing we had to do, only what we wanted to do to make it our own.”
Repairs included new windowsills, a restoration of the pumpkin pine floors on the upper levels, and the oak floors on the first floor. The grounds were another story. They spent the next several years cleaning up, updating, planting, and landscaping the yard to make it their own. At the time of their purchase, Linda worked in New York City and Peter was local, so the only time they had to work on the property was on the weekends. Once essential interior repairs were done and most of the “clean-up” was complete, they settled in to their new home.
“We loved the look of the house from the beginning. It’s an antique,” Linda says. Soon after their purchase Linda and Peter shopped for items to embellish their new home. “We spent a week travelling, mostly to Vermont, in our big Dodge Durango filling it with antiques,” Linda explains. Defining and accenting their living space with authentic period pieces and an array of antique collectibles was a finishing touch to enhance their new home’s history. An interesting and unique array of collections is on display throughout their home. One of their favorite collections is their 18th century English tall case clocks, a perfect complement to Linda’s furnishings, a mix of traditional and eclectic. Peter’s oyster plate collections are showcased in several rooms. Early 19th century Sailor’s Valentines, fashioned in a mosaic style with tiny shells, can be seen above the fireplaces.
Peter explains that these 19th-century shell-craft were a sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea and given to the sailor's loved ones. Peter also has a collection of nautically-themed pieces including scrimshaw and tapestries. Showcasing their antiques was a focus from the beginning. With their love for period pieces, this home was perfect for them to express and showcase their personal tastes and treasured pieces.
As they continued to define their living space, they built an addition onto the left side of the house. “In 2003 we expanded the living space to add a bedroom, sitting room, bath, and private patio for my mom,” adds Linda. This tiny addition was built onto the only area left to add on to.
“This house is set into the landscape with no place to really expand,” Linda explains. When they wanted to create a cozy and inviting space to relax and unwind, they could only reconfigure and refresh existing space. Using a tiny back room, with a gas fireplace, they created a den to add more living space downstairs. “We tore the room down, exposed the original exterior stone wall and started from scratch,” Linda explains. With windows on all sides, this new space brings focus to the grounds. “Now I wanted something to look at through all these windows,” she reveals.
So began a major project to create an outdoor space. “We wanted to make the outside as inviting as the inside,” she adds. Transforming the untamed and neglected landscape was a challenge.
“The grounds were quite a mess,” Linda says, “and the landscape was basically a slope of dirt. We spent hours cutting down trees, building small stone walls, digging bulbs, and planting perennials.” While enhancing the landscape’s mature trees and foliage, Linda‘s vision was to have a variety of plants in bloom from spring to fall. “We have an array of perennials including hostas, hellebores and camellias that bloom throughout the season” Linda points out. To add pops of color to the landscape, they have interspersed a variety of annuals. For added points of interest there are small whimsical stone statues and metal garden ornaments throughout the landscape. “Eventually, we hired Twining Gardens, in Newtown, to expand the design of the landscape and care for the gardens,” she continues. To define and enhance the gardens; this space was upgraded with several patios, a Koi pond, an outdoor kitchen shaded with a pergola.
With the extension of their living space to the outdoors, they were now focused again on the interior. In 2006 a kitchen refresh took place. They enlisted Robert Johnson, of Johnson Fine Furniture & Design Limited, in Pineville, to do the kitchen renewal. “Robert Johnson specializes in antique reproduction and is a fine wood craftsman and cabinet maker,” Linda explains. Johnson also custom built several of their reproduction furniture pieces. With a goal to keep the original cabinets, they had Johnson reface all the cabinets and finished them in teal, and the walls were painted red. “We changed the Formica counter tops to granite, put down tile floors, upgraded the appliances including a reproduction Heartland stove, and added new fixtures,” Linda adds. On display on the backsplash is a collection of antique French cleavers and ivory pie crimpers. Now with a whole new look, accented with a palette of more traditional period tones, the kitchen had a more 18th century appeal.
This original 18th century home, with 19th century expansions, has been authenticated with period embellishments. From the architectural stylings and design features, to the personal collections and furnishings, Peter and Linda have refreshed, defined and honored their historic home. “Living in this house is a work in progress,” Linda admits. “We take loving care of this treasure and continually update the property and home on a regular basis, whether upgrading, changing, expanding or embellishing,” she continues.
What began as a modestly appointed historic home has been refreshed. Overflowing with color, texture and personal treasures, the interior is a showcase of authentic period pieces and points of interest. As they enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon in the gardens, looking out over their landscape, Peter and Linda are pleased with the transformation. Appointing the interior with all their most precious pieces brings them much joy. On the outside, from an empty lot full of weeds and overgrown greenery, they have most definitely achieved their penultimate backyard oasis.
Beth S. Buxbaum is a freelance writer from the Philadelphia area.