House of the Week: A modern farmhouse with a backyard oasis in Reading

Year of construction 1882; addition 2011

Square feet 3,012

Bedrooms 4

Thermal baths 2 full, 1 half

Water / Sewer Public

Taxes $ 9,588 (2021)

The resurgence of carcharodon carcharia in our coastal waters has, for some, diminished interest in swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.

It doesn’t matter.

Among its many amenities, this Reading home which objectively qualifies for the ‘estate’ name contains a 648 square foot in-ground saltwater swimming pool with fieldstone skipping stone, gas heating and wide stairways. in the soothing and shark-free environment.

The 0.77 acre lot also features a barn shaped pool house with cupola, an outdoor kitchen under a western red cedar pergola, a custom fireplace with granite and cobblestones quarried from Rockport, a stone wall , an irrigation well to maintain meticulous landscaping and a leaded two-car garage with a bonus 700 square foot space on the second floor. (This is an incomplete list. Done.)

And then there’s the house itself, built in 1882 but modified, expanded, redone, rebuilt and refreshed in a 3,012 square foot space. The face this house shows to the public is still that of a colonial New England farmhouse with its pointed roof lines, and the interior is a modern homage to its past.

The welcoming porch is accessed by a recently installed wide walkway. A red French window opens onto the living room. While new construction appreciates open floor plans, this home retains some affection for the separation of spaces (and perhaps its inhabitants). The living room is such a space and offers a trio of windows, recessed lighting and a fixture that mimics the floor lamps of yesteryear.

The house transforms into a formal dining room in which the white paneling playfully counteracts the black and white wallpaper above. A white chandelier that mimics candle light hangs from a ceiling dotted with recessed lights, but natural light emanates from above the window seat.

From here a small hallway leads to a sunny breakfast room; a powder room with a porcelain pedestal sink, white paneling and tiled floor; a walk-in pantry, then the kitchen. The latter, which occupies the right side of the house, was refurbished in 2018. It now features solid cherry wood cabinets (some with glass fronts); stainless steel appliances including a wine refrigerator; dark honed granite counters; an island with seating for six; a farmhouse sink under a window; Recessed lighting; a brick backsplash; double doors to a screen porch; a door to a cloakroom with built-in wardrobes; and a fireplace that has a custom-made mantel with reclaimed beams hand hewn from a barn in Maine. The floor on this level is hardwood.

A 2011 expansion created a 431 square foot family room open to the kitchen and tucked away to the left. There is also a bedroom on this level. Stairs descend to 260 square feet of finished basement with an office and recreation area.

Upstairs, the owner’s suite is located in a hallway after the laundry room. Large windows out of two invite in the sun, while a ceiling fan cools the temperature. The 406 square foot space offers high baseboards, recessed lighting and a walk-in closet. The en-suite bathroom features hinged walls, a double vanity with white cabinets and a granite countertop; and a modern shower with multiple heads, a glass divider, and ceramic tiles on the walls and floor. Do you prefer to get rid of your stress? The original clawfoot tub has been refurbished.

Three bedrooms with single door wardrobes, an office and a full bathroom with a tub / shower combination and a double vanity complete this floor. The flooring on this level is a mix of original pine wood floors and wide pine heart planks milled in New Hampshire.

Susan Gormady of the Susan Gormady group of Classified Real Estate in Reading has the list. At the time of going to press, an offer had been accepted on the property.

See more photos of the house below:

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John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on twitter @JREbosglobe.