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| Spacious Light Filled Country Retreat with Gardens |
Our home is a spacious retreat near Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania's bucolic Brandywine Valley, famed horse and garden country just a couple hours drive from either New York City and Washington, DC, and only an hour from either Philadelphia or Baltimore.
We sit off an old winding lane on a wooded hill, encompassing nearly five acres (two hectares) of woods, open fields and stone-terraced gardens overlooking a panorama of rolling farms and forests. We are also adjacent to an extensive nature preserve filled with deer, fox and other fauna who regularly come to visit us. Our gardens - including two meditation ponds with their own very lively resident frogs - feature mass plantings of native flowers, shrubs and ornamental grasses, visible from several fieldstone patios, and from every room in the house.
Inside the house is a unique, hand-crafted mix of the traditional (antique barn staircase leading to the master bedroom suite) and the contemporary (zinc countertops in the kitchen). Every room is filled with light, art, antiques, curios and books (5000+ volumes). There are many comfy places to relax, read or socialize after a serious bout of sightseeing, shopping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing, or sailing. These include a library with floor-to-ceiling tiger-maple bookcases, a formal living room with cathedral ceiling hosting a 1936 Steinway grand piano, and a dining room with comfortable seating for sixteen, each room with its own working fireplace.
The very private master bedroom suite takes up the entire second floor of the back wing of the house, with sweeping views to match. It includes an oversized whirlpool bath, steam shower and convenient washer/dryer. There is an additional private office/guestroom with bath immediately downstairs, plus two more full-sized bedrooms upstairs in a separate front wing, each with its own bathroom. The fully stocked open-style gourmet kitchen includes a commercial grade oven and range, extensive preparation areas, and a breakfast bar.
Most of the nearby towns and countryside still look much like they did a century or more ago. Close by is the charming borough of Kennett Square, the epicenter of America's exotic mushroom industry. Even closer is Yorklyn, Delaware, a quaint village that boasts an top-notch community arts center.
Only a little further are West Chester, with its extensive intact Federalist downtown, and scenic Chadds Ford, where George Washington fought the Battle of Brandywine, just before retreating to Valley Forge. A few miles to the south in Delaware, the paper was milled for the Declaration of Independence and America's first currency. And in adjacent Lancaster Country, the Amish still maintain a horse-driven way of life nearly unchanged since the early 18th century. Even the iconic Conestoga wagon - used to the settle the West - was first made near here.
Around 1800, the first DuPonts came to the Brandywine to dodge the Jacobin guillotine, made a fortune manufacturing gunpowder, and then spent it building and furnishing their princely estates. Many of these - Longwood, Winterthur, Nemours, Hagley, and Mt. Cuba - are now world-class attractions open to the public. Meanwhile a succession of local artists - including the world-famous Wyeths - painted our iconic landscapes, making them known around the world. Many of their paintings are now on exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Art Museum, and dozens of charming local art galleries.
Need to go natural? You can hike, cycle or ride horses in one of our many parks and preserves, or else swim, tube, sail, fish, and canoe nearby in our many lakes, rivers and streams. The Chesapeake Bay, the New Jersey Shore, and the Delaware beaches are also a quick drive away. And, of course, there is a steady stream of local events - concerts, festivals, riding competitions, polo, marathons, arts and crafts shows, historical reenactments - the list goes on and on. So, what are you waiting for?? |
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Property Location: |
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City
Kennett Square |
Postal Code - State or Province
19348
PA
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Country
United States of America |
Cities Nearby
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, New York |
Neighborhood Keywords
Brandywine Longwood Winterthur Wyeth |
Closest University
University of Pennsylvania, University of Delaware |
University nearby
Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, West Chester University, University of Pennsylvania, Widener |
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Availability: (Month/Day/Year) |
| Available from Wednesday, September 01, 2010 until Open |
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Minimum Term Length
1
month(s) |
Flexibles With Dates
Yes |
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Exchange Destination(s) and timing: |
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Open to any Destinations?
Yes
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City
Anywhere |
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Country
Italy |
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| Destination 2: |
City
Anywhere |
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Country
France |
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| Destination 3: |
City
Anywhere |
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Country
Switzerland |
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Basics: |
Number of Bedrooms
4 |
Number of Bathrooms
5 |
Number of Offices
2 |
Surface Size
6500 Sq. Feet |
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Property Type
House |
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Additional Info: |
| Writing Retreat, Architectural Gem, Historical Home, Academic Term, Holiday Term, Summer Term, Long Term, Short Term, Furnished |
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Amenities: |
| Modern Kitchen, Dishwasher, Washer, Dryer, Garden, Balcony Patio, Fireplace, High Speed Internet, Wireless Network, Computer, Printer, TV, Stairs, Air Condition, Security |
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Rules: |
Kid Friendly
Yes |
Small Children Safe
Yes |
Smoke Free
Yes |
Pets Welcome
Negotiable |
Car Available
Negotiable |
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Surroundings: |
| Rural, Suburban, Near Woods, Near Mountains, Near Shops, Near Restaurants, Near Public Transports, Reserved Parking |
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Will tenant perform housesitting duties?
No |
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Rental Price: |
USD |
Rent Negotiable
Yes |
Utilities Included
Yes |
Cleaning Services Included
Yes |
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Last Updated: |
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