Some people consider their homes their sanctuaries, the place to escape from work. In Heather Hairston’s case, her two-level, Federal-style row house at 403 S. Robinson St. in Patterson Park reminds her of the office every day; it’s clear she loves it.
“My house was designed by an architect, my boss at traceARCHITECTS, Jim Shelter. It was fully renovated in 2000 by the Patterson Park Community Development Corporation,” Hairston said, and then proceeded to provide an in-depth list of all her home’s “great features.”
“The front façade has the original tin cornice, with newly painted wood trim and door, and traditional marble steps. The backyard features a corner flowerbed made of salvaged bricks form the old Block’s Pharmacy building in Patterson Park. The first floor has several original architectural features including original wood floors, plaster walls, vestibule door, a stained glass arched window, wood stair balustrade, wood casing and rosettes, interior transom windows and French doors,” she said.
And she’s not done.
She goes on to discuss the “funky gallery kitchen,” which has custom-designed laminate cabinets and countertops with open shelving and pendent lighting above and exposed joists. The living room and dining room have rich red walls and buttery yellow kitchen and powder room walls.
Plus there are two large sky lights, a light-filled space with front and back bedrooms, and ceilings up to 11 feet high.
Visitors will see that the second floor contrasts nicely with the first floor. The second is very open and airy while the first is warm and cozy.
“I often go to a certain floor to hang out, based on what mood I’m in,” she said.
Magan Drane of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage calls the home, “very hip. It is architecturally designed and extremely well cared for.”
She goes on to discuss the home’s “charming qualities” including hardwood floors and exposed brick throughout, custom kitchen cabinetry, a claw foot tub and antique pedestal sink with honed granite tile floor in the bathroom and eco-friendly flooring in the basement.
The upstairs “has a loftlike feel” with exposed beams and a stairway that opens up to a rooftop deck “with incredible views of the city,” she said.
Hairston noted that the home is “very energy-efficient. Our BGE bill averages $110 per month. We don’t have to turn the lights on in the house until around 7 p.m. because of all the natural light.”
In addition, low-flow aerators on the faucets save water and the cross ventilation lessens the need for air-conditioning.
Particularly appealing is the home’s location, in the Highlandtown Arts & Entertainment District.
“Artists who live and work here would be eligible for tax incentives,” Hairston said. “The Creative Alliance is just around the corner and offers workshops, studio space, gallery exhibits and weekly entertainment.”
Other nearby amenities include the restaurants of Canton Square, a post office, “several churches, banks, nail salons, a farmers market, a drugstore, a gym and an ice cream shop, not to mention the new Southeast Anchor Library. Furthermore, it’s one block off of Patterson Park, a great spot if you have a dog,” she added.
ABOUT THE PROPERTY:
Location: 403 S. Robinson Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 in Patterson Park
List Price: $259,900
Description: Renovated two-level, Federal Style rowhouse, 2-bedroom, 1 _-bath; Originally built in 1906
Contact: Magan Drane, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 410-235-4100.
