2100 E Susquehanna Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125

As featured in Dwell magazine (2011) and built by award winning architect Brian Phillips, this gorgeous LEED certified, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom loft-style PostGreen urban living space is truly one-of-a-kind. Situated on a sunny corner on a tree-lined street, just steps from the great shops, restaurants, and wine bars on Frankfort Ave, this property is an urban oasis. It is the size of a double lot with the house on one half and a 20x50ft fenced-in private sanctuary of a garden behind it. Everything about this property is exceptional, custom made, and very cool. If you are looking for a buried gem, this is your house. As you enter this extra-wide home (20 ft), you will be immediately impressed with its 9.5 foot ceilings and bright and airy open-concept first floor. Sunlight pours in from the generous windows that span the first and second floors and refreshing views of the lush garden welcome you home. You will see the large modern kitchen, an island induction range, stunning custom walnut kitchen cabinetry, built-in maple storage cabinets, and floating bamboo steps to the second floor.

As you travel upstairs, past the breathtaking 10 foot high, live-edge ash wood slabs tailor made for the soaring foyer, bamboo flooring under foot and covering the half-walls with shadows lines to create a floating feel, you are surrounded by more windows, which are part of the award-winning design to ensure that sunlight and a gentle cross breeze fills every nook. The bedrooms are open concept with limited walls and doors, creating an expansive feel. The charming back bedroom, currently used as an office/guest room, includes the washer and dryer conveniently located in a laundry closet. The center hall bathroom is beautifully updated with a River-stone floor, soaking tub and a light tube (energy efficient skylight). The spacious primary/front bedroom has beautiful custom floor-to-ceiling cabinets, which will give you tons of storage space.

Head back downstairs and through the sliding glass doors to the patio and garden where your oasis awaits. Hops vines grow thickly over the fence, so the garden is completely private, quiet and relaxed. It’s a perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee, entertain friends, grill, and sit by the fire pit. There are nine raised garden beds and several metal containers with rich, organic soil to grow any vegetable or flower you desire. The southern sun exposure creates perfect growing conditions. Currently, there are many perennials to give you an abundance of greenery while requiring little care, including weeping cedar, red bud, and shag bark maple trees, cedar and butterfly bushes, hostas, Daffodils, Irises and Star-gazer lilies. It’s possible to re-purpose a slice of the garden and turn it into a driveway/parking spot, add a freestanding office/studio, or even a pool/hot tub.

This house is special. Everything about the property is eco-friendly, energy efficient and green by design. With tons of natural light and windows, radiant concrete floors on the first floor, new tankless water heater, induction cooktop, rain barrels and light wells, you’ll feel great about reducing your carbon footprint and paying a lot less in energy bills. Come check it out.