Designer lists remodeled Wash Park modern farmhouse for $2.3M

When Rebekah Cholak’s RC Design Studio bought 462 S. Pennsylvania St. for $625,000 in February 2021, she envisioned what the simple brick box could become.

And it took her nearly two years to transform the 869-square-foot, one-story home with a partial unfinished basement into a three-story, 4,690-square-foot modern farmhouse with a wraparound front porch and rooftop decks.

The original home was built in 1924, and Cholak, who lives in the neighborhood with her 11-year-old daughter, knew she didn’t want to clear the property and start over.

“I wanted to be a good neighbor, and there was lots of opportunity there,” she said.

“I knew I wanted to keep the existing house but add more character. I wanted to take the farmhouse concept but make it more modern and upscale.”

So, she kept the original brick exterior but enhanced it with German schmear. She doesn’t like to paint brick, so instead used a finishing technique that smears a mortar wash over the brick to protect it from the elements without interfering with its breathability.

She also added a wraparound composite porch with iron railings and used metal siding on the new construction.

“I wanted to create a home that would last for another 100 years,” Cholak said.

The original two-bedroom, one-bath house now has five bedrooms and six baths. An oversized two-car garage replaced a one-car garage with a carport.

Cholak spent three months crafting her plans and about six months in the permitting process before her team could begin pouring concrete in December 2021 to expand the basement. Construction took another 10 months, with work wrapping up on the remodeled home in mid-October.

She first listed the home for $2.25 million in October and reduced the price to $2.24 million in November before removing it in December. She listed the house again for $2.25 million on March 2.

The remodeled main floor includes an office space, two sitting areas with fireplaces, and a chef’s kitchen with quartz countertops, designer fixtures, marble tile flooring, and Signature Suite appliances, including a six-burner range and dual ovens.

The second floor includes three spacious bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. The primary suite features cathedral ceilings, chandelier lighting, a fireplace, and dual walk-in closets.

The attached five-piece marble bath features a soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower.

The third level offers extra flex space with access to a rooftop deck, ideal for guests or parties.