February 02, 2016
Contributed Art/Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
This California-style home near Reading, Pennsylvania, was designed to take maximum advantage of the hilltop views.
Perched like a jewel on top of a hilltop near the Blue Mountain ridge, this California-style mansion was custom-built with one thing in mind: stunning views.
Every outer wall in this seven-bedroom home is made of glass, and no room is without access to a patio or terrace. The picnic pavilion outside has unlimited views of a rolling valley below, yet the inside is every bit as thoughtfully and creatively designed as the outside.
"They've done a great job with the design of the home, integrating the outdoor space with the indoor flow. The whole back of the house is staggered so it takes in the panoramic views," said listing agent Gwen Simons.
The house was built for grand entrances. Open the black front doors and you'll step into the marble foyer with a burbling fountain framed by two curved staircases.
The main foyer.
The living room employs a similar effect, and it's just as chic, only a dramatic fireplace is the focal point of the scene instead of a fountain.
The dramatic fireplace is flanked by two winding staircases.
However, the house is never opulent to the point of being overbearing or pretentious. The owners, who built this as their dream home in 1989, kept a lighthearted spirit to the design. When Simons talks about the indoor pool, she just has to laugh.
"It has a rope swing!" she said. "The people that built this house are just awesome. They had such a sense of humor."
The pool also has a huge lounge, spa area, bar, changing rooms and more, if the rope swing was not enough of a selling point for you.
The indoor pool house includes a spa, lounge area, bar and a rope swing.
Another unique feature of the home: Built with a ridged-steel skeletal structure, it has no interior load-bearing walls. The new owner can then customize the home by tearing down or building up any wall they wish, although it seems like it would be a shame to change anything.
The modern design, postcard-worthy views and private setting (it comes with 77 acres of land) all work together to make this home feel less like a house and more like a resort.
"It's like constantly feeling like you're on vacation," said Simons. "It's amazing."
See the full listing here or call co-listing agent Cary Simons at (484) 431-9019 for more information.
