5 Frank Furness homes for sale in Philly and beyond

Frank Furness was nothing if not prolific: The architect designed more than 200 buildings, homes, banks, and more in Philly and beyond in the late 19th and early 20th century. But while many of them no longer exist, every once in awhile one of his homes hits the market and once again wows and impresses.

So behold, here are five homes for sale in Philly and the beyond that were designed by Furness, from a $1.3 million townhouse in Rittenhouse Square to a immense mansion in the ‘burbs with more wood paneling that one could ever imagine.

Courtesy of Kathleen Federico, Coldwell Banker Preferred-Center City

126 S Van Pelt Street, $1.3 million

This 2,600-square-feethome at 126 S. Van Pelt Street doesn’t have all of the whimsical markings of a typical Furness-designed home, but there’s character none the less. In its long history—it was designed a built circa 1885—it has only been updated two times, including an expansion. The real showstopper, though, is the surprisingly large backyard, a rarity in the heart of Rittenhouse Square. It’s on the market for $1,295,000.

Courtesy of Amy Greenstein, Elfant Wissahickon-Chestnut Hill

7318 Boyer Street, $615,000

Furness designed this East Mt. Airy home in 1855 as part of Gowen Estate. The six-bedroom home stands out for its whimsical exterior, a mishmash of Victorian stick style and Queen Anne architecture. There are two original fireplaces, including one that features Henry Mercer tiles. After listing in early October, it is currently marked as contingent.

Courtesy of Lorna Isen, BHHS Fox & Roach-Devon

111 Cherry Lane, Wynnewood, $2,369,000

Named Hedgeley, this Wynnewood mansion was first a farmhouse that was part of a larger estate owned by the Winsor family. In 1887, Furness, Evans, and Co. was hired to enlarge and alter the existing structure. Today, it is a six-bedroom, five and a half bath house with many details that harken back to typical Furness-designed residences (those stairs!) though its exterior has been altered significantly. After originally listing for just under $2.5 million, its asking price is now down to $2,369,000.

via Glen Paisley, BHHS Fox & Roach-Easton

Via Glen Paisley, BHHS Fox & Roach-Easton

301 Washington Street, Birdsboro, $1,740,000

Welcome to the Brooke Mansion. The 13,677-square-foot home was designed by Furness in and built in 1887 as a gift to the wife of industrialist Edward Brooke. It features a staggering 19 bedrooms and nine and a half bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, and a total of 42(!) rooms. Furness’s floral engravings are on prominent display all throughout the home, which today is a bed and breakfast. It’s been on and off the market since 2008, and is now asking $1.74 million.

Rendering by Cecil Baker + Partners

2108-2110 Walnut, $2.3M and up

The brownstone at 2108 Walnut in Rittenhouse Square is one of Furness’s earliest works still standing in Philly. It’s currently in the middle of an adaptive reuse project that will transform the townhouse into a nine-condo development, tacking on a glassy, five-story overbuild on top and another nine-story building next door. Ranging in size from 2,817 to 5,743 square feet, the luxury units are priced between $2,352,800 and $3,306,000.