It was a perfect time for Alison and Joe Rainis to buy the brick twin in the Wissahickon Hills section of Roxborough.
“It was studs and boards,” said Alison. By getting in when they did, she and Joe were able to have a say in the renovations, such as picking wood finishes and countertops.
The original house was built in the late 1940s, and the couple bought the start of the new incarnation in 2020. They had been living in a rented apartment in nearby East Falls.
They enjoyed their time in the Roxborough twin, close to Manayunk and Gorgas Park. But now they have moved with their newborn son to Delaware, where Alison teaches culinary arts at the University of Delaware and where Joe, a mechanical engineer, is from.
The Roxborough house has an open-concept living and kitchen space. The kitchen has white Shaker cabinets with crown moldings and custom hardware, granite countertops, a subway-tile backsplash, an island, stainless steel appliances, and recessed lighting.
The living and dining areas have hardwood floors. The first floor also has a powder room with a custom sink and vanity.
The second floor has the three bedrooms, a hardwood hallway, and a hall bath with custom tile. There are new carpets in the bedrooms, a new heater, and central air.
While many of the houses in the neighborhood have modestly sized basements and garages, Joe said, the renovators provided driveway parking and used the garage space for a much larger finished basement, which has a large entertainment area and a separate laundry and utility room.
The 1,216-square-foot house is listed by Bob Enslin of Kershaw Real Estate for $399,900.