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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Saturday, October 10, 2009 10:00 AM

FIRST LOOK: Love it? Buy it!

By LINDA BROWN, First Look

If our First Look house this week could talk it would tell us that it will only be sold to people who will love it, the way it’s been loved by it’s previous three owners over the past 81 years.

Built in 1928, this university-area English Country Tutor home’s exterior is made of cobblestone first brought to America on English ships. The stones were used for weight and ballast on the ocean voyages and, once in America, used to pave early streets and roads.

When Ottawa’s cobblestone streets were upgraded to brick this home’s original owners, Dr. Harold J. Perril and his wife, Ruby, collected the stones to use on the exterior of their home.

Ruby Perril fell in love with the home’s design after visiting a similar one in Kansas City. After securing the blueprints, her father and brother started building her dream home. Construction took only one year.

What used to be a screened-in front porch and breakfast room now is a 22-foot long family room with easy access to the kitchen and formal living room.

The modern kitchen was crafted from what once served as Dr. Perril’s office and examination rooms.

The kitchen features a large informal dining area, double sided pantry and lots of cabinets and drawers.

The unique stainless steel sink has a cutting board designed to fit over the bowl with a garbage disposal for easy food preparation.

While a first floor bath is unusual in a home of this age there is a half bath downstairs and a large storage closet, both courtesy of the home belonging to an early 20th century physician.

The home’s entryway features a marble floor and charming horseshoe shaped doorway leading to the basement.

The iron spiral stairs leading to the basement are from the former Bennett Ice Creamery in Ottawa.

The home’s formal dining room has a small built-in, glass-front display case and built-in shelving for dish and collectibles display. The ceilings are curved; the floor is the original hardwood.

It’s interesting to note that the original owners never used the dining room for its intended purpose. Instead, it was used as a music room and housed a baby grand piano.

Seasoned Ottawa residents can remember walking down the sidewalk in front of the home and hearing piano music coming through the screened-in porch.

The formal living room has beautiful wood cornices over the windows and an English pub fireplace with a marble hearth.

Three bedrooms, a full bath and laundry room are located on the second floor.

The staircase is curved hardwood; the bannister is the original heavy wrought iron, adding more of a European-cottage-look to the home.

The first bedroom has a cedar-lined closet and access to a small second-level balcony.

The second bedroom has two single closets and unique recesses in one wall for collectibles display.

The master bedroom has a double and single closet. A built-in ironing board includes a sleeve press.

An interesting cathedral shaped miniature door in this room opens above the staircase, allowing a second-floor peek to the front door and entry way.

The laundry room is off the full bath. Its former use was a sewing room and there are lots and lots of built-in storage spaces.

This is a lovely home with lots of unique charm and character in an excellent location. For your private first look, please contact Dale Hermreck with Realty Executives of Kansas City at (785) 229-6740.

Linda Brown is marketing director for The Ottawa Herald. E-mail her at lbrown@ottawaherald.com

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FIRST LOOK: Love it? Buy it!

By LINDA BROWN, First Look

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.