Malvern mansion with landscaping by Longwood Gardens architect to list for $4.25M

A Main Line "resort style" home of nearly 11,000 square feet with landscaping by a Longwood Gardens botanist architect is about to be put on the market for $4.25million.

The original owners are selling the five-bedroom house with eight bathrooms on Firethorn Lane, Malvern. It was built in 2009. The house has a saltwater swimming pool, tennis court, Koi ponds and a wine cellar with 1,200 bottles. It is also ideal for entertaining. The three-acre property is located off Sugartown Road and not far from Malvern Preparatory School.

Joanne Van Hoorebeke of Engel & Volkers and Alec Kearns, the listing agents for the home, have already received interest from potential buyers.

According to the property records, the home is owned and managed by a trust for the Alonso Family. Kearns stated that the owners wanted to design a property with a resort-style atmosphere, while also being efficient to maintain.

Kearns said that the backyard is "the defining feature" of the house, with its seven seasons of flowers blooming throughout the year. The landscape is dotted with koi ponds, serenity gardens and a private tennis court nestled between evergreen trees. A large patio surrounds the pool, leading to an outdoor dining area and covered seating area.

The covered patio leads to the lower level of the home, which is often used for entertainment. The lower floor has a sauna as well as a billiards, media, gym, and wood-paneled bars. Kearns & Van Hoorebeke say the bar area has enough space for a bar staff and includes a dishwasher and refrigerator as well as seating and a small wine cooler. The 1,200 bottle wine cellar is located just off the bar area.

The living room features floor-to ceiling windows and a fireplace. Open concept and arched doors flow into a kitchen with a panoramic view of the backyard, a dining area and a wood paneled office.

Two suites are located on the upper floor: a junior and a primary. The two suites are equipped with fireplaces, walk-in wardrobes, and spacious ensuite bathrooms. The primary features a spa-aromatherapy bath. The upstairs corridor is lined with three more bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom.

According to Kearns & Hoorebeke the technology integrated into the home is another distinguishing feature.

Kearns explained that you can control all aspects of your home by pressing a single button. This includes the lighting, the blinds, the heated floor and the music.

Kearns believes the house will attract an athlete or someone who wants to upgrade from an older Main Line home to something newer.

Kearns stated that "one of the biggest differences is the fact that the majority of homes built above $3 million in Gladwyne and other parts of Chester County were built in the 1800s or early 1900s." They don't have the same technology. "Everything in this home was designed to make running a house as simple as possible."