729 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill: The Historic Greenlaw House

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - March 7, 2016 - PRLog -- A stone walkway and stately stone hedge-walls greet owners, guests, and admirers alike to The Greenlaw House, at 729 East Franklin Street in the heart of Chapel Hill. Built in 1922 for UNC English Professor Edwin Greenlaw, one of the first five Kenan Professors at UNC and the third dean of the UNC Graduate School, The Greenlaw House consists of three stories of living space and a full basement on a .96 acre homesite featuring over 1,000 species of strikingly manicured trees, shrubs, and perennials. Only four families have owned this traditional colonial style home in its almost 100-year history. The opportunity is now available for a new owner to live, laugh, and love in this treasured estate.

“The Greenlaw House is absolutely fabulous,” says Broker René Hendrickson of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services York Simpson Underwood Realty. “The current owners are  internationally recognized interior designers who have completely restored the home inside and out with a focus on elegant design, color, functionality, and modern conveniences. I’m delighted for the next chapter to begin for this magnificent property.”

Upon entering The Greenlaw’s portico with 10’ architectural columns, a decorative metal roof, and a marvelous red front door, your eyes will feast upon a grand foyer hosting an exquisite winding three-story staircase with the home’s original mahogany banister and spindles. Spacious sunlit formal living and dining rooms flank the foyer, with restored quarter sawn oak floors welcoming your arrival. The patina of this original flooring continues throughout the first and second levels of the home. Notable highlights in the living room are the impressive fireplace with Egyptian-veined limestone surround and hearth and the original restored mantle. Across the hall, the dining room features original restored crown molding and a stunning antique crystal chandelier. New Bosch appliances grace the gourmet kitchen, including a stainless steel refrigerator/freezer, a five gas-burner range/electric oven, and a dishwasher. The cabinetry, bar-height island, granite counter tops, and lighting have all been recently updated, resulting in a fantastic heart-of-the-home space. The first floor also houses a sunroom and a morning room, both overlooking inviting views of multiple evergreen, deciduous, and fragrant plantings. Rounding out the first floor is a den with custom-upholstered walls, a fireplace with leathered Brazilian granite surround and hearth, and an ensuite full bath; this room could easily function as a first floor bedroom.

The second floor of The Greenlaw House includes two natural light-filled owner suites, two additional bedrooms, two original restored/uniquely designed fireplaces, a laundry closet (in addition to one on the first floor), and three full baths. Up one more level, the third floor is home to a writing room, a large game room, two cedar walk-in closets, two storage spaces, and an original wash basin. Flooring on the third level is the original restored “knotless” 100 year-old pine flooring; exposed ceiling beams in the writing and game rooms have been stained black for added appeal.

Below The Greenlaw House is a full basement of approximately 1,400 square feet, not included in the home’s 4,000+ square feet of finished living space. The heated basement provides ample dry storage with three above-grade windows for natural light, painted brick walls, and a small area perfect for a custom wine cellar. And lest we forget, The Greenlaw also includes a self-contained Guest House of approximately 700 square feet, reminiscent of a Tribeca loft! Built in 2001, the Guest House features 9’ ceilings, oak floors, 14 windows, laundry/dryer connections, a kitchenette, two closets, bedroom/dining/living areas, a full bath, and front and rear porches. The Guest House is set back far enough from the main house that it could be utilized as an income-producing property if desired.

Numerous other features abound at The Greenlaw, listed for sale at $2,000,000. Even with all of the above descriptive information, this spectacular home simply cannot be depicted with justice in words … You must see The Greenlaw House for yourself! Contact René Hendrickson at 919-923-1377 or Rene@renehendrickson.com for a private showing. This opportunity to own this historic slice of Blue Heaven won’t last long!