Gracious Gates Mills Georgian Colonial set on nearly six acres for sale

By RITA KUEBER

Oh, do we admire the serene Colonials to be seen throughout Gates Mills, with their New England sensibility and Midwestern hardiness. Many of these gorgeous homes have been standing since Roosevelt was in office, but the opportunity to own one of them doesn’t come along very often. But here is your chance.

The stunning Georgian Colonial at 1789 Berkshire was built in 1932 and designed by Philip Small. Small and his associate Charles Rowley were the go-to designers for the Van Sweringen brothers, and their buildings include Higbee’s Department Store (now Jack Cleveland Casino), John Carroll University’s original buildings, demonstration homes in Shaker Heights, as well as the layout of Shaker Square and the brothers’ own estate, Daisy Hill. Very much like those iconic buildings, this house sits perfectly on nearly six acres of densely wooded rolling hills, with stunning views of the Chagrin Valley.

Set back from the road, the house has broad shoulders but is only one room deep throughout, so the forests and valley are always visible. The main entry has a curved staircase with an arched window to show off the view. To the right is a step-down living room that has floorto-ceiling windows, a walk-in wet bar, and a magnificent fireplace offset with molding and marble trim. Behind the living room is a private sunroom/three-season room that runs along the multi-level back terrace.

The dining room is to the left, beautifully appointed with dark green walls and dentil molding around the fireplace. There is also a magnificent walnut-paneled den/ library with its own fireplace, timbered ceiling, and tall built-in wooden shelving.

Just past the dining room is a kitchen that will quickly become a favorite gathering place. This room has an eyepopping yellow wood floor, a hearth room, and eat-in area. There’s a large wood island with storage doors and

Viking and Sub-Zero appliances in a roomy but efficient preparation area at which any serious cook would love to work. The kitchen also offers views of the valley and terraces behind the house. There’s even a private sitting room off the kitchen, once a space for the help but now a cozy and charming private parlor.

Upstairs, accessible by a front and back staircase, are six bedrooms, five full baths, a laundry room and a bonus room. The owners’ suite has a fireplace again, trimmed in marble, and a private balcony overlooking the valley. The bathroom has the original tile floor and twin sinks but also has some updates to the shower and loo. The next three bedrooms have private/semi-private baths, and the last two bedrooms were quarters for the help but are now suites with plenty of room for extra beds or space for studying or playing.

The lower level is half finished. Outdoors, in addition to the terraced patios, there is a charming pergola with an outdoor kitchen. It’s difficult to describe the quality of the craftsmanship here. The people who built this house brought decades of old-world experience and artistry to create this home. It’s easy to see where those who build today’s extraordinary properties draw their inspiration. It’s houses like these that remind us of our architectural history, but also demand we pay attention to the stewardship of irreplaceable properties like this one. The house at 1789 Berkshire has 8,082 square feet with six bedrooms, seven baths (five full, two half baths), and six fireplaces over two stories. Central air. The detached garage has three bays. Mayfield City schools. The house has 5.7 wooded acres overlooking the Chagrin Valley. Represented by Adam Kaufman of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, 1789 Berkshire is listed at $1,995,000 at press time with annual taxes of $33,760. Contact Adam Kaufman at 216.831.7370, or adamkaufman@howardhanna.com.