Photograph by WOW Video Tours
Eat, sleep, work, and vacation in this sprawling Neoclassical home in the heart of East Walnut Hills. The seven-bedroom mansion with five full and two half baths has three levels of meticulously preserved spaces and current owner Bob Hecking says it’s a “COVID oasis.” It features a gym, theater, library, large yard with a pool for staycations, and even a separate space for offices and warehousing in the carriage house.
Photograph by WOW Video Tours
The facade boasts four Doric columns and stairs up to the double-door entry. Inside, the foyer features pocket doors on each side; to the right is the library, with bookshelves galore. On the other side of the foyer, there’s a formal living room with a coffered ceiling, wainscoting, and several windows that bring in loads of natural sunlight. Along with the rest of the first floor, the nearby dining room features hardwood floors. Around the corner, the kitchen has high ceilings and features stainless appliances, granite countertops, and separate gas cooktop.
Photograph by WOW Video Tours
Unusual for a historic home, Hecking says it’s naturally energy efficient. Though it’s not officially solar, it was designed to take advantage of the natural sunlight. Twenty windows line the southern side of the home, while six are on the north side. “The southern side is where the sun travels through the sky and puts heat in the house,” Hecking says. “The northern never sees the sun so it’s cold on that side. Builders in those days knew that, so they put less windows on the north side.” Additionally, these windows are double hung: Opening the bottom lets cool air in. Opening the top lets hot air out, allowing constant air circulation.
Photograph by WOW Video Tours
Photograph by WOW Video Tours
The side of the home with the fewer windows is the kitchen and its cozy living room area. The space is perfect for a couch, chair, and entertainment center positioned next to the beverage station complete with a wine fridge, wine storage rack, and cabinets to stash glasses. Up the first flight of stairs, there’s a landing with a built-in bench and windows that overlook the kitchen. The second and third floors include several modernized spaces like updated bathrooms, a luxe master, and the “blue oval” office. The oval office features concave doors that literally make an oval and Hecking says the doors are some of the best craftsmanship he’s ever seen.
Outside, there’s several porches including one off the kitchen and a patio by the in-ground pool. But one of the best perks of the home? The carriage house. Hecking says that when he and his wife moved in, they prepped the two-story detached space as a place to run their business. It includes two offices, a conference area and general office space, and potential room for a warehouse. It’s the perfect spot to work from home, use as an in-law suite, or convert into an Airbnb. “It’s perfect because you can have employees come park in the driveway,” Hecking says. “You could start your own business and have your own warehouse downstairs and your office upstairs.” In fact, a handful of big-name businesses started in garages, including Ford, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Disney, Yankee Candle, and Microsoft, to name a few. A secret for the next homeowner? Hecking adds that there’s a hidden room that only the new owner will be able to find!
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