Spacious elegance and comfort in Charles Village
Historic home offers beauty – and a short walk to the BMA
Overlooking Wyman Park Dell in the historic Charles Village neighborhood, an Arts and Crafts townhouse at 2943 N. Charles St. is on the market for $749,000.
This four-story, 5,000-squarefoot stunner has seven bedrooms and 31⁄2 bathrooms. A separate basement unit adds another two bedrooms, a kitchen and a full bath. Meticulously maintained, the home is a mix of old and new and comes with its own slice of Baltimore history.
Designed by architect John R. Forsythe and built by James T. Miller, the home was completed in 1909 and sold to businessman George Kranz and his wife, Regina. Kranz owned a piano store and was one of the many people who lost their businesses in the Great Fire of 1904.
A vestibule opens to the foyer through the original leaded-glass door. The wood wainscoting and the large main staircase preview the home’s elegance. Original hardwood floors with inlay can be found here and throughout the home.
To the left through a set of pocket doors is a sitting room with 9-foot ceilings and decorative plasterwork on the ceiling and molding. A decorative mantel with a large mirror takes center stage in the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light. An arched doorway cradled by a pair of white wooden pillars leads to the music room with the same decorative plasterwork.
Beyond that is the dining room wrapped with dark wood paneling, giving it a refined and sophisticated feel. An original mural depicting Roman edifices wraps around the top of the walls and there’s another decorative wood mantel — one of seven throughout the house.
The kitchen has remodeled and modernized. A Viking gas stove and hood and other stainless-steel appliances have been added. Cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and an island will please any chef. A back staircase leads to the second and third floors.
The first floor also offers a powder room, with a laundry area next to it with a stackable washer and dryer. The original laundry chute still works and connects to the other floors, so no running up and down stairs to gather laundry.
The owner, Dawna Cobb, is downsizing and loves the proximity to the Johns Hopkins University, the Baltimore Museum of Art and public transportation just steps away.
“It was a wonderful place to raise kids, cook dinners — and I even hosted a wedding,” she said.
The second floor features three bedrooms and two full baths. The renovated master bath has a glass shower and a claw-foot tub. The large windows of the master suite overlook Wyman Park Dell across Charles Street. The hall bathroom has a beautiful original stainedglass window, as does the thirdfloor bathroom.
One of Cobb’s favorite spots is a private outdoor porch with a wet bar off the second floor.
The third floor has four rooms and a full bathroom. The front room also has views of the park. Utility bills are reduced by solar panels that have been leased through 2034. A landscaped yard and a detached garage complete the property.