Ann Arbor and Saline, MI Area Real Estate: Piper Partners Announces the Sale of Rare Victorian Home

Ann Arbor, MI, September 18, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Piper Partners announced today that a rare Victorian home has gone on the market. The home is a residential example of the Second Empire architectural style.

Victorian-era architecture spans 1860 to 1900, and Second Empire architecture is widely considered the first true Victorian style. The style originated in France and became popular in England before reaching the United States.

Characteristics of Second Empire architecture are: Vertical proportions; a mansard roof with dormers (a steeply-sloped roof that is flat on top); arched entryways between rooms and ornamental woodwork.

This 4800-square foot home boasts four bedrooms, four full baths, two half baths, a parlor, sitting room, dining room, library, kitchen with butler's pantry, various sunny porches and a garden room. Its fine woodwork includes tulipwood, oak, butternut, walnut and mahogany.

With the current owners' help, the home, in 1996 a pallid gray outside with a linoleum-laden 1960s kitchen, has been meticulously restored to its original grandeur, right down to the Victorian color schemes and hand-printed wallpaper. Though nearing the 150-year mark, the home has all the modern amenities. And throughout renovations, the owners bowed respectfully to history.

While refurbishing the kitchen, they tore out layers of linoleum to find oak. They rebuilt porches using original blueprints as guides, stripped, plastered and then painted in Victorian-era colors. They finished the attic and coaxed an original day sink they found in the attic into working again, among many, many improvements.

"It's a rare opportunity for special potential owners," said Andy Piper of Piper Partners, the owners' realtor. "Examples of Second Empire don't come along often. It's a style seen in municipal buildings rather than residences. Saline actually has two, the Davenport house and the Curtiss mansion, which was built three years later. "

"It is an extraordinary example of Victorian architecture in Michigan and it has the benefit of being within walking distance of downtown Saline," Piper says. "It is perfect for the family that wants a prominent, historic small town home."

The City of Saline was one of two Michigan cities ranked in the top 50 "Best Place to Live in the Country" by CNN/Money Magazine. Situated on the Saline River, its main street is part of US-12, the historic Chicago-to-Detroit route. Historically, it was the meeting point of 7 major Indian trails.

302 E. Henry, Saline Michigan for sale. The historic home is listed with Keller Williams Realty at $699,900. Call Andy Piper at 734-604-8242 for a private showing.

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