Self-Taught Renovator Lists Three-Bedroom Pennsport Home for $485,000
A theater set designer who bought a dated South Philadelphia house in April 2020 and refurbished it largely herself is now selling the 1,878-square-foot property.
By Aever Bundji ·
A three-bedroom, 2½-bath contemporary house in Pennsport is on the market for $485,000, offering a look at how one owner turned a dreary property into a bright, personalized home during the pandemic.
Seller Jill Keys bought the house in April 2020. She described its original condition bluntly, calling it "pretty hideous" and likening it to a cardboard box, though she said it had good bones. "I want someone to smile when they walk into my house," she said of her goal for the place.
The timing complicated matters. With COVID-19 spreading rapidly, Keys found it hard to hire people to do the work. She turned to online video tutorials, which she jokingly called "YouTube University," to learn new skills. Those included laying a tile backsplash in the kitchen, painting custom designs on the tile floor of the powder room, and using an orbital sander to refinish the wood floor in the third-floor art studio.
Keys had some advantages. An art director who specializes in theater set design, she described herself as "a Jill of all trades." She also found fellow theater technicians who were looking for work during the pandemic. They built features such as a faux fireplace in the entryway, while Keys painted murals to liven up neutral spaces.
The house has central air conditioning, a finished basement, and a spacious patio and rear deck. An open-format living area leads to a contemporary kitchen with stainless steel appliances and white Shaker-style cabinetry.
The primary bedroom and its en suite full bathroom, which has a jacuzzi tub, are on the second floor. The other two bedrooms are on the third floor. Among the unusual details is a bookcase that opens to reveal a hidden door leading to an outdoor patio off the second floor.
The home totals 1,878 square feet and sits near I-95. It is within easy walking distance of neighborhoods such as East Passyunk Crossing and Queen Village, as well as stores including Acme and Target, small cafes, and Dickinson Square Park. Keys noted the park is a big benefit for her 16-year-old corgi mix.
Keys said she values the neighborhood itself. "I love South Philly," she said. "You get a homey neighborhood feel, but you're close to the bars and the boutiques."
The listing agent is Matthew Condello of BHHS Fox & Roach-Spring House.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
