Nestled on one of Baltimore’s finest residential streets, 21 Blythewood Road once served as the residence of Howard Head, a visionary in the sports of tennis and skiing, who invented the oversized tennis racquet and laminated metal skis. Head meticulously redesigned the five-bedroom luxury home and grounds with wonderful living and recreational spaces. As if updating Head's vision, the current homeowners have brought the home into the 21st century with many improvements including new white oak hardwood flooring in many rooms, modern lighting throughout, closet systems and meticulous maintenance of its state of the art systems.
Located on nearly two acres in the highly desirable Blythewood community, this English country style home welcomes guests into a garden courtyard accented by an antique lamppost. The beaded oak entry door opens into a classic vestibule and foyer. A wide cased portal leads into the adjoining living room featuring an oversized fireplace, concealed bar, built-ins, French doors to the front garden and a breathtaking window wall with sliding doors to the two-tier, 11,000 gallon Koi pond and bluestone patio. Steps from the foyer lead to the solarium with two walls of glass and greenhouse ceiling as well as a wide stone planter open to the adjacent dining room with a fireplace and doors to the patio. The tremendous, Trish Houck designed custom gourmet kitchen provides extensive cabinetry, quartz and granite counters, professional grade stainless appliances and an attached breakfast area, perfect to daydream over coffee through two full-length windows at the patio and pond. A hall leads to the chestnut library with built-in bookcases and cabinetry as well as floor length triple casement windows and a fireplace. A fully renovated powder room and an exquisite family room with vaulted, wood paneled ceiling, built-ins, wet bar and billiard area complete the main level. A large hall on the second floor flows to a seating area with a fireplace and banister overlook. A private hall provides entry to the primary bedroom suite where a window wall with sliding doors opens onto a large balcony overlooking the Koi pond, pool and extensive woodland gardens. Pocket doors lead into the attached dressing room with extensive custom fitted wardrobe cabinetry and a triple casement window and into the primary bath with heated porcelain tile floor, full-width cantilevered double vanity and glass-enclosed shower stall. Two additional, large en-suite bedrooms (one with fireplace and fully renovated bath) and a bedroom passage leads to bedrooms four and five as well as a hall bath.
The third level provides a walk-in cedar closet and additional storage. A back foyer on the lower level leads to the attached three-car garage while a separate hall opens to the laundry room, climate-controlled wine room, exercise room and bath. In addition to the extraordinary back patio and Koi pond, extensive decking and patios lead to the picturesque pool complex with a hot tub, built-in bench seating, and a large custom built-in teak bar. The pool area overlooks the fabled tennis court, specifically designed below grade to ensure a natural barrier to wind. This competition quality tennis complex is one of the most beautiful private courts in the country and many tennis luminaries have played on this fabled surface.
Terraced lawns accented by extensive stone garden walls lead to the wooded hillside garden area with floating curved steps, a man-made stream and waterfalls creating a fairytale setting. Designed throughout with state-of-the-art lighting and irrigation and stormwater management systems to maintain this lush venue and showcase it to the best advantage. Located on nearly two gorgeous and thoughtfully landscaped acres, this is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most spectacular properties in Baltimore.
