Spacious home in Abington with a three

Tim and Tracy Panella had planned to stay in their Abington home until their three boys graduated from college. But in 2018 their plans suddenly changed. They were on a real estate agent's website to check out a friend's home for sale when another listing, for a "unique" home built circa 1920, caught their eye.

"From the outside, the house looked like a small cottage, but it had these massive rooms inside," said Tim, a freelance musician. "It was deceptive from the street."

The two-story, 2,400-square-foot home had a primary bedroom suite with a private bathroom that was especially appealing to Tracy. It also boasted a wooded backyard with a koi pond, a kitchen complete with high-end appliances, and a pub-like bar in the basement. A leak in the bathroom required some work, and the deck was in bad shape. But they had a vision and couldn't wait to get started.

Upon moving in, the Panellas immediately gutted the upstairs bathroom and replaced the bathtub with a shower.

They also repurposed the playroom into a dining room, and turned what had been the dining room into an office for Tracy, adding doors for privacy. They converted the cozy room's fireplace to gas and outfitted the space with comfortable chairs. It became especially important during the pandemic when she was working from home.

Outside the office, the first floor is largely open space, comprising the kitchen, living room, and dining room.

"There's nothing more fun for me on a Sunday afternoon than having the football game on while I'm cooking up an Italian Sunday dinner," said Tracy, who works in quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. Once a month, she cooks Sunday dinner for the whole family. "I get to have the warmth of the family all together in that space."

The large kitchen features a Wolf cooktop with a flattop griddle, a warming drawer, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator with a clear door. The couple like the look, but it forces them to keep the refrigerator clean and organized, Tim said.

Both the living room and dining room feature exposed-brick walls, which were originally exterior walls before the rooms were bumped out by a previous owner. The living room is where Tim, an avid gamer, enjoys playing video games on the large TV. It's also where the family often catches up when the boys come home, watching sports, movies, or .

Windows and a sliding-glass door allow natural light to flood into the dining room, highlighting the deep blue walls. The midcentury modern table, surrounded by chairs from a vintage store, is a favorite gathering spot for the family.

The basement includes Tim's music studio, and a huge bar for sharing libations with friends. The bar was especially popular during the pandemic when the family could go downstairs with the people in their inner circle, feeling like they had entered the neighborhood pub in the safety of their own home.

"It had a dual purpose as a great place to hang out and watch a game or movie, and also a place where we felt comfortable with the kids hanging out with their friends," said Tracy. "It gave us a bit of a sense of normalcy."

As much as the Panellas appreciate their indoor spaces, it's the outdoors where the property really shines. They hired Beaver Building & Remodeling in Chalfont to tear out a decaying two-story wooden deck and build a new three-story composite deck in its place. Due to the hilly terrain, the deck needed helical piles, as opposed to traditional concrete footers. Nearly 40 of these supports were drilled into the ground using specialized equipment.

Music is played through a sound system on all three levels, installed by Hatboro-based All Systems Audio & Video.

"We wanted additional living space," said Tim. "It feels like a tree house when the trees are full and the waterfall is running in the pond."

The deck's top floor includes a firepit amid a large orange and wicker sectional couch, aimed toward an outdoor TV. In the summer, flower boxes filled with colorful annuals surround the space. One flight down, a landing leads to a utility closet containing the water hookup and planting and koi pond supplies.

Another flight down is the pergola, a comfortable covered spot for taking in the koi pond and flower gardens while relaxing on cushy chairs.

With the help of Jenkintown-based AquaReale , the couple also installed a waterfall in the pond in front of the house.

"I love being near the water," said Tracy. "It's a calm and tranquil happy place."