The Space

by J. Cooper Robb

While parts of Bucks County have become overdeveloped, Newtown Township has worked to retain its open spaces. Buoyed by the bucolic Tyler State Park and a main street lined with charming shops, art galleries and top-flight restaurants, Newtown boasts the best of both urban sophistication and comfortable country living. We visited the home of Trish Copland, a house whose contemporary design fits easily into its wooded surroundings.

How long have you been living here?
"The house is 19 years old. We've been here 12 years."

Have you done a lot of work on it?
"Most of the work we've done in the past three years. We completely redid the kitchen, the floors and the bathrooms. We also put on a new roof, new siding and new heating. You name it, we've done it. It's almost like a new house."

Was it a nightmare redoing the kitchen?
"My husband did it, and it actually didn't take that long considering we redid everything including the floor. I especially like the island. The top is Brazilian soapstone. It weighs about 200 pounds. If it gets a scratch, you can just rub it out, which is great. When it arrived, it looked like slate, but when you wet it, it goes dark. My husband puts hot pans on it, and it's fine. It makes me nervous to do that."

How many bedrooms and baths do you have?
"We have four bedrooms and two and a half baths. We have three children. Only one son is still at home."

Will you move when he leaves?
"Probably not. We've done too much to the house. We've increased the value a lot, and when you do things to the house, you want to enjoy it."

What else do you like about the house?
"I like the size of the rooms. For instance we have a big dining room."

I love how you have a deck with a barbecue on it right out the dining room window.
"The lower deck runs the width of the house. This part is covered, so it's nice and sheltered. We also have a deck off the master bedroom. It has a pretty view of the perennials in the yard and the woods behind us. It has the sun on it all day, though, and it's hot to sit up there. I don't use it as much as I thought I would."

The vaulted ceiling in the living room really opens the place up. What room overlooks the living room?
"That's my office. I don't have to work out of the house a lot, but when I do, I love having the office open like that."

How tall are the windows in the living room? They're gorgeous.
"The ceiling is about 20 feet. I'd guess the windows are 12 feet."

And you have an outside hot tub.
"It used to be just a flat stone patio. My husband decked it and put up a fence for privacy. We go out at night, and it's very relaxing."

Got a great space? Email J. Cooper Robb (jrobb@philadelphiaweekly.com) with your name, neighborhood and contact info.