About 14 N Main Street
This stately turn-of-the-century residence on Cranbury's storied Main Street stands as a testament to what a home can become when its history is cherished. The home was built 1910 and designed and occupied by the architect responsible for Princeton's first football stadium. From the fabulous 900 sq. ft. porch, rebuilt in 2020 using the home's own original capstones, enjoy a front-row seat to the charm and vitality of downtown Cranbury. Every corner of this home rewards a closer look. Upon entering, appreciate the quarter-sawn oak floors with characteristic ribbon grain. Push-button light switches retain their period charm, while lath-and-plaster walls were painstakingly tightened, re-taped, and replastered by hand. Original stained glass was lovingly restored with antique glass and fitted with insulating outer panes. The home flows with gracious ease: multiple living spaces connect naturally and can be privately enclosed with original pocket doors, making the layout equally suited to lively entertaining and quiet evenings. The formal dining room offers generous proportions for a proper dinner party. A loft at the top of the stairs serves beautifully as a home office or reading nook, and it opens onto one of the home's several porches. The completely reconstructed kitchen is where historic soul meets serious culinary function: New Jersey soapstone countertops, a custom-built china cabinet, a handsome venting hood, a BlueStar range and French door oven, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Genuine linseed-oil linoleum flooring (a period-appropriate material, not its vinyl imitator) grounds the space, while the former dumbwaiter shaft now serves as a charming pantry, complete with a pulley light that nods to its origins. Upstairs, the primary suite has been completely renovated with custom built-ins, double-paned windows, and a spa-quality bath finished in marble with Perrin & Rowe Edwardian fixtures hardware drawn from the very decade the house was built. A second bath features subway tile, a chrome-legged enamel sink, and an intricate marble floor. The finished attic adds an additional 740 sq. ft. of living space, including a fifth bedroom with whimsical sloped ceilings, a media area with surround sound, a walk-in closet, custom library shelving, its own electrical sub-panel, and mini-split heating and cooling. The basement features a wine cellar finished with hand-painted metallic insulation and custom racking. A French drain and tar-sealed foundation structurally reinforced by engineers, all-copper wiring, and closed- and open-cell spray foam roof insulation provide peace of mind. Outside, mature rose bushes frame beautifully designed gardens accented with thoughtful hardscaping, a setting that feels both private and perfectly in keeping with the neighborhood's historic character. This is a home for a buyer who is ready to enjoy what that time has made possible.
