Although excited for their new Bermuda adventure, saying goodbye to their beautiful Mount Airy home, where they practiced their first dance for their wedding and saw their son take his first steps, is bittersweet for Lauren and Ben. Here is the story of 117 West Allens Lane!
Lauren, Ben, Beau and Boone the Golden Retriever
117 W Allens Lane | Mount Airy
Represented by Kristin McFeely.
How would you describe your personal interior design style?
Mid-century modern/coastal modern.
If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
While it's hard to choose, we enjoy playing anything from Ryan Bingham or The National on our record player.
How would you describe your neighborhood?
Diverse. Mt. Airy is a truly eclectic neighborhood where you will meet similar people as well as people completely different than you.
If you could use your house as the setting for a remake of a movie, which movie would it be?
The Royal Tanenbaums. The multiple stories and intricate details of an old home reminded Ben of the house that the family lives in during the movie.
What was your non-negotiable when it came to finding your dream home?
Access to green space and lots of natural light. Both can be difficult to find in Philadelphia, but the proximity to trails and the amount of light sold us on the house.
What's your favorite room? Why?
Living room - Aside from the amount of natural light and view of the backyard, so many life events have happened for us in that room. It is the place that we have spent the most time and have so many memories. We practiced our first dance for our wedding on the floor in there. We also saw our son take his first steps on that same floor.
What is one thing you need in your home to make it yours?
Family photos.
What makes you (or your family) laugh?
Watching Boone and Beau experience life.
If you could throw a theme party in your house, what would be the theme?
Dinosaur-themed (we deferred to Beau on this one). It was the theme of his third birthday party that we hosted here, and it was a big hit!
A day spent running around the neighborhood: what's your first stop and last stop?
First stop - High Point Cafe for pastries, crepes, and coffee. Last stop - Earth, Bread, and Brewery to enjoy salads, flatbreads, and craft beer with family and friends.
How has your home changed from move-in day?
Overhead lighting - We invested not only in the electrical infrastructure of the home but also focused on installing overhead lighting in every room. It's not common for older homes, but made a huge difference in making the home ours.
What's your favorite memory of your home?
We will never forget the countless hikes the 4 of us took on the Cresheim Valley Trail. Our best days are spent walking to the Valley Green Inn to grab ice cream, dinner, or to just watch the ducks on the Wissahickon Creek.
What was the catalyst to you purchasing a new home?
Ben got a promotion with his job that is taking us to Bermuda for 3 years! We are excited for the adventure but sad to say goodbye to 117 West Allens Lane.
What's your favorite piece of Philly culture?
The food. We will definitely miss it when we move overseas!
