Ampler’s 20-acre non-working farm was the perfect location for Lou and Maggie Polisano’s new family home. The couple appreciated the extensive wooded estate and the privacy it provided. They bought the land in 2013 and spent the following year building the home they called GraCat Farm, for their two daughters Grace, 23, and Catherine, 21.
“We were looking for an old farmhouse without the agony of having to fix everything,” said Maggie, director of CamaPlan, an Ambler-based financial services company. The use of reclaimed materials for millwork, plinths, stairs, boards and planks was a priority.
“The stone in the house has its origins in an early 1800s barn in northern Pennsylvania,” said Lou, COO and owner of Center City-based RockITdata. “The bricks in the clay are from a demonstration in South Philly, the Belgian block is from a demo at the bottom of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the large ceiling beams from a barn in upstate New York, and the glass-shelf trusses behind the bar are bucket hooks from our horse stables.”
The 7,000-square-foot home was designed by period Malvern Architecture and includes five bedrooms, four full and half baths, a gym, wine cellar, and a full basement. The family room opens onto a spacious outdoor terrace overlooking the creek and the meadow beyond.
“The house is a mixture of our backgrounds,” Maggie said. “Lo wanted more of a farmhouse, and loved the warmth of a farmhouse, but I wanted higher ceilings, big French doors, and lots of windows to let in the sun and keep the house light.”
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Architect Jeff Dolan helped Polisanos design an open floor plan to maximize natural light. The kitchen, family room, large room, and basic bedroom all have southern exposures. The house has three fireplaces, one wood fired in the family room and two gas fireplaces in the dining room and bedroom.
“Inspired by the work of early 20th-century Philadelphia architect R. Brognard Okie, we enjoyed combining the farm’s timeless aesthetic with the family’s goals of living and entertaining,” said Dolan, co-founder of Period Architecture. “A home where muddy boots and muddy paws welcome.”
A tribute to the Florida home where Maggie grew up, GraCat features arches throughout, including the porte-cochère leading into the house and the entrance to the house, which affords views of the arches in two directions.
“We wanted a cozy feeling when you walked into the house,” said Maggie, who created an inviting space to entertain friends and family. “It should have been quintessential to give you the sense of the ancient charm that these farmhouses had.”
The gorgeous gorgeous room has cathedral ceilings and a bar where guests can have a drink before heading to the connected kitchen. The couple, who enjoy cooking, designed a kitchen that is easy to use but big enough for a gathering of friends.
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The family was happy to host pre-pandemic events, most notably the annual Christmas of the Seven Fishes. Guests gathered around the large central island while the couple prepared the meal. A separate dining room was used for more intimate or formal occasions.
The house provides a natural flow to make entertaining easy. Separate sets of French doors lead from both the bar and dining room to the blue patio in the backyard. The dining room is used as a buffet where friends can eat, and then out onto the patio seating around the fireplace.
Maggie’s favorite place in the house is the view from the family room. “When we first moved in, it felt like a resort,” she said. “You have a lot of beautiful views on the long road, and it’s quiet. It’s a great place to have coffee in the morning, at night we watch TV and on Friday nights we eat pizza or fast food. It’s a very comfortable place to live.”
Before moving to GraCat, the couple raised their children at Ambler. They appreciate the small town feel with great restaurants and shops.
“I love that the house and property are a gathering place,” Lu said. “We do outdoor activities like snowmobile and 4×4 rides, and in the past, we’ve hosted Thanksgiving with 55 people sitting at one long table.”
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