McElroy House
ARCHITECT: ROBERT MCELROY
Photographs Thomas Donkin
In 1975, Robert McElroy constructed The McElroy House as a personal residence for his family. Set on a wooded five-acre lot, the home was designed to embody McElroy’s core philosophy of minimal environmental interference, creating a structure that harmonizes with its natural surroundings. Unlike his more standardized contemporary homes built across the Main Line and Valley Forge Mountain, this dwelling featured bespoke elements tailored to his family’s creative lifestyle.
McElroy adapted the construction to the terrain, resulting in a multi-level plan with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls that invite panoramic views of the forest and stream. He drew from West Coast influences, embracing open plans and abundant glazing, but diverged by integrating custom craftsmanship to make the space uniquely personal—including exquisite woodwork throughout the home, such as the kitchen cabinetry and sculptural sprial staricase, crafted by Horace B. Hartshaw, a talented artisan who collaborated with the legendary Wharton Esherick. The house represents a culmination of McElroy’s evolving approach: designs that increased in refinement and complexity to include site-specific adaptations such as extended decks and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.
Ready to sell your McElroy home?
Look no further than Marion Dinofa, the true expert in McElroy real estate. The McElroy family has even entrusted Marion with selling the McElroy family home, a testament to her unparalleled expertise. With two decades of experience selling and cataloging McElroy homes, Marion knows how to attract buyers who truly appreciate the unique style and rich heritage of the McElroy design.
The spiral staircase at The McElroy House emerges as a sculptural masterpiece, its fluid, organic curves meticulously handcrafted by Horace B. Hartshaw. Cantilevered treads appear to float around a central column, creating a sense of lightness and visual drama. Evocative of Wharton Esherick’s mastery of organic form, the staircase merges structural ingenuity with artistic expression, making it both a functional connection between levels and a striking work of craft in its own right.
The kitchen stands as a centerpiece of functional artistry, featuring custom cabinetry by Horace B. Hartshaw, a longtime collaborator of Wharton Esherick. Its organic curves and tactile wood details create a harmonious rhythm between work and home. Open to the adjacent living and dining areas, the space is bathed in natural light and framed by serene views of the surrounding woods and creek.
The living spaces flow naturally in an open-plan configuration, where walls of glass bring in abundant light and frame the wooded surroundings. Hardwood floors provide warmth and continuity throughout the interiors. The library, with its dramatic spiral staircase featuring cantilevered steps and a striking modern fireplace, serves as a sculptural focal point, while thoughtfully curated displays of pottery and art infuse the home with personality and creative energy. The floor-to-ceiling glass in the main living spaces frames verdant views, allowing these spaces to serve as a canvas for creative living, where light dances through the rooms and pottery displays add personal, sculptural accents to everyday gatherings.
The exterior of The McElory House exemplifies Robert McElroy’s commitment to site-responsive design and fosters a seamless connection to the surrounding five-acre landscape. Clad in warm wood siding that weathers gracefully over time, the home’s facade features expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls that dissolve boundaries between indoors and out, framing panoramic views of mature trees and seasonal foliage. Extended decks wrap the structure, inviting outdoor living while adapting to the terrain, creating a treehouse-like serenity that evolves with the natural rhythms of the Pennsylvania countryside.
