Many people, as I, have long admired this special property in the heart of Hopewell Borough and wondered what goes on in that beautiful carriage house?  The owner and his sons constructed this 1200 square foot building over a number of years for his current use as a book arts/letterpress printing studio, and the next owner will re-imagine the space as they move their creative pursuits into this special building.  With the requisite town permissions, it could be made into a living space, as it is already fully insulated, sheetrocked, trimmed in natural cedar wood, and wired to meet residential electric requirements. A propane heater on the first floor is supplemented by a Jotul wood stove on the second. Particularly notable is the functioning hoist beam to pull items up to the second floor as well as the north facing roof windows and storage loft in the upper level.  The custom-made Spanish cedar doors and hand-split cedar shake roof are among the many unique quality features of the carriage house at 24 E Prospect Street.   Welcome to this small town surrounded by farmland and preserved open space - once called “Vermont in New Jersey”- Hopewell is only 8 miles from Princeton and is conveniently commutable to New York City and Philadelphia. As you enter the three-season porch of the home, you will begin to feel the historic character that greets you thoughout your tour. After hanging your outerwear on the porch coat pegs, come through the front door and enjoy the full width common room which offers two discreet sitting areas, one with large windows and a wall of mahogany bookshelves and the other focused on the wood-burning fireplace insert with its Mercer tile surround and flanking stained glass windows. Next to this is the long dining room with its box window and a step further on is the country kitchen with a granite topped island and countertops, stained glass fronted cabinets and cleverly recessed refrigerator to maximize the kitchen space. You’ll feel this home’s history in the original oak wood flooring, natural chestnut woodwork, many windows and first floor open floor plan. From the dining room and then off of the first floor hallway, you’ll find two bedrooms and a full-bath which is completely tiled with Mercer tiles. Something to really enjoy! The main second floor stairway takes you into the maker’s space- crafts, hobbies, office (you decide how to use it!) and there are two more large bedrooms, each with new Velux roof windows, armoires and storage in the eaves, as well as a marble-floored full bathroom.  Originally, the second floor was semi-finished, and the current owners renovated this space for their growing family of three children. A second staircase coming up from the kitchen and an outside entrance door leads into the rear bedroom. The dry full basement with French drains is accessed from inside as well as through outside bilco doors and it houses the newer working systems for the house including a 2011 oil tank and 2012 oil burner and hot water heater.  But that’s not the best part of this property as the owners believe! The privacy of the lot and the accessibility to downtown and the local elementary school, to restaurants and parks and preserved open space, and most of all the multiple outbuildings truly add to the uniqueness of this offering. The re-imagined c.1880s white carriage house with its large gothic window is a great building in which to store the makings of your next project, or for any of a number of  your inspirations.  But it’s the combination of the original Craftsman-style home with the newer—yet sympathetic—carriage house, and the antique outbuilding and garden shed, that’s going to grab your heart and not let this property out of your sight—or mind.  Come pay us a visit with your favorite real estate agent today.