The enchantment begins along the stacked-stone wall as one follows the winding cobblestones up the driveway until this storybook cottage reveals itself, shaded beneath the canopy of mature Malvern trees, sitting before an impressive wall-like hill and atop a blanket of native greenery.

Up the marble steps and through the front door, one is greeted by a center hall facing the rear entryway, mirroring the front. To the left, a sun-filled formal living room has been updated with recessed lighting to flatter the original floors and detailed millwork. The fireplace, flanked by matching built-ins, opposes a pair of double French doors that open onto the main patio.

The kitchen, recently opened and updated, is optimal for the entertainment of many or the intimate dining of a few. The clean lines, veined counters and the textured take on the subway tile backsplash all feel current yet timeless. From the kitchen, a back door leads to the rear patio, the hill’s green backdrop overwhelms with a feel of charmed seclusion.

Upstairs, on the left, one finds two bedrooms, both ample in size with the engaging geometry of the dormer windows and roofline. Across the landing, an owners suite enjoys a large footprint and the light from several windows. An attached bath has been recently updated with the same clean and understated elegance of the kitchen.

The lower level is the surprise. A stone floored, walk-out level living space, with an attached, updated full bath, is ideal for guests. On the other side of the staircase, another den (or office) with adjacent laundry center, accesses the attached two-car garage.

Outside, one has their choice of tranquil settings for hosting or solitary reflection. Whether it’s morning coffee on the rear patio, a quiet conversation by the front lily pond, or friendly visits on the side patio under the stringed bulbs, there are countless mini-getaways around these wooded half acre grounds. From the side patio, one climbs the hand-laid steps that wind up the hill to the top yard, a charmed clearing that looks over the storybook rooftop. It’s from the vantage of this hill that one can appreciate the English cottage charm and the “cabin-in-the woods” mystique while enjoying the access and conveniences of Ruxton.