The Thursday Four: Wholly Trinities

I’ve got a love-hate relationship with Trinity houses. I mean, you’ve heard the criticisms. They are small. They are cramped. They are utterly impractical for anyone besides singles or fastidious couples, and ones with good knees for steep stairs, at that. All these things are mostly true. If you have oversized furniture, or a sizeable collection of anything, or if you haven’t made peace with the minimalism trend, you’re gonna have a rough time. The tiniest Trinities are just 100 square feet per floor – I gave one such listing the What the Philly treatment a couple months ago – and I’d argue that these homes are pretty much useless for modern living. There are plenty of Trinities that are bigger, however, and these are the ones on which I’m going to focus.

Here’s the flip side to Trinities. They are quintessentially Philadelphian, and owning one is like owning a piece of history. The fact that they are small means that they are affordable, which can’t be said for a lot of local real estate – especially in Center City. Their quirkiness lends them an undeniable charm. And, like the dollhouses they resemble, they are almost endlessly customizable. Given enough energy and time, plus a bit of investment cash, you can model your Trinity into just about anything you need/want it to be.

This Thursday Four, therefore, is going to be dedicated to the “love” side of my relationship with Trinities. I found a quartet of the cutest, most original, winningest bandboxes in Center City, and now I’m showing them to you. Check ’em out, and tell me afterwards if you still feel the same about this type of property.

1.) 412 Bainbridge St. APT D (Queen Village)
2 beds, 1 bath
1,094 sq.ft.
$280,000

A door of one’s own: the entrance on a narrow alley is very traditional for this style of home.

What I Love: The square footage (!), the rooftop deck, the fireplace and built-ins
The Scoop: Two bedrooms, over 1,000 square feet, and THAT VIEW? Sign me up.

Built-ins! These have to be my favorite feature in older houses.

I love the muted gray walls and light trim – it’s a great way to open up a narrow space.

2.) 1902 Waverly St. (Rittenhouse Square)
2 beds, 3 baths
882 sq.ft.
$469,900

Stately red brick and dark shutters give this home a classic Philly appearance.

What I Love: The vintage-y bathroom on the second floor, swoonworthy red brock exterior, big kitchen
The Scoop: Calling this a two bedroom is a serious stretch, I think – you’d have just about no living space – but having a bathroom on each floor is wicked sweet.

This living room is proof that an old style can learn new tricks: the airiness and brightness here is totally 21st century.

This second bedroom is being used as an office and sitting room.

3.) 506 Clymer St. #A (Queen Village)
1 bed, 1 bath
447 sq.ft.
$200,000

As one of four homes framing a trim little courtyard, this Trinity offers the best combination of private space and community living.

What I Love: The skylight in the bedroom, and the courtyard arrangement of the four units on the property.
The Scoop: Okay, so I lied about not giving love to the tiniest Trinities. This one is an exception, having the cleverest utilization of space <500 feet that I’ve ever seen.

Not every Trinity kitchen need be a dark little den. The light brick here would be at home in any fashionable homes’s cooking space.

I just adore the juxtaposition of the big TV mounted above the fireplace, with its original molding intact. Gorgeous.

4.) 777 S 3rd St. #5 (Queen Village)
2 beds, 1 bath
534 sq.ft.
$229,900

Room to grow: with ample square footage, the living room in this Trinity proves that these homes can indeed house a family.

What I Love: Cathedral ceiling in the master bedroom, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, the Juliet balcony
The Scoop: Again… you can’t really fit two bedrooms in that square footage; the second floor is, by necessity, living space. But once you make peace with that, this one has some serious flow. Plus, the updates are absolutely fantastic.