You’ll know when you pass through the stone pillars & slowly wind up the curving road that you’ve arrived at something special. 20 Hickory Drive, just .5 miles from downtown Maplewood, sits back from the street just waiting for you to take in the grand front porch spanning the width of the home. You’ll quickly envision hosting friends & neighbors, Saturday afternoons playing football in the front yard, or relaxing on the porch swing admiring the old-growth trees that bring so much character to this expansive property. Not much is left to be desired in this 6 bed, 3.1 bath home. If you love original details, you’ll notice the trademark wide-halled entry, original wood floors with ribbon inlay and elegant crown molding. If space is on your wish list – you’ll quickly count the perfect amount of rooms to dine, relax, work and play! Updated windows, central air, and recessed lighting will thrill you if modern updates are your jam! The large kitchen overlooking the fenced in backyard & generous deck will satisfy your desire to have the perfect flow for entertaining. The 2nd and 3rd floors keep the “wow factor” going with spacious rooms, gorgeous light & modern updates. You’ll be so pleased with the primary ensuite which features a giant walk-in closet, laundry, and a beautiful custom bathroom with soaking tub. Every box on your wishlist will be checked as you continue your tour. Finished basement, check. Fenced in backyard, check. Large garage, check. Your search ends here. Welcome home!

20 Hickory Home Improvements

Front Porch:

• Build a custom porch swing
• Installed a ceiling fan
• Refinished hardwood floor

Basement:

• Installed a new boiler
• Installed new chimney lining from basement up chimney
• Replaced steam vents to radiators
• Rebuilt stairs to the basement
• Installed a new back-up sump pump
• Added new breaker box

First Floor:

• Family Room Fireplace: Updated and remodeled to make it completely usable as a wood burning fireplace
• Dining Room Fireplace: Converted the nonworking fireplace into a fully functioning updated electric fireplace with heat and new modern tile
• Installed a new carpet in sunroom

Second and Third Floors:

• Major renovation of second floor that streamlined the overall layout, removed unnecessary “Jack & Jill” doors connecting the bedrooms, updated the primary suite to
  include a spa-like luxury bath with a soaking tub and custom cabinetry, modernized walk-in closet and the addition of laundry washer/dryer and linen closets.
• Rebuilt upper deck
• Installed heat and central air conditioning to 2nd and 3rd floor
• Installed Nest thermostat

Outside:

• Installed an Invisible Fence
• Updated electricity: added new outlets in the garage front porch and front yard
• Added custom-build storage and replaced broken windows in the garage
• Updated sprinkler system in front and back lawn
• Custom build raised garden bed in side of the yard

Whole House:

• Replaced and updated lighting fixtures, sconces and doorknobs to all match
• Updated all recess lighting

Hello!

First, welcome!

Dear Future Owners:

Welcome to 20 Hickory Drive! As current owners of this wonderful home, we wanted to take a moment to share with you what makes this home and its surroundings so special to us.

Firstly, this is not just a house, but it’s a house on Hickory, one of the most beautiful streets in Maplewood with its picturesque winding road and peaceful, idyllic landscaping. One of the most inviting features of 20 Hickory is undoubtedly its charming front porch. It’s not just a place to enter the house; it’s where we’ve spent many quiet mornings sipping coffee and watching the neighborhood wake up. The porch swing has been a favorite spot for reading on lazy afternoons, while the rocking chairs have seen countless friendly conversations with passing neighbors. Whether it’s enjoying the glow of sunset or welcoming trick-or-treaters on Halloween, the front porch has been a beloved extension of our living space, adding to the home’s warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The expansive front yard has also been a family favorite – from catching fireflies to hosting birthday parties (think bouncy house for the kids and an 80’s cover band for a milestone adult birthday). This incredible space, which has been affectionately nicknamed “The Sheep’s Meadow” with the adjoining lawn next door, has hosted firepit gatherings, Fourth of July picnics, and all-out water gun battles with kids and adults of all ages.

This home has been a wonderful place for hosting out of town visitors and for entertaining. The living areas are perfect for both family gatherings and cozy evenings by either of the two fireplaces. The kitchen, with its modern appliances and ample counter space, has been a joy to cook in, and we’ve created countless memories hosting dinner parties, family game nights, and holiday feasts.

One of the renovations we made after moving in was to the primary bedroom suite, which now features its own spa-like bath with a soaking tub, and a private walk-in closet with a second floor laundry. This has been a game-changer for our family! There is abundant storage throughout the house and the top floor boasts a cedar closet, which is great to store off-season clothing. The basement and main floor family rooms have provided plenty of room for our three children to spread out with their friends and have their own hang out spaces. Our driveway basketball hoop and fully fenced-in backyard’s play structure with swings, a climbing wall, and little playhouse, have been a delight for all from the youngest to the teens!

Our location, being so close to town and schools, has been invaluable to both our children and us. We often stroll into town for a bite to eat or shop at one of the locally owned shops, or to enjoy one of the many activities on Maplewood Ave like live music, craft fairs, and parades. Our children have enjoyed walking to school with their neighborhood friends, and as they have grown, enjoy having the independence to walk into town with their friends for pizza and ice cream. We are also within a short walk to town tennis and basketball courts, as well as Memorial Park where we have spent many hours on the playgrounds and ball fields, or just going for a stroll. The eight- minute walk from our front door to the train platform has made working in, and visiting, NYC very accessible..

Beyond the property itself, the sense of community on Hickory is remarkable. You have a built-in network of friends and community on this block. Whether it’s a spontaneous gathering for drinks on a Friday evening or a Sunday afternoon picnic with the kids, there’s always something happening that brings us closer together as a community. Our kids have enjoyed playing with the other kids on the block, calling themselves the “Hickory Gang” and spending time going from yard to yard inventing games and climbing trees. One highlight is our progressive dinner tradition. For one special night in January, we move from house to house, enjoying different courses of a meal at each stop. It’s a fun and
delicious way to socialize and experience the diversity of culinary talents within our community. For those who love books, our block has its own book club which meets monthly at different homes. We also stay connected through a neighborhood text group, which is incredibly handy for quick updates, organizing impromptu happy hours or picnics at the nearby park, or simply sharing recommendations for local services and events.

We hope you find 20 Hickory Avenue as enchanting as we have. It has been more than just a house for us; it has been a place where we’ve made cherished memories and built a fabulous life. We’re excited for you to discover all that this home and block have to offer.

Warm regards,
Sincerely,
The Pearsons