Driving by, the Kofman House looks substantial, but not overly pretentious. Hiding behind the façade is about 6,000 square feet of beautifully designed space. This is Hallock’s largest home in the county. The home cost $100,000 when built and would likely cost a million to build today, if it could be duplicated. The stone was cut on the property and the house took two years to build.
The house is surrounded by mature trees. In the fall, the current owners find that every squirrel in State College descends on the property to devour and store the nuts. Jake operated a successful salvage business towards Bellefonte, so the couple were not in the academic social circles. Unfortunately the Kofman’s were killed in an automobile accident with a drunk driver in the Seven Mountains area, and did not get to enjoy their property as much as they looked forward to.
The planter in the foyer is inspired by a similar one at Kentuck Knob, the mountain top home by Frank Lloyd Wright not too far from Fallingwater.
The spacious kitchen is left of and behind the foyer, in its own wing. Clockwise on the stone wall are (1) a dumb waiter to the family room, (2) a wall oven, and (3) a warming oven. To the right of the counter, a picture window provides unobstructed views down Garner Street of the nearby Tussey Mountains (not shown). Custom cabinets are all natural wood.
The dining area of the great room is just off the kitchen. A large mirror above the built-in buffet gives the illusion of a room twice as large. Note the carved ceiling in fruitwood parquetry.
The fireplace wall is made of the same stone as the exterior. There is a full-length low raised hearth.
A rear window wall gives views to a sunken patio and a tree-filled rear garden.
Shadow boxes to the right of the fireplace incorporate Hallock’s frequently found “pattern of squares” design.
The south window wall gives additional garden views and provides light for inside plants. The lighted mahogany wood tray ceiling is inspired by one in the great room of Fallingwater.
The great room is directly above the family room and has the same layout.
A stone staircase inspired by Fallingwater leads from the foyer to the family room.
Note how the family room brick wall continues from inside to outside.
A very large sunken patio with gas and wood grills is off of the family room.
A large pass-through window in the downstairs kitchen doubles as a bar for the family room.
Being kosher, the Kofmans needed commercial refrigeration equipment to store the food from their monthly trips to Pittsburgh.
The window in the upper left helps light the foyer and stairs to the lower level.
Jake was proud to have the first centrally air conditioned house in State College.
The upper level of the sunken patio was intended for a future in-ground swimming pool. The large stones for the wall were hauled from a demolished church in Baltimore.
Look carefully at this entry into the family bathroom suite. On the right note a floor to ceiling mirror just beyond the hanging hooks.
The effects of the opposing mirrors is obvious when directly facing either one or the other. The results are fun for kids of all ages. Note the beautiful custom wood cabinets.
The master bedroom has its own bathroom suite and walk-in closet storage. Even the toilet area is mirrored, with fixtures in the fashionable hot pink of the period,
The storage area includes closets with beautifully finished natural wood doors.
Mirrors and yet more mirrors make the vanity area a maze of reflections.
There are also matching rows of custom made drawers and cabinets.
The infinite images delight the young and young at heart. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Bittel)
The generous-sized bedrooms also each provide built-in wall storage. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Bittel)
