404 Route 518, Skillman, NJ 08558

The former Blawenburg Tavern recently celebrated its bicentennial year and it looks handsomer than ever with a fresh coat of paint, proudly standing on a sidewalk-lined stretch within steps of shops, services and the Blawenburg Bistro, always a popular spot for lunch and conversation. Now offered with public water and public sewer, the expanded 4-bedroom colonial, cherished by the same family for over 60 years, retains many original features, like the eye-catching front door, wide-plank floors and detailed mantelpieces, yet feels fresh and functional with bright white walls and a sunny addition with side entry. The living and family rooms, each with a fireplace, are generously sized and trimmed with decorative molding for a touch of refinement. With easy access to a first floor full bath, a quietly situated bedroom overlooks the pretty backyard and has its own private entrance. The sunroom-style dining room, which has hosted many holiday dinners for 20 guests, is the ideal spot for leisurely meals amid views of the peaceful acre-plus yard, where stone garden walls edge lawns and a gravel driveway leading toward the barn. Behind this charming structure, which also includes a 2-car garage, hayloft and toolshed, lies even more outdoor space for recreation or perhaps a bountiful veggie garden. In addition to 3 bedrooms served by a timeless black and white bath, a sunny little bonus room could make the perfect walk-in closet or a future bathroom. A walk-up attic provides further storage. Once a welcoming stop for weary travelers en route to New York and Philadelphia, this historic home remains a beacon of warmth and hospitality.