It's no wonder that Janice and Cortright Wetherill feel at home in Pennsylvania horse country. They have had a lifelong love affair with horses. Daughter Amanda, now married, grew up with a passion for horses, and teenaged Cortie is one of the nation's top young equestrians. Here, where Cortright grew up, the couple was lured by a centuries-old stone house of irresistible character.

Smitten with the structure's historic charm, Cortright and Janice saw its potential as a year-round home. They admired the house's eclectic Colonial Revival style and were determined to bring it into the 21st century while honoring its past.

Shown here is the shaded lane leading to the Wetherills' house; just past the wrought-iron gates, the drive is flanked by horse stables.

Located in Chester County, 15 miles from Philadelphia, the original farmhouse dates to the 1700s. Although it had been enlarged several times, becoming a classic Main Line country home by the 1920s, it lived small and came up short in modern comforts. "This old house merited a renovation," says Janice. "We wanted to breathe new vitality into its soul."

Design:
Architect: John D. Milner, FAIA, John Milner Architects Inc., 104 Lakeview Dr., Chadds Ford, PA 19317; 610/388-0111. Interior designer: Bill Brockschmidt and Courtney Coleman, Brockschmidt & Coleman LLC, 139 Reade St., New York, NY 10013; 212/608-5065.

Photographs by Tria Giovan
Written and produced by John Francisco Andreu