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FeedSmooth Transition
A Media couple discovers a new way of living—close to home.
Photos by John Lewis Published October 29, 2009 at 02:35 PM
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Francine and Michael Balay’s new luxury home in Newtown Square came with all the amenities you’d expect, including a pool, a tennis court and a gym with a steam room. Their meticulously landscaped property features gorgeous fountains, numerous patios and a tranquil reflecting pool.
But what really sold the couple was the promise that all the perks would be maintenance free. Their condominium in Terrazza at Newtown Square is turnkey living at its finest. And that’s exactly what these retirement-bound frequent travelers were looking for.
High school sweethearts from Pittsburgh, the Balays moved to Houston early in their marriage, and then to San Francisco. Their desire to be closer to their aging parents and a fondness for the change of seasons brought them back to this region. They considered various towns throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey before settling in Upper Providence Township. They had a large custom home built, living there for 17 years. “Our son and daughter grew up, married, and bought their own homes,” says Francine. “My husband and I were ready to downsize.”
The Balays enjoyed being close to Media, with all its shops and restaurants. Access to Rose Tree Park was also an advantage for the dog owners. So, after selling their home, they rented a townhouse for a year to allow plenty of time for research, quickly ruling out one popular choice. “We liked the diversity we were seeing with non-age-restricted communities,” says Francine.
Though there were a number of attractive options in the area, none fulfilled all of the Balays’ wishes quite like Terrazza. For one, they loved its Tuscan flavor. “I traveled a lot in Italy,” says Terrazza’s builder, David Della Porta, of Cornerstone Communities. “With an Italian restaurant right next door [Newtown Grill], I wanted to model the community after an old Tuscan village with enough local flavor that it would fit in. I also wanted the interiors to have all the conveniences and amenities that buyers were used to in their previous home.”
Each of the models—from the one-bedroom units to the penthouses—offer enough space to make owners feel like “they aren’t stepping down but simply transitioning into a different lifestyle,” says Della Porta.
Once they retire, the Balays want to spend most of their time at their beach house in Delaware—when they’re not traveling the world, that is. But they still wanted their condo to feel like home. “We could truly design it the way it works for how we live,” Francine says. “We could go in any direction with it in terms of the interior design, and we could customize certain things to give it the look that we wanted.”
The Balays’ Ethan model has the open floor plan they were accustomed to in California. “It gives us the most open layout for entertaining,” says Francine. “We love the idea of not having a lot of walls or having rooms broken into smaller areas.” 
The model also has one of the largest kitchens. “Everyone in my family loves to cook,” says Francine. “So I wanted plenty of room for when my children came to visit and when we entertained.”
Blond oak flooring makes the dramatic red walls a focal point. “I didn’t want to go neutral or be subtle,” Francine says. “I wanted to go fairly bold. My daughter and I had a lot of fun picking paint. I look at paint the same way I look at color for your hair—if it doesn’t work, you can change it. So go for it.”
