On the market: An ice cream shop turned into a home in Point Breeze for $385,000

At night, the brightly lit corner house in Point Breeze does look a bit like a ghostly ice cream parlor.

That’s exactly what it was before it became a labor of love for Jay Hardman and Lauren Westenhiser as they transformed it into a perfect place to live and work over a decade.

Hardman, a carpenter turned architectural designer, bought the house in 2005 after renting in the neighborhood.

Westenhiser, a textile designer, joined him there in 2011, and they married in 2017. Both had been students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia but had not known each other there.

But now, seeking more room to raise their daughter, they have moved to Germantown. Living in a one-bedroom apartment with a 2½-year-old wasn’t working, Westenhiser said.

Work on the 1,280-square-foot house “was constantly evolving,” said Hardman, and so was he. More and more, he stretched beyond carpentry “when I saw how much I enjoyed working on spaces ... historic preservation, finding my way into design roles.

“I feel Lauren’s personality and style come through so much in the kitchen and the choice of hand-painted ceramic wall tiles. I remember we printed out several different designs on paper and taped them each up to the wall before making our final choice.

“It was starts and stops, … it took the better part of 10 years.”

The workings of the ice cream shop were still in the building when he bought it, and he set about restoring it as “a one-bedroom apartment with lots of entertaining space, a nice, functional kitchen on the first floor.”

It’s now a two-bedroom, 1½-bath house that Hardman says is zoned to allow commercial use.

Vintage enameled steel light fixtures brighten the corner at night.

The first-floor entertaining and work space has two mahogany picture windows and six pendant lights hung from painted white ceiling tiles.

The eat-in kitchen has an inlaid tray ceiling, tile work, a farmhouse sink, and an exposed brick wall. The gas stove was installed this month and has never been used.

The private living quarters is on the second floor, with a glass tiled art nook on the staircase.

The full bathroom features classic white subway tile, a vintage two-piece toilet, modern vanity, ample storage, and teak shelving.

A restored original wood door with porthole window leads to an outdoor seating area. And a Murphy bed can pull down to accommodate guests.

The primary bedroom has a tray ceiling, a bay window, and a decorative fireplace with brick masonry.

The home has recessed lighting, ceiling fans, and hardwood, Andersen replacement windows, and custom tile flooring throughout.

The washer and dryer have been relocated to the one-car garage.

“We loved the space we created,” Hardman said, “and we thought someone else could use it. It was time to give it a new owner.”

The house is listed by Kathy Krebs of Elfant-Wissahickon Chestnut Hill for $385,000.