Moody Home Office Reveal in Philadelphia
REBECCA McALPIN Photographer
VESTIGE HOME Interior Design and Stylist
We are back at it my friends,
and this time with a new historic Philadelphia interior design project reveal! Industry-wide delays have our schedules seriously stretched which means it’s even more exciting when we get to photograph a completed project. Welcome to our #PlayingFavoritesInFishtown project.
Personally, I really love this project - the home itself is very cool - a 1910 row home in the Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia. Luckily for everyone, the home still contained many of the stunning original features and we leaned in, creating design tension with modern additions while playing up those special original elements. I also can’t say enough about our incredible clients who were just the nicest people to work with. Nice people, great spaces - it’s a match made in designer heaven.
We began work on this project about a year after our clients had moved in. The scope of the project included two spaces - the downstairs living room and a home office. In the office, our clients asked us to create an organized, cozy, and relaxing space with smart storage solutions for work and music. The generously sized room had a ton of potential but our client was really struggling with how to organize the space. He needed a large desk for work and had a substantial book collection to contain. In addition, he is a serious guitar player and he wanted a place to store his guitars, amps, and a large array of pedals. He asked us to create functional interior design solutions to make the most of the office.
The office has two large double doors as an entrance and we wanted this space to feel like a completely different place from the rest of the house - almost like a retreat. A moody modern wall paint color creates the feeling of escaping to a private space for focus and relaxation. We designed custom millwork for plenty of book storage above while the center, bottom portion of the millwork was designed specifically to house guitar cases. Two large amps fit in the side cabinets with room to spare for a few more books. To add depth and interest, we had the back of the millwork painted in a contrasting color.
The walnut desk warms up the darker tone on the walls and provides multiple file folder and regular storage drawers while still managing not to feel bulky with slim legs and mid-century style details. The whole space is grounded by a light colored rug to brighten up the space and features blues and rusty oranges while a fun brass ceiling-mounted fixture draws the eye up.
Across from the desk area, the credenza offers even more storage for our clients large collection of pedals and any other overflow office supplies. It is topped with a modern, metal and crackle glaze lamp that feels like a sculptural art piece alongside the musically inspired wall art. A slipper chair provides the perfect spot for guitar practice and is upholstered in a soft wool blend. The ottoman is perfect for kicking up your feet or it can serve as an extra seat when our client’s children to come and join him while he practices. A sculptural floor lamp provides task lighting for practice and the contrast against the walls is a stunning focal point.
The Living Room
Like many row house interior design projects, the front living room of this home is long and narrow. The clients had pretty much finished up the front portion of the room, but the back of the space felt like a no-mans land. We took what many would perceive as a challenging space and created a zoned floorpan to maximize seating and relaxing.
When we began the design for the living room, our client asked us to create a cozy, relaxing, functional minimalist retreat for end of day hangouts and entertaining with friends. While the front half of the living room was centered around the television, we wanted this portion of the room to be a space for visiting with friends, reading, or even catching a quick nap. The grande marble mantel divides the space down the middle so we brought in a custom rug to span the entirety of the space, connecting front to back and upping the coziness factor.
Some storage was needed for their two kiddos and the large credenza with shelving offers flexibility for toys, books, and games while the top is perfect for laying out drinks and snacks. A textural woven art piece above the credenza brings in a lovely handmade element to the refined space.
In the seating area, a chaise offers a nice spot for naps or lounging, and doesn’t just feel like another sofa in the room, adding a dynamic element to the space. Across from the chaise, a pair of swivel chairs allow flexibility between the two spaces and can easily turn around to the TV area. A soft marble round coffee table gives a nod to the original marble fireplace without being the exact material and the shape allows for easy flow around the seating. We added a large swing arm lamp for reading and to add interest in a room like this one with tall ceilings. With such a large mirror and high ceilings dominating the room, we created balance and another focal point with this beautiful, large scale artwork. New drapery throughout keeps things feeling cozy and moves the color throughout the room.
These two spaces added functional interior design solutions and flexibility to make the most of each room while honoring the history of the home itself and our client’s style. We love the way that they came together and we hope that you do as well. If you’re looking for an interior designer for your next project in Philadelphia or beyond, we are ready to help you create a home that is more functional and is a place were you feel welcomed and comfortable. Our fall schedule for 2022 is filling up quickly so now is the time to inquire about our full-service interior design in Philadelphia, the Main Line, and beyond. We look forward to meeting you and helping you create a beautiful home!
Cheers,
Nicole and the vestige HOME team
