Traditional Graduate
REBECCA McALPIN Photographer
VESTIGE HOME Stylist
It’s finally springtime here on the East Coast.
And if you’re anything like us, the warmer weather has you feeling down-right giddy. The beauty of spring, coupled with the hopefulness of the continued vaccine distribution, is giving me that joyful boost I needed to shake off the long winter. It’s the perfect time to share one of our favorite projects from the last year - a lovey row house that’s home to a young family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Welcome to our #TraditionalGraduate project.
Our client’s reached out to us last spring in the midst of the early start of the pandemic. We were definitely still finding our footing with the world changes but our client’s stuck with us and during our initial Zoom consultation we learned that they had been living in their home in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia for three years. The home had some newer finishes when they purchased it but our clients hadn’t made any major improvements or updates.
The home was pretty typical for a Philly row house remodel - a narrow structure that generally lacked personality and character. With a young daughter and a baby on the way, our clients were in desperate need of additional storage. Like many young families, the living space had been completely taken over by toys and baby gear rounded out with leftover furniture pieces from their previous homes. Our clients wanted to create a “grown up” space where they could gather with family, relax with friends at the end of the day, or even just have a glass of wine without feeling like they were in the kid’s playroom.
“Before” Images
After our initial consultation and a site visit (when it was safe), we came up with the following design statement for the space:
“Create a warm, comfortable, and sophisticated space with smart storage solutions and a mix of modern and classic elements to create a timeless feel.”
Philadelphia row homes are notorious for being short on storage and this house was no different. Long and narrow, the front door opens directly into the living room and staircase. As we began to dig into the design of this space, creating storage and architectural interest were at the top of our list. We also wanted to eek out as much seating as possible for entertaining.
We centered our design on a large, built-in bookcase with arched uppers to give the room major architectural interest. Closed storage below gives plenty of space to stash toys and baby items while keeping them close at hand. With the built-ins taking pride of place on the largest wall, we had to consider how the rest of the furniture would lay out. In such a narrow space the options were limited - at most we could fit a small sofa and possibly an additional chair.
To take advantage of every available square foot we extended a bench off the built in creating additional seating and bonus storage. Storage compartments with hinged lids on the bench seating gave us the perfect place for larger toys, hats, gloves, and the shoes that inevitably gather by the front door. The bench is topped with custom rust cushions in easy maintenance performance velvet.
We wrapped the entire space is a soft blue (Benjamin Moore Beach Glass) including the walls and bookcases. By continuing the same color throughout the space, it acts as a neutral and offsets the various wood tones and pairs beautifully with the rust velvet. The living space is anchored with a whimsical rug, and a mid-century inspired leather chair rounds out some of the more traditional elements in the space. Bone and brass handles add understated interest to the cabinet doors, letting the millwork shine.
In the dining area, we played with a mix of styles; a rustic dining table (one of our favorite recommendations for clients with kiddos), modernized windsor-inspired black stained chairs, and a chandelier with black and brass knurled details. To add even more storage to the dining area, we included a generous sideboard with curved details to add visual interest. Creating the perfect spot for a statement lamp and a little bar for cocktails in the evening.
Original Artwork by Kelly McGee Curran
We’re so pleased with how this project turned out and with how our clients are enjoying their space with so much increased functionality. Row homes have become something of a specialty for us and the challenge of taking a challenging space from unremarkable to something truly special never, ever gets old. We hope that you enjoyed this one as well.
