Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When tasked with a c.1832 brick row house that enjoyed stints as a private home, a restaurant, and a corner store, the kYd team edited out incongruous details from renovations past and provided the homeowners with a clean, modern aesthetic and unified spaces that flow naturally from one to another. The redesign opened the interior for improved connectivity between rooms.

On the main level, the solution removed a masonry wall that once separated the original house and a later addition, an unused fireplace, and an awkward set of basement stairs to integrate living, dining, and kitchen. Restoring interior walls back to their original structure also uncovered and captured wasted space, allowing for a new Poggenpohl kitchen system and professional-grade appliances. The first floor’s grand metal staircase was extended to reach the basement’s new fitness and office spaces where a new full bath was added.

On the second floor, a new translucent bedroom door and glass partition window transfer light from the skylit stair into the redesigned master suite. Reimagining a walk-in closet as a walk-through dressing closet makes the suite feel visually larger while adding functionality. A coffee station, desk/vanity, and custom built-in cabinetry lend a more sophisticated dressing room feel. The new master bath contains a concealed laundry as well as a generous spa shower, soaking tub, and dual vanity.

The trussed third floor with exposed raftersfeatures a new wet bar and concealed HVAC equipment behind a custom media console. The adjacent roof deck was completely restructured to eliminate an awkward step up. New pavers and railing continue the modern aesthetic.

In addition to architecture and interior design, kYd specified all of the furnishings and lighting. A mix of classic modern items from Knoll and Minima combine with vintage pieces by Eames, Turner, Saarinen, and Platner.

Photos © Jeffrey Totaro.

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