About This Project

Society Hill Townhouse, Philadelphia, PA

When creating an interior design for this Society Hill Townhouse, the biggest challenge was determining how to bring character and warmth to what was essentially a big white box.   The homeowner, who likes to entertain, was also looking for a “wow” factor.

These two objectives were achieved simultaneously through the design of a custom bar.   This bar unit is tucked in an alcove that was separated from the stairs by a half wall.   We converted this half wall into part of the bar’s limestone counter and anchored the entire bar unit by creating a column that was then clad in linear rainforest marble.   This marble was repeated for the backsplash.   The unit also has ample storage for bottles of wine and spirits as well as glassware.

This bar area is adjacent to the rest of the living room, which was painted in a warm, buff color. An Oriental rug, upholstery in camel leather and green velvet, drapery inspired by menswear, and bent wood pendant lights add richness to this soaring space in Society Hill.

The dining room is also situated in this open space and features a custom dining table made from reclaimed wood. The dining chairs were upholstered in a rust color fabric and their color and form ties into the adjacent den so they can do double duty when extra seating is needed for TV viewing.

The den features a custom bookcase and media unit, a modern geometric rug, and grasscloth wallcovering. The comfortable sofa converts to a sofa bed for guests and they can control the light with a custom roman shade, trimmed in the same fabric as the sofa. Light control in the living room was also a big factor and solar shades on motors were installed to reduce glare and heat gain during bright Philadelphia summers.

The master bedroom, with its dusky blue walls, comfortable chaise, lush rug, and dark wood dressers is a cozy retreat from the business of this townhome’s bustling Society Hill neighborhood.