On Philadelphia’s Register of Historic Places, the late 1800s row house in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood features a brick exterior and slate-shingled mansard roof. Yet the traditional front belies a renovated modern interiorand a streamlined new rear elevation designed to LEED Silver specifications. The architectural team worked closely with the homeowners to balance budget and beauty in a comprehensive gut renovation and three-story rear addition that would feature a clean aesthetic and a strong connection to the outdoors, along with achieving sustainability objectives.
Blending tradition and foresight, the project sought to ensure the home’s comfort and longevity, both within its historic row house context and inside new modern interiors. The pre-renovation conditions were dated, dark, and encumbered by over a century of partition walls constructed piecemeal over time.
The renovation first addressed the exterior envelope. The project preserved the front façade according to the City of Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation standards and compatibility within the urban streetscape. In order to achieve LEED for Homes Silver certification (pending), the renovation design incorporated building envelope improvements, new insulation, high performance windows, high efficiency HVAC systems, water conserving plumbing fixtures, sustainable finish materials, and FSC-certified wood products, including durable hybrid strand bamboo flooring.
The interior renovation exposed the original brick party wall and accentuated it with a new custom metal staircase. The staircase maximizes light flow from all three levels. The living room includes a new fireplace with custom built-in storage. The gourmet galley kitchen incorporates IKEA cabinet carcasses with custom doors and integrated appliances. Gray-blue glazed brick tile accents matte, unpolished quartz counters. New accordion-fold doors open the kitchen’s entire rear wall to a newly landscaped garden, allowing for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining and additional natural light.
Two bedrooms, a laundry room, and a full bath occupy the second floor. The third floor comprises the master suite. A custom built-in closet/headboard feature wall maximizes space in the narrow footprint without the need for a traditional, enclosed closet. The master bath contains a walk-in open shower, double vanity, and the home’s restored original bathtub, all naturally brightened by a new skylight above the tub. A full-height translucent pocket door allows light to flow between the master bedroom and bath. The third floor also features a roof deck atop the new addition with views of the Philadelphia skyline.
Material Used :
1. Allen + Roth – nickel receptacles – Pass and Seymour
2. Alloy – bathroom porcelain wall tile
3. Benjamin Moore – paint
4. Bison Brick – kitchen glazed brick backsplash tile
5. BORAL – TruExteriorsidingandtrim
6. Bosch – appliances
7. Brookside – European walnut fireplace millwork
8. CENTOR – bifold door with integrated screen
9. CLEAF –wood veneers
10. Danner Windows and Doors – historically approved windows
11. Designer Claro – wall plates
12. Diva – wall switches
13. Embarcadero – bathroom porcelain wall tile
14. European Home – fireplace insert model TRISORE 140
15. (custom design by k YODER design with Rettinger Fireplace System, Inc.)
16. Grohe – bath fixtures
17. Guardian Glass – bathroom shower glass
18. Halo – recessed lighting with 3C square trims
19. Hanstone – kitchen Quartzstone counters
20. IKEA – kitchen cabinet carcasses
21. Ledge by Modern Forms – exterior sconces
22. Metropolis – bathroom porcelain floor tile
23. MSI – bathroom Quartzstone vanity counters
24. Plyboo Stiletto – stranded bamboo floors
25. Silestone – master bath Quartzstone shower bench
26. Weathershield– windows
27. Wilsonart – bathroom solid surface wall caps, niches, fireplace niche
