Before & After

During: The couple removed a too-small linen closet to enlarge the main bathroom. The skylight was happily already in place.

The primary bedroom windows overlook the maple trees in the front of the house.

A full-sized mattress tucks into the corner for a perfect view of the maple tree outside the window.

Before: This room was gutted and new framing and drywall added.

A petite en-suite bathroom was added to the guest room.

Exposed structural details speak to the age of the home.

The brick wasn’t in as good shape, so the couple painted it.

Before: When the couple removed the drop ceiling, they discovered a roof leak that needed to be addressed.

A pony wall separates the living room and kitchen without obstructing views.

Yellow vinyl floor tile defines the new living room and keeps the interior from veering too industrial. “You need to offset the brick with something simple,” says Tom. “Otherwise, you get too many textures.” The lights and coffee table were found at local vintage stores.

During: This shows how the couple installed a dividing wall with a fireplace to anchor one end of the living room. Behind it is the laundry and powder room. During demolition, they discovered two large windows that had been boarded up and covered by cabinets and the refrigerator.

Before: The kitchen was previously at the rear of the house with one small window. The couple replaced it with a laundry room and powder bath, and swapped the living room in its place.

A custom-cut metal column hides more infrastructure and doubles as a decorative feature.

The drop ceiling hides plumbing from the upstairs bathroom.

Tom did all of the custom woodwork, including the kitchen island and cabinets, and Marina did the tiling, such as the backsplash behind the stove.

Before: The kitchen was relocated to the center of the house where the dining room used to be.

The couple located the dining room to the front of the house, stripping away the excess finishes to reveal the brick and wood structure, as well as the plaster walls. “We like the textures of Brooklyn lofts,” says Marina of their inspiration. They refinished the front doors and added new windows throughout. The artwork is by Matt Higgins.

Before: Marina Barnes and Thomas Pittlik bought an 1890 rowhouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2019. The living room was at the front of the house, overlooking the sidewalk. The original wood floors were in place, but the front wall was covered in fake brick and the ceiling had popcorn texture.