Favorites

The use of green mosaic tiles in the bathroom is a "polite homage" to the balcony's original green mosaic floor tiles.

Extra-wide concrete pillars help to support the studio at its core.

Terracotta tile flooring in the kitchen is juxtaposed with Douglas fir flooring in the dining area. A skylight facilitates the inflow of natural light for the spaces.

"We contrasted the linearity of the etched granite by curving the island edges and introducing fridge panels with hand-carved pulls,

Front outdoor area

View from the living room.

The kitchen is anchored by a large central island - perfect for a snack.

Heath tile backsplash gives a subtle pop of color to the kitchen.

The street elevation was updated and restored according to the Philadelphia Historical Comission. We raised ceiling heights and added a third story to the home, but the addition was required to be set back and invisible to the street. The remaining roof space is used for a generous roof deck.

Although the home's historic front facade needed to be preserved, the back of the residence was ripe for a remodel. The architects cladded the exterior in eastern cedar. The wood is offset with large expanses of glass, as well as yellow accents to add a playful atmosphere.

Thomsen stacked a new third-floor bathroom atop the existing second floor space, then wrapped the entire addition in clear cedar. The windows are by Marvin. The original exterior stucco was refinished. “These houses are fascinating cause you just kind of take the layers off and keep learning more. There's still a lot of history,” says Thomsen.

This artfully minimalist Australian kitchen combines concrete, oak, steel, and prefabricated panels with a substantial marble countertop and backsplash.