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The white oak hardwood staircase between the main and second floor were installed by RK Woodworking. A plywood, MDF-finished guardrail is painted white to match the walls; the handrail features an integrated LED strip light.

Before: A traditional staircase to the second floor.

The renovation updated a pair of staircases—one to the basement, one to the upper level—from their steep, unsafe angle to one that is now up to code. In the dining room, the pendant by Hans-Agne Jakobsson is from Karoline’s family cabin in Germany.

Opposite Tim's workstation is a stand-up drafting table and model-building area, which comes with a view of the back yard.

Gable in the front, party in the back. The designers preserved the facade of the original craftsman bungalow and added a new entry sequence, stairs, and porch surface.

The long, rectangular bottom floor is one uninterrupted space. Bikes live beneath the stairs, and the kitchen island is a center of activity. The dining table was made by Bench Dog Design and the Real Good chairs are by Blu Dot. An inexpensive fan by Emerson and exposed CFLs are smart, low-cost options for the ceiling.

Storage had to be dialed in within the narrow footprint of the brownstone. The black core holds the pantry, while on the right, a bank of custom cabinetry hosts the command station, mop closet, and a concealed bar.-

Architect Lauren Thomsen of Lauren Thomsen Design bought this 1836-square-foot brick row house in Philadelphia in 2018. In the ensuing remodel, the exterior façade was updated in accordance with the Philadelphia Historic Commission guidelines, and the front door painted 'Connected Gray' by Sherwin Williams.

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.