When first approached to do the Philadelphia Magazine’s Design Home 2012 last summer, we were intrigued by the whole process. We had done our fair share of show houses but this was not one room in a designer show house, this was the entire home with a completely different approach and business model to the traditional show house. The Philadelphia Magazine Design Home is unique in that it is the only show house which uses the one vision approach to the entire home. By contracting with a builder, an architect and an interior design firm to oversee the entire project the end result is one in which an imagined family could actually live in the home and the results were more cohesive with more flow throughout the design. Instead of every room being a separate but complete thought from one designer, this is one house with a coordinated approach in which the whole house tells a story. Yes colors, patterns and even moods change from various spaces within the home but it stands as one complete thought for one family.
We set off with Bentley Homes and McIntyre+Capron Architects to assist in almost all decision making for interior and exterior materials including a pool house. The scope of work we covered included lighting, kitchens and bathrooms, the style and vision, specifications, material selections, furnishing selections, colors, cabinetry, detailing, art and project management to name a few. The results are a truly collaborative experience where we gained even greater respect for what each of the team members brings to the final project. Guided by Sherry Litwer of Philadelphia Magazine we entered a world of 40+ sponsors in which we were able to choose from the latest products and furnishings to add to our collective creation. The sponsors’ input was invaluable as they are the experts in each of their fields. This designer home unlike any other relies on these sponsors to bring the best and newest of their products to the home. Whether it is the latest in lighting, flooring, tile, cabinetry, stone, drapery, paint or electronics the Design Home features these 40+ vendors and what they are capable of doing. It therefore becomes a huge vast resource for the viewing public.
We set off by creating a vision for the home, one that was more transitional rather than traditional or contemporary. We asked ourselves how does a modern family live in a suburban Philadelphia house which tends to be more traditional without having it be too fussy traditional in its decorating. Transitional is a huge design influence right now; people want to live in these traditional homes with familiar furnishings but don’t necessarily want all the fuss of heavy fussy decorating of years gone by. Life is moving at a faster pace so how can we simplify the design and yet still have it be appealing, comforting and practical, but not fussy.
We created four zones in the house. The first floor was to be elegant but not too formal. This is the most neutral floor with its soft warm color palette and lightly traditional (or transitional) furnishings. The upstairs Master Suite is soft, quiet and comforting. Here a luxurious retreat for the couple with perhaps a sexier design aesthetic was the plan. The quiet restfulness continues in the Guest Suite with neutral colors and warm woods. In the children’s rooms, the girl’s bedroom, boy’s bedroom and playroom, we went wild with color. Here is where we let go and had a lot of fun with color, pattern and color blocking. It should make you smile. In the lower level we created a warm rich adult retreat for wine, entertainment, movies, yoga and a sauna. This is where the adults get to play.
We hope you enjoy the home as you tour it. What you will see at the Philadelphia Magazine Design Home 2012 is a collaborative effort between literally hundreds of people. Just in one day close to the installation time the foreman on the job counted 47 people at the job site. It has been a wonderful experience in which we were able to use our creativity and problem solving skills to add to a collaborative team approach to a design problem. We would like to thank Philadelphia Magazine, Bentley Homes, McIntyre+Capron Architects and all the sponsors for the entire experience. It was enjoyable, memorable, unlike anything else we had ever done and we truly appreciate being involved in the entire process.
