Designed by: Studio Robert Jamieson
Location: Downingtown, PA
Photography: Rebecca McAlpin Photography and Studio Robert Jamieson

The existing stained oak floor in the living room was refinished and clear sealed to preserve the natural tone of the wood. This room's design is completed by simple modern furnishings. — The existing stained oak floor in the living room was refinished and clear sealed to preserve the natural tone of the wood. This room’s design is completed by simple modern furnishings.

There is an L-shaped cushioned sofa and a round coffee table in the sunroom. The deep blue wall creates a cozy ambiance.

A view of the kitchen and dining area. On the kitchen side, it elegantly conceals vertical storage and transforms into the cooking center, complete with a modern electric range top flanked by two wall ovens.

The warm redwood kitchen was balanced with a green-grey cleft finish slate. The new cabinets are simply matte white single panels, allowing the rich floor and wall materials, as well as traditional subway tile at the back splash, to carry the weight.

The primary bedroom suite has also been entirely renovated, with a pass-through closet at the doorway and new reclaimed oak flooring that replaces the original wood laminate.

The new bathroom features porcelain tile that resembles honed travertine. The sleek standalone tub stands out among the new fittings.

There is also a counter-topped dual rectangular sink and a large mirror mounted on the porcelain coated in the bathroom.

A photo collage shows the old house's living, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. — A photo collage shows the old house’s living, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.

A young couple with modern sensibilities were relocating from New York to sub-urban Philadelphia. They purchased a 40 year old home from the original owners that were retired and moving on to a condo with less upkeep. The design challenge was to turn ‘grandma’s house’ into a modern home on a tight budget.

The new owners preferred an open plan, but the basement stair bisected the kitchen and living room. The solution was to open up the wall as much as possible and make this visual impediment into a feature of the home. Clad in reclaimed redwood, the enclosure became a fulcrum unifying the two spaces.

As the first thing you see upon entry to the home, it works as a dramatic backdrop to the living room. On the kitchen side it cleverly hides vertical storage and becomes the cooking center, with a modern electric range top flanked by dual wall ovens. The volume also discretely maintains the existing basement stair with a flush mount door.

The existing stained oak floor in the living room was refinished and sealed clear to maintain the woods natural tone. Simple modern furnishings complete the look in this space.

In the kitchen, the warm redwood was counterbalanced with a green-grey cleft finish slate. The new cabinets are just matte white single panel to allow the rich floor and wall materials to carry the weight along with classic subway tile at the back splash.

The dining room benefits from the existing skylight, but was outfitted with new lighting, a reclaimed drafting table and mid-century inspired shell chairs. The slate floor flows into the adjacent sun room, which was brightened with new paint and modern furnishings.

The primary bedroom suite was also completely updated, with a pass-thru closet at the entry and new reclaimed oak flooring, replacing existing wood laminate. The new bathroom is clad in porcelain tile that echoes honed travertine. All new fixtures are highlighted by the modern freestanding tub.