A Return to Renovation

Posted on December 6, 2014 by D

We’re at it again. We loved re-making and eventually living in this house. So, after selling it and a quick jaunt to Brooklyn and back, we are excited to get started again. It’s a good story…join us in the journey at PhillyGarageReno.com

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The Finished Home

Posted on February 22, 2014 by D

Thanks for stopping by to check out our Philadelphia row home renovation project. The renovation is complete! Here are some pictures of the finished house with links to the blog from start to finish. We hope you’re inspired by our journey.

Vestibule, Living Room and Dining Room

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Kitchen

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Powder Room

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Second Floor Landing and Hallway

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Guest Bedroom & Bathroom

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Study & Media Room

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Master Bedroom & Bathroom

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The Deck

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Posts from Start to Finish

  1. The Beginning
  2. Settlement Day
  3. Pictures from the Past
  4. “Before” Pictures!
  5. Demo (not Demo) Begins!
  6. Initial Sketch Review
  7. Demolition Progress Pics
  8. Current Floor Layout
  9. More Demolition Progress Pics
  10. And behind this door… another house.
  11. When Your Yellow Brick Road Hits a Red Brick Wall
  12. Rubble, Rubble Everywhere
  13. Week 9 Progress Pics
  14. Week 10 Progress Pics
  15. A Little Visual Inspiration
  16. GC Walkthrough
  17. Week 12 Progress Pics–Staircase Edition
  18. Electric, Plumbing, Heating/Cooling and Insulation Update
  19. Week 27 Progress Pics
  20. Windows and Doors
  21. The Windows and Doors are In
  22. Microsoft Photosynth and Panoramas
  23. Progress Pics–Spray Foam Insulation & Deck
  24. The Deck
  25. The End is Near – Drywall, Taping and Priming
  26. Tiles
  27. Wood Floors
  28. Going Up, Going Down
  29. Paint Colors
  30. Walls, Now with Color
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Walls, Now with Color

Posted on August 16, 2011 by D

The paint colors were unveiled in this post. Here a preview of what they look like on the walls. Each room’s personality is starting to shine through now.

Entry Vestibule, Living Room and Dining Room fireplace bump-outs, Common Hallways and Plaster wall throughout all floors, Pass-Through, and Front Kitchen wall and soffit

The lighter gray in the vestibule introduces the gray in the main floor and carries up throughout the common hallways. Colors within rooms peek through as you walk throughout the house.

image7071 Gray Screen

Photo Aug 10, 5 34 51 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 36 38 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 39 33 PM

Main Living Room  and Dining Room Walls

We loved the idea of a darker gray color on the walls in the main floor living area. It serves as a modern neutral which will allow the furniture and accessories to pop off of it.

image7074 Software

Photo Aug 10, 5 38 08 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 37 45 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 25 33 PM 

Powder Room

Inspired by the fabric found on the inside of a jewel box. Slide the pocket door open to see this happy violet color.

image6557 Wood Violet

Photo Aug 10, 5 24 19 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 24 24 PM

Kitchen Back Wall

Looking back from the front of the house, you’ll see this almost black wall with a table, chairs and hanging pendant in front of it. While it will elongate the space, it will also pull you into the kitchen.

image6258 Tricorn Black

Photo Aug 11, 5 47 32 PM (HDR)Photo Aug 11, 5 47 47 PM (HDR)

Guest Bedroom

A perfect room to play with wall color. Who wouldn’t want to stay in this bright, airy, vaulted-ceiling guest bedroom?

image6695 Midday

Photo Aug 15, 7 26 02 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 26 31 PM

Guest Bathroom

Simple and classic. Slightly aged feeling so that it doesn’t overpower the tiles, grout and planned accessories. Mirror and vanity light will nicely complement the feeling that this color provides.

image7013 Ivory Lace

Photo Aug 10, 5 27 08 PM

Study

Enveloping. The room with the least amount of direct sunlight – so we embraced that. Task lighting and reading lighting is always key in a study to brighten up what you need to see. I like how the simple white baseboard doesn’t distract from the antique floors.

image6244 Naval

Photo Aug 15, 7 30 36 PMPhoto Aug 15, 7 30 26 PM

Media Room

Calming and relaxing. Works well with the deep brown hues of the aged floors. This sun-filled southern facing room is where we’ll be spending a good amount of time with friends and family. The original marble fireplace surround plays well with this wall color.

image6514 Respite

Photo Aug 10, 5 28 25 PMPhoto Aug 15, 7 29 50 PMPhoto Aug 15, 7 30 05 PM

Master Bedroom

Peaceful. The new maple flooring works well with this color.

image6192 Coastal Plain

Photo Aug 10, 5 30 20 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 30 42 PMPhoto Aug 15, 7 27 52 PM

Master Bathroom

A simple backdrop to the white subway tiles while referencing the colors in the graphic glass shower tile (that we don’t love or hate). The high-gloss gray wall-hung vanity will play off well with this color.

image7065 Argos

Photo Aug 10, 5 29 43 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 32 39 PMPhoto Aug 10, 5 31 31 PM

Posted in Dining Room, Fireplace, Guest Bathroom, Guest Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, Master Bathroom, Master Bedroom, Media Room, Pass-Through, Powder Room, Study | Leave a comment

Paint Colors

Posted on August 11, 2011 by D

The paint colors have been selected! Almost no white except for the trim. This Philly Rowhome is a story in gray with a few colors along the way.

Entry Vestibule, Living Room and Dining Room fireplace bump-outs, Common Hallways and Plaster wall throughout all floors, Pass-Through, and Front Kitchen wall and soffit

The lighter gray in the vestibule will introduce the gray in the main floor and carry up throughout the common hallways. Colors within rooms will peek through as you walk throughout the house.

image7071 Gray Screen

Main Living Room  and Dining Room Walls

We loved the idea of a darker gray color on the walls in the main floor living area. It will serve as a modern neutral which will allow the furniture and accessories to pop off of it.

image7074 Software

Powder Room

Inspired by the lining on the inside of a jewel box. Slide the pocket door open to see this happy violet color.

image6557 Wood Violet

Kitchen Back Wall

Looking back from the front of the house, you’ll see this almost black wall with a table, chairs and hanging pendant in front of it. While it will elongate the space, it will also pull you into the kitchen.

image6258 Tricorn Black

Guest Bedroom

A perfect room to play with wall color. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a bright, airy, vaulted-ceiling guest bedroom?

image6695 Midday

Guest Bathroom

Simple and classic. Slightly aged feeling so that it doesn’t overpower the tiles, grout and planned accessories.

image7013 Ivory Lace

Study

Enveloping. The room with the least amount of direct sunlight – why not embrace that? Task lighting and reading lighting is always key in a study to brighten up what you need to see. 

image6244 Naval

Media Room

Calming and relaxing. Will work well with the deep brown hues of the aged floors. This sun-filled southern facing room is where we’ll be spending a good amount of time with friends and family.

image6514 Respite

Master Bedroom

Peaceful. Will work well with the solid maple flooring.

image6192 Coastal Plain

Master Bathroom

A simple backdrop to the white subway tiles while referencing the colors in the graphic glass shower tile. The high-gloss gray wall-hung vanity will work well with this color.

image7065 Argos

Posted in Dining Room, Guest Bathroom, Guest Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, Master Bathroom, Master Bedroom, Media Room, Paint, Pass-Through, Study, Vestibule | Leave a comment

Going Up, Going Down

Posted on August 6, 2011 by D

This three-story rowhome with a basement had three (3.5, really) different staircases… that no longer made sense. They were 30” wide, not 36”; they were steep to save space back in the day; they ended in odd locations; and they were in the middle of the floor plan. The before pictures are shown after the new pictures below.

The new staircase location is typical for a Philadelphia Rowhome—attached to the side of the house. We brought all staircases to code by increasing the width to at least 36” (some up to 42”) and making them less steep by increasing the tread (where you step) and lowering the riser height (vertical piece). We went with red oak which is very hard wood and will stain it to complement the floorboards. Clean edge reveal with a handrail that’s being finalized.

Photo Aug 02, 6 11 07 PMPhoto Aug 02, 6 11 47 PMPhoto Jul 29, 6 11 46 PM

To the basement; landing into the kitchen from the basement; going up to the second floor

 

Photo Jul 29, 6 11 59 PMPhoto Jul 29, 6 43 51 PMPhoto Jul 29, 6 14 32 PM

Side view; looking down to the first floor from the second floor; second floor with the stairs to third

 

Photo Jul 29, 6 14 45 PMPhoto Jul 29, 6 20 43 PMPhoto Jul 17, 1 31 31 PM

Stairs to the third floor; again, stairs to the third floor with deck door allowing light in; new landing to the guest suite made of repurposed wood from the old third floor floorboards

 

Photo Aug 03, 7 07 59 PMPhoto Jun 19, 11 17 33 AMPhoto Aug 03, 7 18 57 PM

Third floor landing with step up and out to deck; the deck; six stain options for the red oak inside stairs

 

Here are some “before” pictures.

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First to the lower second floor

 

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Second floor (Yes, the staircase ends in the middle of the bathroom door and the landing is a step lower than the back bedroom and bathroom!)

 

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To the upper second floor; to the third floor

Posted in Pictures, Staircase | 3 Comments