A Chestnut Hill renovation – Part one

A Chestnut Hill renovation – Part one

Over three years ago, our Chestnut Hill renovation did not start as a whole house project; it began with a kitchen.  However, as our clients explored their wants and needs more, it grew…and grew.  It’s become a large scale undertaking, but we are thoroughly enjoying the design process as we navigate this project with wonderful clients and a great team!

It started with a kitchen

As we mentioned above, this project began with what was perceived as a relatively simple kitchen renovation.  The clients wanted an updated and functional space that integrated the kitchen and butler’s pantry, with a mudroom addition as a “home base” for their dog as well as their avid gardening.  As we explored options together for that design, they realized that the entire first floor wasn’t really the most ideal layout for them.

 

This led them to the idea of creating an entirely new plan with a better flow than the existing layout.  Obviously, this entails a lot – time, work, energy, and money – so they took a step back to assess their true wants and needs.  You may ask, “why not consider a new build exactly the way they want it?”  The answer came down to this: they truly love their Chestnut Hill location, have put a lot of care into their garden and landscaping, and feel that the scale is ideal for them and their lifestyle.

Like many older homes, this house featured a series of rooms connected by narrow halls and doorways on both the first and second floors.  Again, this placed the onus on the homeowners to find ways to make it work.  The existing floor plans illustrate the closed-off feeling created by the walls and doorways throughout both floors.

We believe that a home should be tailored to the needs of its occupants, not the other way around.  With this in mind, we compiled a list of “must haves” to make it the perfect home for them.  Number one: the aforementioned improved floor plans with better flow and function.  Number two: a new two story, three car garage complete with a kitchenette, bathroom and living area.  Number three: cohesion between the house and garage to create a seamless feeling.

Of course, we’re also adding unique and upscale details to truly create our clients’ dream home!  From marble tile and grasscloth wallpapers to custom millwork and furniture, every selection has been made with careful thought and intent.  Here are just a few “before” photos to give you a sense of where we started.

The footprint of the existing first floor office will become a fabulous new butler’s pantry that opens up to the kitchen.

The original powder room will benefit from a larger footprint and new entry.  We’ve selected a dolomite marble floor and stunning wallpaper, with an amazing custom vanity!

Our clients had been using a spare guest bedroom as a kind of makeshift dressing room.  Once completed, this will be home to an actual  dressing room, outfitted with custom cabinetry tailored exactly to the clients’ wants and needs.

Beginning the renovation process

Every project has to begin somewhere, and for our clients, it began with a lot of preparation.  A project of this scope and scale takes over a year, which meant that they would need to temporarily relocate.  The first order of business was finding suitable long-term housing for both them and their beloved dog.  In addition, they needed to go through all of their furnishings and pare them down to pieces that they absolutely loved and wanted to integrate into the new design.

On our end, we partnered with their architect and general contractor to handle every aspect of the renovation, from planning to demo to build.  Such a large scope requires a very exact balance of coordination, including timelines, permits, meetings, and selections.  The goal for the team is simple: stay aligned to help the client make the best decisions and ultimately exceed their vision in every way.  Attention to detail and clear communication are key, and we strive for excellence with every step.

Stay tuned for the next post in our series as we follow this amazing project!

 

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Glenna Stone Interior Design is an award-winning Philadelphia interior design firm serving Philadelphia, the Main Line, and surrounding cities. Utilizing her background and training in interior design, architecture, and engineering, Glenna specializes in creating interiors for residential and commercial design settings. We invite you to visit our website, view our portfolio, and catch up on the latest interior design concepts on our blog!