Society Hill living and dining room
Philadelphia is home to wonderful historical gems, and our Society Hill living and dining room project afforded us the opportunity to design in one such fabulous home! Located in the neighborhood’s Headhouse Square section, this pre-Revolutionary War era home needed a blend of modern features while maintaining the charm of the space.
Marrying modern and historic in a Society Hill living and dining room
The main challenge in this project? Taking the large, high-ceilinged space and creating a sense of welcome and comfort. As our client said, “the room is so big that it feels like it swallows up any furniture we put in here.” At our initial survey, we noted that it was divided into dining and living areas, but still felt bare. In addition, details like the awkward TV placement and mismatched light fixtures made it seem unfinished.
Finally, the fireplace was beautiful but dated. Without any furnishings to anchor it, it seemed lost at the far end of the space.
We conceptualized the design in thirds in order to take advantage of the generous space while giving it a livable, welcoming vibe. Instead of one large seating area, we created two intimate conversation settings. One of these includes a pair of custom gray leather accent chairs in front of the reimagined fireplace. A new stone surround and hearth pair with a soft, custom gray paint for the beautifully detailed mantle. Opposite the chairs, one of the clients’ existing sofas finishes the grouping as light streams in through the south facing windows. Our clients’ prized, framed historical documents and maps (including the home’s original deed from the 1750s!) bring tradition and modern flair together.
The second conversation area centers the space with the other existing sofa and two charming swivel chairs upholstered in velvet. The wide channeled bench that sits between this grouping and the far one offers a versatile seating option, depending on the number of guests and where they’d like to gather. The large glass and stone coffee table is perfectly sized for apps and drinks while entertaining. More natural light floods through the east facing windows here.
Even with these two groupings, the space is still large enough to comfortably allow for a defined dining area. Here, we kept the clients’ dining table and chairs. We did select a new sideboard, subtly patterned in aged brass with a slimmer profile, and positioned their new television above. Like many smart TVs, theirs has the option of displaying a wide variety of artwork when not in use. The placement also means that it can be watched comfortably from nearly every seat in the space.
Finally, matched chandeliers define the boundaries of the separate areas while tying the room together as a whole. We loved the chance to weave traditional and modern threads together to design such a happy, bright space!
Completed project photography by Rebecca McAlpin
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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!