Philly Meets Paris, Encore: Phase Two Unveiled

Welcome back to Part Deux of our Philly Parisian reveal! If Part One was all about the refined structure and quiet elegance of the utility spaces, this half is where the heart of the home comes to life. These are the spaces where stories are told, games are played, and the beauty of everyday living unfolds.

The design challenges were real…very few straight angles meant we had to be very thoughtful and creative with floorplanning. But that made each corner more meaningful. And once we got to know our clients, it all clicked. She loved Parisian design—think chic, layered, cozy, slightly eclectic but always elevated—and we used that as our guiding star.

Family Room

The family room sits in the back of the home. The original space was a garage renovation/add-on that the family had enclosed for extra space. It’s large and has very high ceilings, but it felt very white and empty. This space had to work hard: cozy enough for snuggly evenings with the family around a movie, but refined enough for adult entertaining. We wrapped the walls in rich, chocolate grasscloth and introduced an olive velvet sectional that anchors the room with comfort and style. A warm mix of pillows, textiles, and textures, including a fuzzy statement chair, keeps it approachable but layered. Every inch was considered, from the art and lighting to the styling on the ottoman, which adds a cozy spot to kick up your feet and unwind. It’s a little dramatic, a little relaxed, and entirely Parisian chic.

The space is layered with thoughtful design moments, from the rich velvet texture of the sectional to the earthy tones that ground the room. A vintage-style rug adds warmth and history, while a dramatic wallcovering sets the tone with just the right amount of edge. Unique lighting choices double as sculptural art, casting a glow that elevates every corner.

Throughout the home, we refinished all the floors, added new trim work, and introduced architectural detailing to enhance the character and flow. While the kitchen was completed prior to our involvement, we gave it a refresh with a softer color palette, updated hardware, and lighting that ties it in beautifully with the rest of the home.

The custom built-ins to anchor the living space—painted in the same moody hue as the trim and echoing the reeded detailing from the primary bath. They were carefully considered to fit a large TV while featuring a dark interior that allows the screen to virtually disappear when not in use, letting the rest of the design shine. A touch of reeding detail on the built-in mimics the reeding detail in the primary bathroom.

This is a space that invites you in to linger longer, surrounded by pieces that feel curated over time. The design is quiet, but powerful.

Formal Living Room

This room is a little dramatic, a little relaxed, and entirely Parisian chic. This space sits at the front of the home and was built for entertaining and conversation. We layered textures and tones to create a space that feels curated and lived-in—refined yet inviting. The custom brown boucle sofa adds a sculptural softness with a soft curve against the extreme angles of this front living room. We recovered our clients’ favorite vintage chairs to bring a juxtaposition of traditional lines with the soft warmth of a dijon velvet. We paired a reeded circular coffee table and a simple geometric rug to add a touch of texture and modern design.

The color palette in this space is simple and soft with shades of chocolate, dijon, and a touch of blue.. Custom drapes bring a softness, height, and privacy to the space and bring a warm diffusion of light.. The lighting was selected for both form and function, adding warmth and visual interest. From the art to the styling on the coffee table, custom pillows in rich tones, every detail was thoughtfully considered to create a space that feels elevated and timeless.

Dining Room

This dining space sits at the heart of the home, thoughtfully designed to make the most of the slimmest part of the house. Nestled between the formal living room and kitchen, we opted for a tailored banquette, bringing a splash of soft blue, to maximize seating without sacrificing flow. The round pedestal table keeps the layout open and easy to navigate, while the mix of cane-back chairs and upholstered bench strikes a balance between relaxed and refined. Earthy tones, soft textures, and collected accents connect the room to the adjacent living space, making it feel cohesive, warm, and intentionally designed.


Girls Bedroom

This girl’s room was so much fun to design. We wanted this young lady’s bedroom to feel youthful but not overly themed, something that could grow with her. The room sits on the third floor and has many of the home's signature unconventional angles, along with a vaulted ceiling. We used the tall back wall as a focal point and added a soft, cloud-like wallpaper to create a perfect backdrop for a beautiful carved wood canopy bed. The bed fills some of the vertical space and is paired with an adorable chandelier. 

Soft bedding in blush tones gives the room texture and color and adds a lived-in warmth. Table lamps glow like little storybook clouds with the backdrop of the wallpaper, and the layered rugs add textures, creating comfort you can feel. It’s playful and pretty and was designed to grow with her. And a custom seating nook creates a space to read or hang out with additional storage below.

Stairwell

The custom stairwell runs through all the floors, and the 3rd floor presented an opportunity for a big moment in the home with a big opening and a vaulted ceiling.. Custom-designed railings were carefully designed to create a railing profile that feels modern and architectural yet elegant, complementing the overall style of the home. Overhead, a modern glass ball chandelier in the vaulted ceiling adds a sculptural element, catching the light and creating visual interest as you transition between floors. It's a beautiful blend of form and function in a space that’s often overlooked

This project wasn’t just a renovation. It was a creative journey that involved countless decisions, a little improvisation (those angles!), and a lot of trust. We didn’t just redesign a home, we reimagined the way it feels to live in it.

Working with this client was such a joy, and I’m honored to have been part of creating a space that reflects her warmth, her eye for beauty, and her love of all things timeless.

In case you missed it, look back at the Phase 1 Reveal - A Parisian-Inspired Transformation in the Heart of Philly.

P.S. If you love this project as much as we do, let us know! And if you’re dreaming up your Parisian-inspired renovation, we’d love to help make it happen.