This newly designed lower level went from being a typical basement used for storage, exercising, and watching tv, into a fun and funky bar lounge with a full bath and home office.
Tag: Main Line Interior design
Iconic Walter Durham home gets a new look…..
Having a hand in designing and updating this architecturally iconic home in Gladwyne was not only special but a lot of fun. First and foremost, I got to work with a friend from grad school, Janine Massaro, and together we were able to create a beautiful and functional space for a young family of five.
Second, because of the historical importance of this home, it was import to keep, or in some cases recreate, the characteristics of this architectural style; like random width pegged oak floors, detailed millwork, and big bright windows. The existing kitchen floor was tile therefore, we had to try to match the new wood floors to the old in the dining room. This kept a consistent flow throughout the first floor.
An Unforgettable Entryway.
A Foyer is not only the center of the home but also the place where guests are greeted, shoes are left, book bags are thrown, and four legged friends lounge for hours each day. Therefore, it has to have the same presence and sensibility as the rest of the house and now this one does.
your keys.
First on the agenda, was to shrink the width of the existing coat closet in order to open up the entrance to the kitchen. This move enabled a six foot, cased, arched opening into the kitchen as well as each adjacent room throughout. Larger arched openings created a softer transition between rooms and allowed much needed light to flood the Foyer, like never before.
The Sanderson wallpaper was one of the generators for the design therefore, the best way to compliment it, while also dressing up the entryway, was to add wainscoting. It’s simple panels along with the addition of custom lighting completed the look of this elegant entry and created an easier flow throughout the first floor.
Chinoiserie Chic Master Bath
This Master Bathroom underwent a full gut renovation including opening up the shower walls, transforming the transition between bedroom into bath, and removing a large jacuzzi tub and replacing it with an elegant soaking tub.
Prior to demo this sizable bathroom had lots of natural light, yet now it feels bright, airy, and fresh. The beautiful blue walls and ceiling add to the serene and soft feel of the space while the custom wallpaper, designed specifically for the area behind the vanity, brings in a bit of color and whimsy.
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Another great aspect of having such a large room is that there is plenty of opportunity to create vignettes like this custom Thassos marble mosaic framed by 12”x12” Dolomite tile.
This beautiful new Master Bathroom now has a classic look that better suits my clients style and will be enjoyed for years to come.
Birds of a feather play together
At one time, this room was a great space for girls to play dress up, do arts and crafts, build legos and play games. Now that they are transitioning out of traditional playtime, this large room can serve another purpose.
My client was interested in upgrading to a guest room for family. It already has a bathroom and closet. We halved it to allow a place for sleeping and lounging. The seating area still allows the girls to have a recreation area when guests aren’t visiting.
The Schumacher fabric is a great complement to the purple polka dot valences that are to remain in the room. A custom headboard, embroidered bedding, and bedskirt give this room a little sophistication and make it feel more like a guestroom.
While this updated space, it is still decorated with their adorable artwork, now it is a more “grown up” room.
You had me at wallpaper…
This project was so much fun and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. My client wanted to make a statement in her foyer that tied into the rest of the first floor. Wallpaper is the way to add interest to any room.
As travelers, this garden landscape was a reminder of places they had visited and as their designer, I felt the geometry and color made this foyer into a proper introduction to their home.
The moral is don’t ignore your entryway. No matter how grand or small, whether it’s a foyer or mud room. It is often a place where backpacks are thrown and shoes are left strewn about, but it is also how you enter and exit your home every single day. A room that you pass through on a daily basis should make you feel joy.
Blue Bliss
Clients often tell me they don’t know what they want but this mother of three knew exactly what she wanted in her new kitchen. A double oven, a large refrigerator, lots of storage, and a big island with seating.
Once the floor plan and cabinet design with Glenbrook Cabinetry were ironed out, we set out to look for the necessities like appliances, hardware, and backsplash. The GE cafe in white with sleek hardware options was a great way to modernize this new kitchen. White quartz countertops and white wall cabinets were offset by a beautiful blue island as well as brass accents throughout.
Now, this kitchen checks all the boxes for this young family. It has tons of storage, lots of cooking and prep space, a plethora of seating and most of all a classic look that will keep it relevant for years to come.
Not your average white….
Construction began on this kitchen in January 2020 and after being placed under strict stay at home orders in PA, this fabulous renovation is finally complete.
Now 
Then
One of the biggest changes to the space was utilizing the extra square footage from the large walk-in pantry. By removing the wall separating the two rooms we not only gained a larger footprint but also another window. The added square footage allowed for a nine foot island with seating and tons of storage.
Now 
Then
Another big update was replacing the terra-cotta tile with hardwood to match the rest of the first floor. Continuous flooring creates an open feel and makes for an easy transition from room to room.
Decorative details like wainscoting on a blank wall, crown molding to match the cabinetry, and beautiful Roman shades in both the prep and dining area really brought this space together.
The light is the most transformative part of this new kitchen. Removing the old pantry wall gave us another double window, allowing a great deal of natural light. Plus, the addition of inner and under cabinet lighting along with decorative lanterns above the island, gave this space the modern update that it needed.
Even though this renovation took a little longer than originally expected, my clients are very happy and have already started entertaining family.
Sitting Pretty
This sitting room was so much fun to decorate because it already had elements like custom wainscoting, eleven foot ceilings, and an open floor plan that helped to add interest and light to the space.
The starters for this design concept were the window panels, oriental carpet, and antique hutch. Incorporating existing pieces into a new design not only offers a direction but also allows me to be more creative and work with what I have.
After
Before
The first thing I did was to update the existing panels by adding a 5” decorative tape on the leading edge of each. The tigers worked perfectly with the Kravet panel fabric and gave the windows that WOW factor. The cornice layout was tricky but we were able to fit four full tigers in by using the return to the wall. This window treatment set the tone for this room and later for the entire first floor.
Wayne Basement Renovation
This young family needed more space in their traditional Cape style home and going up was not in the budget so they decided to go down into their dark, completely unfinished basement. This new space, although not without challenges; electrical boxes, an old oil tank, sump pumps, HVAC, sewer pipes, and low ceilings, gave them a great new area to entertain friends and family.
Ann Decker Design 