Historic Philly rowhouse gets modern open redesign
Discover how a historic Philly rowhouse transformed into a bright, open modern space without expanding its footprint.
The narrow brick rowhouse on a tree-lined street in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood now feels dramatically larger than its footprint suggests. Its original 1,870 square feet once held a maze of small, dark rooms. Now, it’s a single flowing space where light moves freely from the front door to the rear patio.
Designing within the footprint
Designer Lauren Thomsen kept the three-story structure intact. Instead of expanding outward, she reconfigured the interior to improve circulation and storage. “It was a gut renovation,” she notes. “The client wanted a cohesive, raised aesthetic brought about by high-quality millwork throughout the home.”
The kitchen was moved to the center of the main level, anchoring an open-concept layout that connects living, dining, and entertaining areas. A 14-foot-tall sliding door opens the space to a rear patio, pulling natural light deep into the house. On the second floor, the traditional bedroom-and-bathroom setup was replaced with an open primary suite lined with custom millwork storage.
Rich wood paneling wraps the walls, adding warmth and continuity between floors. The design team worked within the constraints of the 100-year-old structure, turning every corner into usable space. At the front of the home, built-in millwork serves as a mudroom where none existed before.
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A neighborhood built for walking
Rittenhouse Square is one of Philadelphia’s most sought-after residential areas. Its streets are lined with similar three-story brick rowhomes, creating a dense but quiet urban feel. Residents can walk to restaurants, shops, and the park itself, which sits at the heart of the neighborhood.
Lauren explains the area’s appeal: “There is a dense aggregation of similar scale brick rowhomes that are a maximum of three stories so even though it is urban, it feels very residential. Residents love the sunny, tree-lined streets in close proximity to restaurants, shopping, and iconic Rittenhouse Square Park, making the area pedestrian and bike friendly.” The renovation preserves that character while updating the home’s interior for modern living.
The project shows how even tight urban spaces can be transformed without altering their exterior footprint. The result is a home that feels both contemporary and rooted in its historic surroundings—proof that small spaces can still hold big possibilities.
