
Reporter Meg Augustin takes you inside some of Philly's most fab dwellings to showcase our city's unique grasp on design and architecture.
Liz and Steve moved into their Fairmount home a year ago. After a lot of looking, the rehabbed space, which offered adequate square footage, outside space and off-street parking, presented an intriguing, modern escape with amenities out the door, but the three-story beauty was, for all intents and purposes, a bachelor pad. The couple, who had recently adopted a baby girl, loved the home but saw its flaws when it came to family-living. The second-floor stairs were open and the top level was nothing but a floating master suite and catwalk — not exactly ideal for a soon-to-be-crawling child.
Soon after buying their urban dream home, the couple enlisted the help of Estate Contractor’s John Leonetti, who filled in stairs and transformed the third floor into a master suite and second bedroom. When it came time to add the decorative touches that would make their new space a home, Liz turned to her mother for help. An interior designer for Chicago’s famous Skidmore, Owings and Merrill design firm, she came with a wealth of interior know-how. She aided in the addition of a few ornamental elements, like the green-and-white print (pictured right) in the kitchen (a score from Liz’s aunt). Liz also got lucky at a Connecticut estate sale, where she found her unique parsons dining table and the office desk. Both items were from the family estate of celebrity chef Ina Garten (aka the Barefoot Contessa). Saturated paint hues, select Madeline Weinrib fabrics and pops of color give life and layer to the modern, post-bachelor space.
After years of looking and a year perfecting, Liz and Steve created a unique take on family living. After baby-proofing the former bachelor digs, the home became safer and more accessible, but kept its clean, modern atmosphere. With a creative outlook, and plenty of inspiration, this couple redefined urban, family living in a beautiful way.
Photos by William McEwan
Would you like to see your home on an upcoming The Great Indoors? Email the author at megan.augustin@citypaper.net.
- Activism
- Arts
- Arts Events
- Books
- Dance
- First Person Fest
- Last Chance
- Museum
- On the Fringe
- Philly Artists
- The Curator
- Theater
- Visual Art
- Arts News
- Artist Profile
- Arts Preview
- Street Art
- Been There, Done That
- Big Ups
- Comedy
- LOL With It
- Stand-up
- Critical Mass
- DVD
- Events
- Friday Fill-in
- Ice Cubes
- In Memoriam
- Interview
- Just Do It
- Just Opened
- Kaleidoscopic
- LGBTQ
- Art Phag
- Mailbag
- Movies
- Film Fest
- Movie Review
- On set
- Scenester
- screening
- trailer!
- Music
- 10 Track Mind
- Album
- Album Review
- Concert Review
- DJs
- Local Support
- Now Hear This
- One Track Mind
- Philly Bands
- Show
- Somebody Else Was There
- Song
- The Showdown
- concert photos
- jazz
- DJ Nights Blogged
- Night Watch
- Now See This
- Poetic License
- Printed Matter
- Radio
- Shopping
- Coveted
- Fashion
- What We Heart
- TV
- 24
- Idol Hands
- Mad Men
- ProjRun
- True Blood
- Useless Lost Recaps
- Couch Potato
- Shore Trash
- Turned ONN
- TopMod
- Video Games
- Free Online Game
- PSP
- PlayStation 2
- The 1-Upper
- Wii
- Web Junk
- CAGE MATCH
- Free Online Toy
- Weekend Omnibus
- Win
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007




