Old City Condominium
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Located on the third floor of a classic 19thcentury building in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood, the Old City Condo balances an industrial vibe and eclectic art collection with a modern aesthetic. kYd worked closely with the owners – a married medical professional couple – to collaboratively craft a space that suited their lifestyle and accommodated visits from their two grown sons.
kYd first addressed the 1,875-sf unit’s awkward 45-foot-long corridor entry. New modulations in ceiling height and timber beams create a more intimate entry. Wall niches and built-in storage help to visually break up the long space. Storage was reimagined throughout the unit, with new custom millwork in the entry hall and the home’s bedrooms.
An updated kitchen forms the backdrop of the open-concept living, dining, and kitchen great room where modern furniture, artwork, and industrial accents comingle. Ikea cabinetry boxes were clad in custom gray doors, and in a nod to the family’s medical careers, the sink features a foot-pedal-operated faucet. The existing wall of cubicle shelving was modified to create a new entry to a former mechanical and laundry closet, redesigned to include a pantry. The room was previously accessed through the front bedroom.
A new pocket door forms the gateway to the redesigned master suite. Constructed in three pieces of MDF to achieve its oversize dimensions, the door was inspired by the apartment’s metal fire door. The master suite includes a master bedroom, a combination study/office/dressing room with a fold-out couch for guests, and a master bathroom. Draperies serve as circulation and privacy devices to close off the bedroom and create a corridor to the study for when it is used a guest room. The bedroom features a headboard wall of custom built-in storage, matched on an adjacent wall by additional custom closets. These are flanked by two translucent pocket doors to extend natural light from the study’s two windows even while affording privacy within the room. The headboard wall continues into the study, providing continuity and maximizing storage.
The master bathroom earned a playful nickname “the shack” for its rough-hewn timber siding. The bathroom’s clerestory-topped volume glows with natural light. When viewed from the bedroom or living room, the bathroom’s volume adds dramatic visual interest and continues the elegant industrial vibe. kYd’s trademark clean lines are evident inside the master bath, where a floating custom vanity and closet make the room feel visually larger. Striated porcelain tile in shades of gray reflect the light. A vent hidden in the bathroom closet eliminated the visual appearance of a floor or wall grate. A curbless shower is set behind ultra-clear glass.