• Completion: Spring, 2012
• Architecture: Kass & Associates
• Interior Design: Ellen Magen Interior Design
• Residence Size: 1,639 s.f.
• General Contractor: Shay Construction
• Millwork & Kitchen Cabinets: Fab Dubrunfaut Woodworking
• Photography: Halkin Mason Photography

This apartment in downtown Philadelphia functions as an urban retreat for the Owner's weekend and evening use. The apartment blends urban sophistication with the calming influences of nature. Slabs of stone, panels of wood, and wall coverings soften and unify the architecture. The warm glow of materials compliments the Owner's appreciation for the comfort and informality of California and the southwest.

As part of the extensive renovation, interior walls that divided rooms in the apartment have been eliminated to blend public functions together. Although the apartment is relatively small, the reconfigured space is designed for social gatherings as well as individual use. Walls are paneled in a grid of rift-cut oak which serve as a backdrop for artwork. A new oak floor with a weathered tan stain provides the setting for comfortable furniture upholstered in neutral earth tones and textures.

The open kitchen is planned to function both for individual use and as a showcase for guest chefs and intimate catered gatherings. The upper cabinets, interspersed with thick European oak shelves, create a series of stacked horizontal ledges for display. The elevated seating around the island focuses on a sliced walnut slab counter, held in place with steel legs and brackets.

The master bedroom is anchored by a custom platform bed with integrated headboard and nightstands fabricated from rift-cut Anigre. Grass cloth walls add warmth and texture while motorized shades and drapes provide room darkening and privacy.