In this custom-built West Chester home lives an energetic family with an active social life. The wife also runs a successful home-based business. We made changes to the house that reflects their vibrant energy and specific needs, and when Covid … Continue reading
Our clients requested a full redesign and remodel this 3980′ sq. townhome in Media, PA. They had a vision in mind, and we completely customized the home to suit their desired contemporary style. In every “after” photo, you see the owner’s love of clean, modern lines, even in the details of interior doors, pillars and moldings.
Upon entering the home, you immediately see a stunning floating staircase designed with a mix of clean lines, modern materials, and warm wood tones, handcrafted in Lancaster, PA. The openness allows more natural light to filter into the long hallway, set aglow at night by a beautiful handmade Italian light fixture.
Another striking, hand-made Italian chandelier is the focal point in this 2-story dining room. The small, reflective discs sparkle and bounce light throughout the space. The modern glass table is softened by the upholstered dining chairs. Original artwork is by Audra Weaser.
As with most of our projects, we began this one with space planning. On the first floor, we created a new mudroom space off of the garage entrance, keeping the existing pantry, and adding plenty of hooks for hanging coats, a wall-hung tray for keys and wallets, and a bench with shoe storage. Adding this new wall also allowed for better flow in the kitchen (on the other side), creating more storage and an improved cabinet layout. We moved the powder room door opening to the mudroom hall instead of the dining room for more privacy. A beautiful floor-to-ceiling tile accent wall caps off the clean, modern powder room. See plan below for details.
The re-designed gourmet kitchen space has a better work flow, more counter and storage space, and is accompanied by a serving bar with two wine refrigerators. All countertop surfaces are white quartz with subtle light gray veining. The lower cabinets and large island have slab doors in a beautiful rich blue, appointed with sleek bar pulls. The upper cabinets, refrigerator/pantry wall, and bar/serving area are made from an exotic, gray-stained, Wenge wood, adding warmth and texture. The Wenge pairs well with the frosted glass and metal of the upper vertical-lift cabinets. The backsplash is a traditional herringbone Carrara marble that seamlessly blends together the colors and textures of the first floor.
The living room’s focal point is the fireplace wall which features a light stone, blue cabinets for a color punch, and floating glass shelves. The wire suspension system for the shelves is a subtle nod to the railing system in the foyer. The custom rug pulls together the blues and neutral colors in the space.
The transformation continues in the upstairs hall bath where Carrara marble, glass and white bathroom fixtures complete the look.
In the Master Suite, the original closet layout consisted of two larger closets and a smaller one. We removed the walls and simplified the layout, creating one large dressing room which was also the perfect spot for a sauna.
The original master bath was ordinary and bland, and the shower was dark and closed-off from the rest of the space.
The first thing you notice in the renovated bathroom is the floor-to-ceiling marble tile. We installed a radiant heat system in the floor, and chose a gray marble hex tile to provide a regular pattern. The clients wanted a curbless, walk-in shower, which we outfitted with a rain shower head, niche, and long bench. Other features include floating vanities (with makeup area) and pocket doors with frosted glass inserts.
The Master Bedroom features serene blue walls and a neutral, soothing color palette. Two chairs by the French doors offer an additional quiet, relaxing space.
Lower Level:
The clients are Philadelphia Eagles Fans and expressed that fandom in their color choices for the media feature wall, the bar, and the rug under the pool table. The large and comfortable sectional is the perfect size for family and friends to watch the game. We added two large windows, and along with the sliding door, the walkout basement lets in plenty of natural light, making this room perfect for entertaining both day and night.
Lastly, the client wanted a home office added to the basement for a quiet workspace. The large window panels take advantage of natural light and expand the visual size of the office while maintaining a sound barrier. A powder room was essential to complete this multi-purpose space.
Photo Credits: Kingdom Works Media
Greetings and Happy New Year!
This year McGrath Interiors is excited to celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all of our clients whom we have had the pleasure of serving over the years. We sincerely appreciate the relationships we have built and look forward to many more. We are also grateful to our vendors, friends, family and acquaintances, and those of you who have endorsed us to others. We are forever indebted to each and every one of you for all of your assistance and support, and would not be marking 25 years without it.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful and healthy 2021!
In this eclectic Chester County home, a new kitchen layout and small bump-out for a mudroom doubles the useable space and greatly improves its functionality. As with many homes, the big issue was the need for more storage. The much-used … Continue reading
This “typical” 1950’s home in the Philadelphia suburbs needed new life for today’s family. The garage was too narrow to easily get a car into it, and was only usable as storage space. We took advantage of that space to expand the kitchen, create a mudroom, and add a half-bath and coat closet on the main floor. The kitchen now flows well, has all of the modern amenities, and is open to the dining area, creating a roomy, open and welcoming entertaining space. There is a large deck off of the dining area to extend that space outdoors.
On the second floor, we took advantage of a very large closet to expand the size of the tiny bathroom, creating space for a double vanity, and more room to move around.
This lovely house is totally refreshed, is now on the market, and ready to have a new owner add the finishing touches to it.
This beautiful, 9260 SF custom-designed home was built over 30 years ago. Since then, the way we think about our living spaces and how we entertain friends and family has changed considerably. These days, it is rare that homeowners want … Continue reading
We’ve had a lot of clients in the past few years who requested to update their colors from the red, gold and green palate to the cooler grays, taupes, blues and greens. For this Garnet Valley home’s breakfast area we … Continue reading
Are you thinking about renovating? Do you want to tear down your walls and create an open concept design? Before you do, it is essential to think about how you use a space and what problems you are trying to … Continue reading
Kitchen renovations are a great investment for resale value, but lately, our clients are wanting to update their kitchens so that they can enjoy this much-used room themselves. It makes sense, as this is usually an expensive project, and tends to look dated in about ten years or so. In order to make the look last as long as possible, we recommend a timeless and classic design that doesn’t follow the trends too closely, especially on the more permanent items such as the cabinets and flooring. Light fixtures and hardware can be changed out more easily, so if you want to be a little trendy, it makes more sense to do so with these items or with the wall color.
In this West Chester kitchen, we wanted to take advantage of the 9 foot ceilings and remove the existing soffit. This eliminated the horizontal band, making the room look taller and feel larger. It also provided extra storage and display space for distinctive pottery, glass, or decorative collectibles.
The appliances that are available these days are amazing. They do almost everything and homeowners can pick and choose from many features, based on their budget and their families’ needs. This client requested that we put a full refrigerator and a full freezer side by side, creating large amounts of cold storage right in the kitchen where it’s convenient to access. We loved this idea, and luckily there was a long wall available to put them on. Additionally, there is a small beverage refrigerator with a glass door for easy access to drinks for every day and when entertaining. The extensive, 6-burner gas range with a center griddle is a chef’s dream. A drawer microwave built into the island is easily accessible while not taking up countertop space.
The simple design of the farmhouse sink is as functional as it is beautiful. The minimal aesthetic complements design styles from rustic to modern. With the extra deep double basins, there is plenty of space for both prep and washing. This hardworking sink is an excellent choice for busy families.
The earth-toned colors of the accent tile behind the range expresses the homeowners’ tastes and adds color to the space while creating a beautiful and unique focal point. Painting the trim on the bay window updated the look and allowed it to blend seamlessly with the cabinets. Natural stone subway tile adds a bit of texture and pattern to the monochromatic theme of the perimeter. Rich, distressed black island cabinets are contrasted by the polished white stone top– another focal point that grounds the entire layout. The oil rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware add a rich contrast to the creamy walls, cabinets, and floor. Four classic, X-back stools are comfortable, casual, and welcoming, making the island an inviting place to gather. The stone-look tile floor is a neutral, classic and durable choice.
Clever, fun and functional features were added to make this kitchen unique. A well-appointed center for both hot and cold beverages comes complete with a sink. The base cabinet next to the stove is home to all essential utensils, keeping the countertops clear. Lots of other cabinets were custom-fitted for smart and highly personalized storage solutions. Finally, there’s a hidden paper towel holder. Can you see or guess where it is (answer in pictures below)?
We were recently asked to redesign a 1990s master bath in West Chester. Like many of the “newer” homes in this area, this one featured a large soaking tub that was rarely used, a small dark shower, and a cramped … Continue reading
Main Seating Area
Showing new fireplace, shelves and lighting. The TV was relocated to the wall opposite the windows.
A door was added for both visual interest, and to keep the sound from going up to the bedrooms. The sandblasted glass also adds privacy.
The mantel was made from a salvaged piece of walnut and has wonderful character.
Before–Fireplace, TV and built-ins.
Stair wall-before.
Notice the long window is off-center to the room. We moved it to balance the space and added another small window. This allowed for a better furniture layout.
Proposed space.
The floor plan shows the new symmetry of the windows and the orientation of the furniture to the fireplace and TV. The circulation was also improved.
