6 min readTucked along a quiet, tree-lined street off Philadelphia’s bustling Rittenhouse Square, a three-story rowhouse has stood since the 1840s, bearing witness to generations of history unfolding around it. But over just the past two and a half years, some drastic things have been happening inside its brick walls. The current homeowners wanted to reconfigure the space to accommodate their growing family—including a new grandchild—while preserving and honoring the home’s period character. They enlisted the expertise of Vestige Home’s Nicole Cole to lead a major architectural and stylistic rework of the space.
“It’s important to us that we don’t strip away the character of the historic homes we work in,” Cole says. As she puts it, this project became her “love letter” to period-appropriate restoration. “While the house had strong bones, it required an extensive renovation to meet contemporary living standards,” she says, adding that the original home’s “choppy” floor plan impeded the flow and connectiveness the homeowners were seeking. “The goal was to create an inviting home for hosting, entertaining, and building family traditions.”
Rather than starting from a blank slate, Cole and her history-buff clients had a wealth of original character to build upon. “Drawing from the townhouse’s storied setting and Philadelphia’s architectural legacy, we immersed ourselves in traditional furniture forms and time-honored craft techniques,” Cole notes.
Fittingly, many of the home's most prized furnishings were sourced from England (or inspired by the team’s recent travels across the pond), reflecting the historical influences that shaped early American design. The resulting space blends an environment imbued with real history with heirloom-quality, built-to-last designs, and rich hues and whimsical prints that give it a decidedly fresh perspective.
“It doesn’t feel like everything is new and has been redone in the house, even though many things have been,” Cole says. “My favorite thing is that it has been designed and updated for the way we live today, but it honors the history of the home and Philadelphia.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Nicole Cole, Vestige Home
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Space: A three-bedroom, three-bathroom home across 2,100 square feet.
LIVING ROOM
Warm ambiance and playful details create a welcoming place to gather.
The living room, oriented around the original bluestone fireplace, is configured for convivial conversation. The camel-colored velvet sofa is paired with two checkerboard-patterned armchairs “for a bit of whimsy and soft pattern,” Cole says. Beside the sofa, a locally crafted Lostine floor lamp lends a statement to the room, its large scale and unique sculptural form reading as both an art object and lighting source.
KITCHEN
Custom millwork, honed marble, and hidden storage give this cook space a British-inspired twist.
You would never guess by looking at it now, but this kitchen was one of the most outdated rooms of the home, replete with old cabinetry from the 1950s—not the type of historic character the design team was looking to preserve.
“We reimagined the space with a traditional English home in mind,” Cole notes. Working within the room’s original scale, she removed the fusty cabinets, replacing them with custom built-ins and softly veined marble countertops. The honed marble checkerboard floor is another distinctive feature that Cole says adds “graphic contrast,” plus it’s a clever callback to the same pattern used in the living room upholstery.
The British countryside theme was furthered in the myriad storage solutions seen throughout the space: custom open shelving with radius corners showcases the homeowners’ pottery collection; a custom drying rack doubles as display space for vintage dinnerware; and a hidden coffee bar offers a playful surprise with its bold interior color.
“Clients are loving the addition of coffee bars to their spaces,” Cole attests. “This one we modeled off of a British larder with retractable doors and interior shelves for storing all their coffee mugs and canisters.”
DINING AREA
A thoughtful interplay of materials gives the room quiet drama.
“The dining room is a study in materials,” Cole says. Though the composition is varied, the tones remain in harmony, which is especially important, as this zone is shared with the living room. The walnut-stained wood paneling and black Windsor-style chairs provide bold contrast to the honey-hued custom dining table, and each element stands out without competing for attention. Overhead, a ruffled porcelain pendant light from the U.K. introduces softness and a decorative focal point within the open floor plan.
POWDER ROOM
Classic fixtures and a panoramic mural envelop this pocket-sized space.
Just steps from the kitchen, the powder room is wrapped in a pastoral Pierre Frey wallcovering for an immersive feel that Cole says is “inspired by the nearby protected forest areas that are found throughout Philadelphia.” The classic pedestal sink with brass fixtures creates an alluring juxtaposition with the organic-shaped mirror and an asymmetrically placed pendant light.
ENTRYWAY
A pattern-rich vestibule makes a striking first impression.
Upon entering the home, guests are greeted by a bold House of Hackney floral print and a tiled half wall, emblematic of historic Philadelphia rowhouses, according to Cole.
The design team solved for the narrow footprint with a custom demilune entry table that offers a practical spot to pause before coming or going. This foyer’s thoughtfully scaled furnishings also provide visual continuity with the adjacent living room.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Inspired by the landscape just beyond its windows, the main bedroom offers a quiet escape from city life.
Having the benefits of ample natural light and outdoor foliage to provide privacy, the second-floor primary bedroom was designed to be in conversation with the surrounding environment while providing a much-needed escape from the street-level hustle and bustle.
“We designed the space as a serene oasis, layered with neutral textures and patterns and accented by rich, earthy pops of color,” Cole shares. “A block-print–style wallpaper adds rhythmic pattern, echoing the dappled light from the trees outside.”
The bedroom’s fireplace is a natural focal point, but the design team saw an opportunity to make it a true showstopper. “We sourced an antique Frank Furness–style mantel with botanical carvings and decorative trim to anchor this space and give a nod to Philadelphia history,” Cole notes, citing one of the city’s most prolific architects of the Victorian era.
GUEST BEDROOM
Dark florals and dramatic architecture create an intimate yet airy feel.
Where the primary bedroom embraces light, the third-floor guest bedroom takes a moodier approach. Wrapped in a dark floral wallpaper with prominent chocolate-brown and soft blue tones throughout, the feeling is cozy and cocoon-like. Yet, the room’s soaring ceilings impart a surprising sense of expansiveness.
“Originally a standard ceiling height, we discovered that we were able to open up this space and pitch the ceiling along the roofline during our demolition phase,” Cole muses. “We thought it was a great moment to embrace this unexpected drama.”
The room’s antique fireplace mantel stylistically ties back to the one found in the primary bedroom, as well as to the subtle checkerboard theme found on each floor of the home.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Rich cabinetry and handcrafted details elevate this hardworking hub.
The design team relocated the laundry room from the basement to the second floor, turning it into a “small but mighty” utilitarian space. The aubergine-hued beadboard cabinetry holds the washer-and-dryer units and extra storage, and a small sink occupies a corner nook for quick cleanup. The illustrative backsplash was commissioned from a local ceramicist, adding an artful touch. “It was inspired by British flower gardens seen during our travels,” Cole shares.
GRANDSON’S BEDROOM
A charming retreat for the family's newest arrival.
With the exciting arrival of their first grandchild came the need for the homeowners to create a dedicated space to be with him as he grows up. Located on the third floor, this suite benefited from the same raised-roof renovation as the neighboring guest bedroom that won back several more feet of space overhead—and the addition of a dormer window lightens the mood even more.
The space has a soft, timeless sophistication, with light blue tongue-and-groove paneling used on both the walls and the custom wardrobe. A mix of earthy plaid, velvet, and bouclé textures that feel casual but look tailored. “The room feels like a cozy little house,” Cole muses, “Perfect for play, stories, and bedtime.”
About the Designer
Nicole Cole is the founder and creative director of Vestige Home, an award-winning Philadelphia interior design firm known for creating layered, soulful interiors that honor history while embracing modern life. Nicole believes that great design and thoughtful spaces come from a balance of vision, collaboration, and well-planned execution. Her greatest joy lies in helping clients create homes that reflect their lives and personalities while respecting the architecture and story of the buildings that contain them.
