Felicia & Douglas’ Warm, Mid-Century Modern Condo

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Name: Douglas and Felicia Greenfield
Occupation: Douglas, professor; Felicia, social worker
Location: Queen Village — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years lived in: 1

Felicia and Douglas weren’t looking to buy a place when this light-filled condo became available in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. However, long before Felicia met Douglas, she had attended parties in this very space. It belonged to the friend of a friend, and she had always secretly longed to make it her own. She watched over time, as the owner renovated. A new kitchen was put in, and she fell even more in love.

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(Image credit: Bethany Seawright)

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Front door, stairs leading to landing. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Then she met Douglas. This was true love, not real estate love. Eventually, they moved in together. A couple of months and a marriage proposal later, Felicia’s dream home went on the market. The couple knew they had to act quickly. They were crazy about the neighborhood and wanted the chance to take this great space and make it better. It had strong bones, a new kitchen (as mentioned) and fantastic light (seriously — look at it).

When Felicia and Douglas moved in, the space had terra cotta accent walls with carpet and laminate wood floors. They tore up the carpet and laminate, and using matching mixed-width planks reclaimed from another building, restored and refinished the hardwood floor underneath. They repainted the accent walls a smoky green, and stripped several layers of old paint off of the columns and stairway railing. They’ll be the first to admit — it’s a work in progress. (There’s a reason that the bathroom isn’t included in the tour!) But for them, it’s a labor of love. Now married, their space is a new beginning for their new beginning together.

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Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style:Mid-century modern

Inspiration: Originally Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Now only traces of pure
white/rocket ship remain.

Favorite Element: The sightlines and the play of angles; a two-story brick wall.

Biggest Challenge: Tall or oversized windows make treatments complicated and expensive.

What Friends Say: Where do your in-laws sleep?

Biggest Embarrassment: An overstuffed, treacherous — and un-pictured — attic (up
third flight of stairs).

Proudest DIY: We decided it was a draw between 1) stripping several layers of paint off the columns and the railing, and 2) hanging/wiring the cast aluminum sconces at perilous heights.

Biggest Indulgence: The gallon of Farrow & Ball paint we used for the accent wall.

Best Advice: You can’t hurry contracting. After many blind dates, we found a painter (PAFA alum Tom McCloskey) and a contractor (green builder Buckminster Green) who shared our vision and values.

Dream Sources: Heath Ceramics for kitchen and bathroom tiles.

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Resources of Note:

PAINT & COLORS

    • Sherwin-Williams: White (entry, living room)
    • Sherwin-Williams: Nebulous White (bedroom, den)
    • Farrow & Ball: Green Smoke (accent wall)
    • Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint (kitchen)

ENTRY

    • Chairs: Innovation USA
    • Coat rack: Adesso
    • Table: Offi

LIVING ROOM

    • Pod chairs: Overman
    • Rug: Ege Rya
    • Sofa: Room and Board
    • Bench: Herman Miller
    • Table: Eero Saarinen
    • Brno chairs: Knoll or replica, unsure
    • Arc lamp: vintage
    • Bookshelf: Blu Dot
    • Firewood holder: Enclume
    • Canister: Kartell
    •Sconces: Artemide

DINING ROOM

    • Table/chairs: Drexel Declaration
    • Antique bamboo and marble bar
    • Clock: George Nelson

KITCHEN


DEN

    • Coffee table: Vintage, Hello Home
    • Chair (Thonet)

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Thanks, Felicia & Douglas!

Images: Kristen Lubbe

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