I used to drive all the way to Maple Shade to browse from the  treasures that can abound at Habitat for Humanity's Restore. This year a new Restore location opened at 3111 West Allegheny Ave, just around the corner from the StudioIQL East Falls offices. Restore sells gently used furniture, appliances, building materials and home goods. Habitat for Humanity uses 100% of ReStore’s profits to build and repair homes in Philadelphia.

While my experience growing up in historic Germantown shaped my sense of style, it came to me late in my professional career as a restaurateur in the Hudson Valley that what I really love to do is create welcoming spaces. The day-to-day drugerery of running a restaurant started to wear thin after sixteen years. (This epiphany came to me while I was rummaging through our dumpster for a customer in an effort to find their child’s retainer.)

Perhaps while on your way to C&C Creamery, you may have noticed a mid-century treasure on Hermit Street just above Henry Avenue. Built in 1949 by the Italian Architect Arthur Tofani, this home was designed smack dab in the middle of the mid-century movement. This style, which spanned from approximately 1930 to 1960, is known for its clean organic natural lines and lack of embellishment. Done well, it results in foundational design that is both distinctive and timeless.

From time to time, we have clients coming to us to solve what we have come to call “builder grade” problems. Usually, these are houses built by developers within the last 20 years that try to take advantage of a hot location. Laden with features, but devoid of thought or soul, these structures need remediation to reach their potential as homes.

Our lives are complicated and overstimulated. We don’t need superfluous decor. We need trustworthy leadership to provide a clear path forward to love and peace in our homes.

Some houses have to be helped to find their true nature. Others have nothing but their own inherent style and ooze existing character. For these properties, the only thing to do is follow their lead.

I know that there are those who do not ‘see’ art. I know that there are people who are not moved by music or those who can’t be bothered to search out a baguette with the perfect eggshell crack to the crust.

Located on Mermaid Lane in Wyndmoor, Discount MCM is in Chestnut Hill’s backyard . From their funky playlist (we have a playlist too), to their excellent social media and Mondrian front door, this is a well run, fun furniture resale spot with a great vibe. It is by appointment. They are very friendly and responsive.

Living within walking distance to the shops on Germantown Ave was a huge priority for this particular family, so Evergreen was the perfect location. But the remodeled twin was just too small to hold two home offices as well as visiting children with their expanding families. We remodeled it, without the addition, as a temporary living situation.

When we help people plan a kitchen, we tell them to design to fit the way they actually live. But that’s not always so easy to do when you’re looking at a blank slate. So we’ve developed a list of questions that help clients sort through what it is they really want when they reimagine these spaces.