Ringgold Row House Project Reveal
Is there a better way to kick off the new year than with an e-design project reveal? I think not! :) I’ve been eager to share this project with you since I went up to Philadelphia to shoot it back in November, but I decided to save it so it didn’t get lost in all of the holiday craziness. Now that we’re on the other side of the new year, it’s time to put it in the spotlight!
I’ve dubbed this project the “Ringgold Row House.” We touched just about every space in this client’s home - including doing a full kitchen renovation - to give it the modern farmhouse style she loved. Since she moved from a one bedroom apartment in the city to a classic Philly row home and only chose to bring a few pieces with her, we pretty much started from scratch. Getting to design the home holistically from top to bottom and see the final results in person after it came together was such a treat.
Since I hand over the reigns to my clients to do the purchasing and installation at the end of e-design projects (read more about my process here!), I don’t always get to see the end result. When the stars align though and I have the opportunity to go see and shoot a project, I jump at the chance and then I get to share it with you! With the Ringgold Row House, I photographed the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and that’s what you’ll see here today.
If you’d like sources for any of the furniture or decor, scroll on down to the end. I included items that are still available and linked up some similar items for those that aren’t!
Let’s jump into it, starting with the kitchen!
Kitchen
After going back and forth about whether to give the existing kitchen a makeover or go all-in with a full reno, my client decided on the latter, and I 100% think she made the right call! We kept the existing layout (it was really efficient and well-suited for the small footprint), but took down a funky built-in cabinet so it could be fully open to the dining area adjacent to it. Though doing that took away some storage, it was worth it. It felt like a completely different space and made the whole first floor feel bigger. Plus, my client entertains and has people over a lot, so having the kitchen open to the rest of the house was a big plus.
For the design, we kept it classic and streamlined to give it that modern farmhouse look with white shaker cabinets, white subway tile, and charcoal gray floor tile, but we did something special with the countertops - soapstone. Those pretty black slabs with gray/white veining are absolutely beautiful. My client had seen something similar in a friend’s house and fell in love - it was her “must have” in the kitchen.
As a little PSA about soapstone - it can have two VERY different looks depending on if you oil it or not. It’s a medium, almost “chalky” looking gray when left natural and it turns the deeper black you see here when it’s oiled. If you choose not to oil it, it will naturally darken over time and patina from daily use. Some folks like that look and some don’t so if you’re looking at soapstone for your own kitchen, just be aware of the way it behaves!
A couple of other pros about soapstone is that it’s non-porous (and therefore basically stain-resistant) and heat-resistant. If you like the look of darker-toned granite, but want the veining of marble, take a look at soapstone. It might just be exactly what you’re looking for.
Living Room
I love how this living room turned out. It has the minimalist modern meets cozy farmhouse style we were shooting for thanks in large part to the low-profile sectional (great for a small living room in a narrow house!) and the wine barrel coffee table. The nubby, neutral wool rug provides just the right amount of texture to add to that warm, inviting feeling in this space.
My client brought the sectional with her from her old apartment and it fit just right in here - It maximizes the amount of seating she could have (with the addition of the accent chair) without crowding the space, which can be a hard balance to strike in a smaller living room.
Also, since you walk right into the living room from the front door - something that’s very typical of row homes in Philadelphia - I had to get a little bit creative to make a functional entryway for shoes and coats, as well as a drop zone for other miscellaneous items. The sectional serves the purpose of defining an entryway as you’ll see below and the long console, mirror, and wall hooks make it super functional even though space was tight!
Dining Room
Finally, we have the dining room! It sits between the living room and the kitchen, and it’s a nice size for a row house with seating for six. We even had space for that long sideboard, which adds awesome storage! I brought the modern farmhouse vibes into this space as well, but with an eclectic twist thanks to the giant piece of Asian-influenced art. Isn’t it cool? It’s a family piece my client got from her parents when they moved several years ago and it fills that big wall perfectly. Good thing too since it’s really the only wall in the house that was large enough for it!
There you have it - the #ringgoldrowhouse in all of its glory! I absolutely loved working on this home and it was awesome to see it in person and go back to Philadelphia to shoot it. Designing small spaces is one of my favorite things to design - it definitely requires creativity, but it’s so satisfying to see it all come together in a functional and beautiful way!
If you’d like help designing your home - big or small! - in 2020, be sure to check out my e-design services here or send me a message. I’d love to chat about making that happen!
Furniture and Decor Sources*
Living Room:
Table Lamp (similar)
Pillows: Solid Blue (similar), Blue Pattern (similar)
Console Table (similar)
Kitchen:
Dining Room:
*Affiliate links disclosure: Mix & Match Design Company may earn a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you.