When our client found an historic home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, he recognized an exceptional opportunity to return a Main Line estate to grandeur. Designed by renowned architects Irvine & Durham, the Cotswold-style home’s distinctive character and craftsmanship guided our approach. Working in collaboration with our client, architect Archer & Buchanan, and builder E.C. Trethewey, we undertook the rewarding process of stewarding the home into the modern era.

The team expanded the home’s footprint to include a light-filled breakfast nook and great room, designed to feel as though they had always been part of the original home. We designed the interior finishes to reflect this continuity, referencing historical precedent, particularly that found in other Irvine & Durham residences along the Main Line.

The original exterior stone wall now provides a beautiful backdrop for the built-in kitchen banquette, which has become our client’s favorite space. Steel windows and French doors allow natural light to flood in and create a seamless connection between interior and exterior living areas.

The dining room continues this dialogue between past and present. We installed custom oak paneling and meticulously restored the fireplace, selecting a handmade green tile surround that enhances the room’s warmth and character. Throughout the home, every space was approached with the goal of balancing elegance and livability, remaining true to the home’s history while introducing today’s modern comforts.

This project marks our second collaboration with the client, following our award-winning restoration of Stone Lea in Narragansett, RI, a McKim, Mead & White designed residence. We are exceedingly grateful to our client for entrusting us with this important work of preserving timeless architecture while crafting spaces that invite modern life to unfold with warmth and ease.