A Revolutionary-era house with a modern interior in Society Hill
This house was built between 1771 and 1784 for George Clymer, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Greg Graves was living in a condominium in Washington Square West but wanted more outdoor space and a layout suitable for entertaining. He also hoped to find a home with historical significance. He found all three in a four-story Society Hill townhouse built in the late 1700s, with a beautiful garden and roof deck.
“It was originally built between 1771 and 1784 for George Clymer, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence,” said Graves, who moved in in November 2019.
The 5,000-square-foot home with three bedrooms and 4½ bathrooms had been gutted and renovated in the 1990s, but the kitchen was dated, and Graves wanted to modernize the traditional decor.
“My vision was to have it be a bit more modern inside while still keeping some of the historical elements,” said Graves, a health-care consultant. “I wanted to change the cabinet colors and make it brighter.”
With help from designer Glenna Stone from Glenna Stone Interior Design in Chestnut Hill, he completely reorganized the large living room/dining area, taking advantage of the light that naturally pours in. They created two intimate conversation settings in place of the existing large seating area. In one area, a pair of custom gray leather accent chairs sits in front of the fireplace, which was reimagined to include a new stone surround and hearth.
“We didn’t want to simply blend the client’s modern style with the architecture of his historic home but also create coziness and intimacy in a large, open space,” Stone said. “By designing two adjoining conversation areas with lots of texture, we gave it a sophisticated vibe that’s still welcoming and the ideal place to relax solo or entertain friends.”
» READ MORE: Help for people who hoard
The home’s primary bedroom, which serves as a retreat for Graves, includes the third and fourth floors, with 25-foot ceilings, a living area, loft, and roof deck access.
“You’re in your own little relaxing world even though you’re in the middle of the city,” he said. “You have some degree of privacy, you don’t have the noise of the city, and on a nice fall or spring day, you can open up the doors out to the roof deck.”
A history buff, Graves has collected original documents pertaining to the house and historical maps of the Philly neighborhoods where he’s lived. He also has photos of some of the changes made to the home over time.
“The house was a store and a small house, and at some point, it was combined and turned into apartments and then split out again into a single-family residence,” he said.
His love of history is reflected in the Constitution-themed wallpaper in his powder room, which was there when he moved in.
“It’s this strange, esoteric thing that doesn’t look anything like a modern or clean aesthetic — it is very busy,” he said. “You can see the contrast of the two aesthetics there.”
One of his favorite finds is the table that sits in his entryway. “I looked for probably two years for the perfect console table,” he recalled. “I was in an antique store in Lambertville and found a late 1700s/early 1800s Hepplewhite-style, well-preserved folding card table, and I fell in love with it.”
As the pandemic has eased, Graves has hosted coworkers for work sessions and meals. An avid cook, he enjoys having friends over for dinner parties. His kitchen renovation included removing the floating cabinets over the kitchen table “that stored nothing but you hit your head on,” he said. He painted the existing brown cabinets Naval blue by Sherwin Williams, installed new countertops and an espresso bar, and created a banquet area.
His kitchen leads directly to the patio, where guests can feast on freshly made pizzas from the outdoor pizza oven. He admits to some disasters as he’s been perfecting his culinary skills.
Whether it’s pizza making, building his marble kitchen table, or renovating the roof deck, Graves heartily tackles DIY projects. He equipped the roof deck, where he has spent a lot of time during the pandemic, with cedar wood cladding and cable railings.
From the roof deck, Graves marvels at his Society Hill neighborhood. “It’s a terrific community and the connectivity I felt with neighbors within weeks of moving in was so strong,” he said. “It’s a really friendly place to live.”
Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at properties@inquirer.com