Before & After: A Philadelphia Architect Opens Up Her Historic Row House

Lauren Thomsen’s streamlined addition to a century-old house has a contemporary palette that lets the historical details shine.

Philadelphia is steeped in history, and nowhere does that become more apparent than in this remodel of a row house built between 1875 and 1895. Tucked on a carless street in Logan Square, this home’s charming exterior immediately appealed to architect Lauren Thomsen. "It was at the end of the block and it didn't seem quite as well-kept up as the others, but the architecture of the front is really beautiful," remembers Thomsen. "When we opened the door, it was just like, ‘Whoa.’"

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Melissa Dalton
Dwell Contributor
Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing for Dwell since 2017. Read more of her work about design and architecture at melissadalton.net.

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