Salvaged Wood Meets Urban Industrial in a Philly Condo
Reclaimed barn and chicken coop parts give a city live-work space rustic edginess with a conscience
Becky Harris
March 25, 2013
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
When this city condo needed character, the designers at Groundswell Design Group traveled to the country stylewise. The condo, a clean-lined contemporary penthouse in Philadelphia's Northern Liberty neighborhood, was too bare, and the detailing was boring. To meet the needs of the owner, a single architect, one of the two bedrooms was opened up and turned into an office and lounge. Groundswell's specialty, reclaiming and repurposing, came into play on the walls and through the furnishings. Here's a closer look at how the group mixed streamlined contemporary style with these more rustic and industrial salvaged pieces.
Project at a Glance
Location: Philadelphia
Cost of reclaimed barnwood wall, 12 by 20 feet: $13 per square foot; $3,120 total
Cost of galvanized tin wall, 11 by 18 feet: $7.50 per square foot; $1,485 total
That's interesting: The development of this building was financed by rapper Jay-Z.
Project at a Glance
Location: Philadelphia
Cost of reclaimed barnwood wall, 12 by 20 feet: $13 per square foot; $3,120 total
Cost of galvanized tin wall, 11 by 18 feet: $7.50 per square foot; $1,485 total
That's interesting: The development of this building was financed by rapper Jay-Z.
"We wanted to balance out the streamlined contemporary style with some rural/industrial elements," says designer David Fierabend. "Our first question as we approach a project is always, What can we reuse?" In the main living area, galvanized metal from a chicken coop roof adds horizontal bands, rusty patina and an industrial edge to one end of the condo.
Rug: Bo Concept; basket: West Elm; lamp: Gilt
Rug: Bo Concept; basket: West Elm; lamp: Gilt
The horizontal lines of the painting on the window wall inspired the design throughout the house, as did the horizontal movement of the Delaware river outside. Look closely out the windows and you'll see the Ben Franklin bridge; look closely at the baseboards and you'll see that they are reclaimed hemlock boards.
Upon entering the unit, we get a hint from the bar and live-edge shelves that some serious reclaiming is going on. Fierabend knocked down the wall separating what was the second bedroom from the foyer, opening the whole space up as an office and lounge.
The bar and the live-edge shelves above it are reclaimed poplar wood. The bars between the shelves are supports from old school locker room benches. (Remember how those benches were bolted to the floor, or am I just eons older than you are?)
The team composed the knee wall and another wall with wood reclaimed from barns in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The silvery gray wood is hemlock, and the brown wood is mushroom wood. "The hemlock is beautifully aged, and the mushroom wood is knotty and full of texture," Fierabend says. "We played around with the pattern; we like things kind of jigsaw-y puzzle-ish but with clean, sharp edges."
Foldout sofa: Bo Concept
The team composed the knee wall and another wall with wood reclaimed from barns in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The silvery gray wood is hemlock, and the brown wood is mushroom wood. "The hemlock is beautifully aged, and the mushroom wood is knotty and full of texture," Fierabend says. "We played around with the pattern; we like things kind of jigsaw-y puzzle-ish but with clean, sharp edges."
Foldout sofa: Bo Concept
The team designed the computer desk; it is made of reclaimed metal and has a glass top. "We used the construction of the Eiffel Tower as inspiration for this desk," Fierabend says.
The high-top desk serves as a unique conference table for client meetings. "We did not want to cover the walls with art; we wanted the furniture to function as art instead," Fierabend says. The team designed this plywood desk and made the cuts with a CNC machine. The orange color helps it stand out as an artful piece.
Fierabend found the vintage B.F. Goodrich sign a while ago at one of his favorite sourcing spots, Provenance, and knew he would use someday; the office was just the spot.
Fierabend found the vintage B.F. Goodrich sign a while ago at one of his favorite sourcing spots, Provenance, and knew he would use someday; the office was just the spot.
A seat at this table affords a great view of the city. Groundswell also designed the shelves, which are made of metal and reclaimed joists.
Lights: Cluster Glass Pendants, West Elm, with Edison bulbs
Lights: Cluster Glass Pendants, West Elm, with Edison bulbs
The reclaimed hemlock and mushroom wood combination carries into the bedroom on a large headboard. It's 8 inches from the wall, allowing room for backlighting. "It gives it just a little bit of an Austin Powers room vibe," Fierabend says. So does the elegant gray shagadelic rug.
Bookshelves: CB2; rug: Shaw; duvet cover: Pintuck in Slate, West Elm
Bookshelves: CB2; rug: Shaw; duvet cover: Pintuck in Slate, West Elm
The same reclaimed barn wood frames the large mirror on the right.
This part of the story has nothing to do with salvage, but I would not feel right if I didn't share the kitchen mural with you. "I love graffiti and pop art, and this mural combines the two; it's refined graffiti," Fierabend says. The firm does a lot of restaurant design and is used to thinking big and graphic, as well as blurring the lines between city landscapes and interiors. The team designed the mural and had it executed by graffiti expert Sean Gallagher.
"We loved the juxtaposition of the cool, clean interiors and the reclaimed pieces," Fierabend says.
Have you completed a salvage project lately? If so, please add it to the Comments section.
"We loved the juxtaposition of the cool, clean interiors and the reclaimed pieces," Fierabend says.
Have you completed a salvage project lately? If so, please add it to the Comments section.
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Sorry had to show a reclaimed live edge table just completed. This species Dragon wood has been submerged underwater for decades.. I consider this a real reclaimed item. www.reduxwood.com for more info, see underwater wood for more details.. Thanks for everyone's time. Justin
This is feminine wrapped in a masculine modern style, with a hip hop vibe. Very nice, and well thought out.