While searching for a house they could retire in, the Stefanellis fell in love with a World War I-era home in West Chester, even though previous renovations had erased some of its historic details, writes Paul Jablow for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
To restore the house’s historic charm, they connected with Carol Quigley, a designer with the Frens & Frens Historic Restoration Studio, a West Chester architecture firm. Quigley serves as chairperson of the Historic Architecture Review Board of West Chester.
Quigley was surprised to find several unique features on the Stefanelli home, including the unusually thick block walls and glazed vestibule at the front.
Her objective was to remain true to the home’s history while ensuring the couple had all the 21st-century conveniences.
“We tried to keep it period,” said Kelly Stefanelli.
They were able to roll back the clock in several cases, including in the kitchen, where they replaced a modern sink with a farmhouse one and installed new period-style molding.
They also reworked the layout of the home to make it more functional, including joining two bedrooms to create a primary suite with attached bathroom and walk-in closet.
Read more about Frens & Frens Historic Restoration Studio’s work on the West Chester home in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
______
