creativeneurosis's Profile

Are those Ikea Rast dressers/nightstands in the bedroom? If so, nice paint job. I love how so many people have been able to take those dressers and put their own stamp on them.

I don't think I understand what "industrial" is, because some of these don't seem at all industrial to me. The shelf in the last photograph, for example.

@pheebs79, I'm pretty sure those are both by Wayne Pate. You should be able to buy them on his website.

Good grief. I wasn't going to comment but I feel forced to correct some of the inaccuracies listed above.

Big Box Stores: In Philadelphia proper</>, a 10 minute drive from Center City are a bunch of big box stores all together. This is probably your best bet if you need stuff quickly. There's:
Target
Ikea
Raymour and Flanigan
Pier 1
Walmart (whatever, it's there, I'm just sayin')
There's also a Lowe's and a Home Depot which you'll probably need.

In Center City (Philadelphia's downtown) there's a cluster of pricier options, all within walking distance of each other including:
West Elm
Luxe Home
Usona
Bo Concept

In Old City (just beyond Center City) there's another cluster of pricier options. I don't know them all offhand but I know there's Minima and Dane Decor. There are definitely others though, either walk around when you get here or look them up on the internet.

In Manayunk (still in Philly proper but about a 25 minute drive from Center City) there are a bunch of (pricier) stores along Main Street including:
Pottery Barn
Restoration Hardware
Dwelling
Ligne Roset

Those are your best bets for shopping expeditions. All of the stores mentioned have websites so you can check out the options before you go.

For secondhand options Craigslist is usually a good bet, and I LOVE Uhuru Furniture (in Center City) but you have to go often because the merch turns over FAST.

For housewares and some smaller pieces (i.e. no couches or beds), you should definitely explore some of the smaller independent retailers (also in Center City and most within walking distance of each other). These include:
Open House and Verde (on 13th Street)
Hello Home and S.H.A.G. (on Pine Street)
The owners of the 2 stores on Pine are super nice (the others might be too, I've just never met them)

This is by no means an exhaustive list but it should get you started. Regarding safety: Philly is like any other city. Keep your eye open and your wits about you and you'll be fine. Welcome!

I, too, am surprised that a decorator was involved. It feels unfinished. The house is certainly lovely and the furniture is mostly fine, I think just changes to the textiles (especially the window seat) and some new accessories would freshen it right up.

There's a difference between a house that feels like it hasn't changed in half a century and a house that feels current but where the historic details have been preserved.

I think it looks loads better, but I do think cabinet handles would make it feel more "finished".

wow, I'm going to stop complaining about my rowhouse (12.5" wide on the first floor) now. Compared to these, it's a castle!

I think your furniture will work nicely in the new place if you paint the fireplace surround white. As someone else pointed out, the wood tones of your furniture work well with the window seat. After that, I think almost any cool color (to counteract the red in the wood) will work.

Doesn't camouflaging the TV with a cover designed to look like an old school TV screen bring more, rather than less attention to the television? Or is that just me?

It's a cute pattern though, but I personally would rather see it on a pillow.

That said, as far as "TV-hiders" go, at least it's better than this: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/how-to-hide-your-tv-using-fabric-108795?image_id=1146257

Love that green bar cart! Can't believe you found that in an alley.