Cover The stepped-down living room serves as the home's neutral hub, painted in warm white whilst saturated colours radiate outward which is an unusual approach for Main Line interiors
The stepped-down living room serves as the home's neutral hub, painted in warm white whilst saturated colours radiate outward which is an unusual approach for Main Line interiors
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A couple in their 60s traded corporate restraint for bold interiors in this French Colonial home in Philadelphia's Main Line, where minty sage kitchens and plum-toned bars challenge traditional suburban design
The Main Line outside Philadelphia has long carried associations with old-money elegance. The classic 1940 film The Philadelphia Story, starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart, drew its inspiration from the region’s socialite traditions. In one such 1974 French Colonial house, a couple in their 60s commissioned Melissa & Miller to transform the 3,300-square-foot residence with colourful interiors that honour this heritage whilst departing from its typical restraint.
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Above The 1974 French Colonial house exterior maintains its historic character whilst the interiors embrace contemporary colour choices
The 1974 French Colonial house exterior maintains its historic character whilst the interiors embrace contemporary colour choices
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“We wanted the house to reflect the creativity in both husband and wife: polished, well-travelled yet not flashy,” says Melissa Urdang Bodie, co-founder of the interior design firm that undertook the nine-month project. The clients, including a former prominent businessman, proved unusually receptive to colour in a region known for its conservative aesthetic sensibilities.
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Another view of the stepped-down living room reveals the careful balance of vintage and contemporary pieces anchored by custom L-shaped bookshelves from local woodworker East Otis
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The kitchen established the project’s trajectory. Painted in Farrow & Ball’s minty sage “Eddy” and featuring De Gournay wallpaper, it immediately signals a departure from typical suburban neutrality. The choice reflected both client preference and the designer’s strategy: to create a series of saturated spaces radiating from a central white living room.
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Above The living room’s neutral palette allows the couple’s vibrant art collection to take centre stage, with textured upholstery in natural fibres adding tactile interest
Above Detail of living room furnishings showing an amber glass side table paired with a vintage Czech chair.
The living room’s neutral palette allows the couple’s vibrant art collection to take centre stage, with textured upholstery in natural fibres adding tactile interest
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Each room assumes a distinct chromatic personality. The den features Farrow & Ball’s midnight “Hague Blue,” while a combined bar and cigar room adopts deep plum “Brinjal,” chosen to complement a specific painting the homeowners wished to display. The two bedrooms present contrasting moods: one gentle in duck egg blue with blush accents, the other assertive in burnt orange and wheat tones.
The kitchen in Farrow & Ball’s minty sage “Eddy” features De Gournay’s Amazonia wallpaper and oversized pendant lights, creating an untraditional approach to suburban kitchen design
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“Not all clients are open to an array of colour and pattern, but these clients luckily were,” Bodie observes. The approach required reconsidering how rooms communicate across the single-level layout.
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Above The den embraces Farrow & Ball’s midnight “Hague Blue” on walls and ceiling, creating an enveloping atmosphere. Wall-to-wall carpet by Rosecore adds softness, whilst vintage Czech chairs reupholstered in Rogers & Goffigon fabric provide comfortable reading spots
Above The breakfast room adjacent to the kitchen features botanical De Gournay wallpaper and woven dining chairs, blending natural materials with luxurious finishes
The den embraces Farrow & Ball’s midnight “Hague Blue” on walls and ceiling, creating an enveloping atmosphere. Wall-to-wall carpet by Rosecore adds softness, whilst vintage Czech chairs reupholstered in Rogers & Goffigon fabric provide comfortable reading spots
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The white living room functions as neutral territory between more saturated experiences. Custom L-shaped bookshelves, crafted by local woodworkers East Otis, frame the stepped-down space, anchoring a mix of vintage Czech chairs sourced from 1stdibs and contemporary pieces from makers such as Holly Hunt and Lawson Fenning.
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The plum-toned bar, designed in collaboration with architect Neil Young, features laterally moving mesh metal shelves and dramatic marble countertops, complemented by velvet bar stools by Thomas Hayes, which pair well with the Farrow & Ball Brinjal walls.
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Architectural intervention proved to be the most complex in the bar area. Collaborating with architect Neil Young, the team designed laterally moving mesh metal shelves whilst adding pocket doors that allow the space to open completely for entertaining or close for intimate gatherings.
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Above The bar room in deep plum showcases turquoise leather swivel chairs arranged around a vintage cigar poster, creating an intimate space for conversation and cigars
Above The bar area showcases dramatic veining in the marble countertops, creating a luxurious focal point in the entertaining space
The bar room in deep plum showcases turquoise leather swivel chairs arranged around a vintage cigar poster, creating an intimate space for conversation and cigars
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Throughout the project, Melissa & Miller prioritised smaller makers and female-owned businesses. Local artisan Nat Fry created the credenzas, Hoffman Hardware supplied the kitchen fixtures, and Cuff Studio in Los Angeles provided the oversized pendant lights. The approach reflects both ethical preferences and practical advantages: these suppliers often accommodate customisation more readily than larger manufacturers.
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Above A secondary bathroom continues the bold colour approach with emerald zellige tiles floor-to-ceiling, creating an enveloping jewel-box effect
Above Emerald zellige tiles create an immersive bathroom experience, paired with brass fixtures that provide warm metallic contrast against the saturated green walls
A secondary bathroom continues the bold colour approach with emerald zellige tiles floor-to-ceiling, creating an enveloping jewel-box effect
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Material diversity matches chromatic variety. Wools, leathers, silk, and cotton combine with natural oak throughout the colourful interiors. High-end sources, including De Gournay, Fromental, Scalamandré, and Pierre Frey, provided fabrics and wallpapers, whilst Erik Lindstrom’s New York showroom contributed rugs that unify disparate elements.
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The bedroom in burnt orange and wheat tones features a vintage dragon artwork that reflects the couple's art collection and well-travelled aesthetic
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Client requirements shaped every decision. The couple reads frequently, necessitating comfortable yet stylish seating. They entertain regularly but value intimate spaces equally. One significant structural modification addressed storage needs: the primary bedroom was reoriented to accommodate a separate dressing room.
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Above The duck egg blue bedroom demonstrates the designers' layered approach to colourful interiors, with multiple shades and textures creating depth without pattern overload
Above One of the two bedrooms showcases warm tones with burnt orange accents and wheat hues. The walnut nightstand by Lawson Fenning features open shelving for book storage
The duck egg blue bedroom demonstrates the designers' layered approach to colourful interiors, with multiple shades and textures creating depth without pattern overload
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The project challenges assumptions about age-appropriate design. Rather than adopting the muted palettes often associated with mature clients, this couple embraced chromatic risk through their colourful interiors.
Even the bathrooms received bold treatment, featuring emerald zellige tiles and charcoal Porter Teleo wallpaper that transforms utilitarian spaces into considered environments.
“It always starts with the relationship with the clients,” Bodie reflects. “These clients were truly wonderful, grounded, intuitive and caring people. They wanted to bring their sense of family to the home.”
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Photography: Brian Wetzel
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
