Divine Main Line
Glenna Stone reimagines an historic home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
The kitchen, which underwent a striking transformation, is equipped with a suite of professional-grade appliances, including a panel-ready Sub-Zero refrigerator and beverage drawers, a Miele dishwasher, a high-performance Wolf range, a GE microwave, and a panel-ready warming drawer by Dacor.
Everyone loves the charm of an older home, but with the comfort of an interior that is strictly 21st century,” laughs Glenna Stone. And this was the case when a local couple enlisted the interior designer’s help to make their c. 1930 home in Bryn Mawr—a historic, 19th-century Philadelphia suburb formed along the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Main Line route—their own. While the home exuded the romance and architectural heritage of a sprawling country estate with arched windows, climbing ivy, and French doors, the layout left quite a bit to be desired and offered little in the way of accommodating a soon-to-expand family.
To the left of the entry, an inviting family room boasts a custom sectional accented with jewel-toned pillows. A green grass-cloth backing adds texture to the home’s original bookshelves. A classic Dutch door—leading to the rear patio and yard—remain as nods to the home’s heritage.
Left: The arched windows over the entry fill the space with light.
Right: The bar in the lounge is bathed in natural light.
Never one to shy away from a design challenge, Stone dove in. A total spatial reimagining saw half the first floor reconfigured with rooms swapped entirely, and the kitchen and primary bath gutted—and that was just to start. The relocated dining room received an enchanting transformation—the walls were wrapped in a grass cloth wallcovering depicting serene, cloudlike artwork that lends the room a sense of floating in the heavens. In the corner, an arched bookcase original to the old dining room, was reclaimed and given new life. Chairs in a darker blue fabric add depth, while a whimsical chandelier formed of petals in a silver leaf finish ties into nature. The kitchen, meanwhile, went from staid to chic—the weird angles were lost and the palette went from lackluster to classically beautiful—a subtle taupe paired with shades of off-white reinforce the home’s warm, neutral tones. Stone enlarged the window to bring more natural light into the space, framing it with glazed mosaic tiles.
Expanding the en suite bath yielded an unexpected delight: a sunny reading nook within the primary bedroom. Stone designed the custom bed, layering the room in a soothing palette of neutrals for a dreamlike effect.
“I love finding that balance between heritage and modernity.”
Mindful of the homeowners’ priorities, Stone turned the former dining room—just off the kitchen— into a light-filled den with comfortable seating and a tone-on-tone rug. “It’s perfect—someone can be cooking while keeping a full view of a child playing on a mat,” she says. A nearby powder room was outfitted in green-leaf wallpaper that echoes the family room’s bookshelves—where green grass-cloth backing adds allure and references the outdoors. A custom sectional over a blue area rug invites relaxation. An adjoining lounge takes on a moodier feel. “This is truly their adult retreat—we purposely created a contrast with the family room, to give it a more intimate, loungey vibe,” says the designer. Luxuriously enveloping chairs form a circular gathering spot while a recess along one wall now houses a fully appointed bar. The cabinetry, finished in rich charcoal with subtle blue undertones, is mirrored in the window trims and the soft hue of the chairs. A stunning water-jet mosaic forms the backsplash.
The lounge serves as an intimate, moody setting for entertaining. A chic buffet provides both functional storage and a place for serving, while a modern brass-and-glass chandelier offsets the room’s more traditional aesthetic.
Upstairs, Stone gave the homeowners the spa-like sanctuary they envisioned for their primary suite. The bathroom was widened—borrowing slightly from the bedroom—and layered in soft, tonal materials with a bit of texture, from zellige tiles to natural white oak. The bedroom itself is layered in elegant neutrals and features a custom bed with flange detailing; a cozy reading nook flooded with sunlight thanks to another picturesque arched window—a character-rich detail visible throughout the home that Stone embraced.
Left: Atmospheric wallpaper lends the dining room a sense of weightless suspension, while a showstopping chandelier provides an immediate “wow” moment.
Right: An exquisite makeover turned the primary en suite bathroom into a tactile sanctuary. The shower features a dynamic play of varying floor and wall tiles, including a large format beauty by Artistic Tile.
“I love finding that balance between heritage and modernity. When clients are really energized about what you’re producing, it’s incredibly rewarding,” says Stone.
Designed for effortless hosting, the bar is equipped with a panel-ready U-line wine refrigerator—available through Middleby Residential—and a panel-ready dishwasher by Bosch. The backsplash, which features Origami water-jet mosaic by Artistic Tile, is an elegant touch.