This Historic Philadelphia Home Takes Inspiration from 1970s Italian Design
Name: Scott Persuhn
Location: Washington Square West — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 700 square feet
Years lived in: 1 month, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: This is a historic 1860 one-bedroom apartment in Washington Square West, Philadelphia. The apartment overlooks Pennsylvania Hospital, the oldest in the country.
I moved back to the U.S. a few months ago after completing my Master’s in Interior Design in Florence, Italy. I currently work for a global Italian interiors company.
I love juxtaposition, particularly the classical elements mixed with clean lines. I am inspired by 1970s Italian design. I have low-slung furniture with chrome accents, travertine, marble, and imagery of antiquities. The bright and neutral palette is a new direction for me as I was inspired by all of the light this apartment receives.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: 1970s Italian modern meets classical.
What is your favorite room and why? The living room sold me on the apartment. The original columns offer that sense of classicism. The large windows, inlay wood floors, tall ceilings, and classical proportions drew me to the architecture of the space. The furnishings are modern to contrast. Many items are vintage, including a 1970s Murano glass lamp. I love the contrast of the soft hand-knotted wool rug with the hard 1970s Italian travertine coffee table.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last purchase I made was the console in the living room. I had searched vintage stores for about a month before searching the web. I knew I wanted vintage and it needed to store vinyl records. It is a long wall that I wanted to fill, so this one measures 85″ and the wood tone fits perfectly with the wood floors. I found this one on Kaiyo.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Buy things you love. Incorporate items from your travels. Keep a cohesive color palette. Take your time.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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