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Adam Kane Macchia
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Adam Kane Macchia
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Adam Kane Macchia
by Chrysa Smith
One day, Glenna Stone received a call. She had a project in New Hope, and a potential client saw her sign posted a half mile down the road. After an initial meeting and some discussion, the rest fell in place. This couple liked this designer’s work and felt comfortable putting their home in her hands. “We like dealing with clients that trust us to execute their vision,” said Glenna. “Whether a renovation or new construction, our favorites are those where we solve problems.” And that’s just what her team did.
The couple wanted to focus on the most used spaces on their main floor. For them, that was kitchen, family room and pantry. “They wanted lighter and brighter,” Glenna said. Something common in many farmhouses, it also had a few additions. The original farmhouse, with a small living space, became the center of the house, with all other rooms located on either side.
According to the owners, the family room felt crowded, with not enough seating and not enough light. They wanted better storage in the kitchen with a larger island and countertop. As a couple who entertain a lot and has large families which come home to visit, this all made sense. And it was all deciphered by what Glenna calls her programming phase. After a site survey, the data gathering process begins. Glenna collects information about what a client really wants by having them complete a questionnaire. “They might come in with some idea like a sectional or appliance they like. So, this is a way to get inside people’s heads.” Clients are asked to bring inspiration images, so she can understand the proper aesthetic for them. “Maybe they love everything about an image. But you might ask them about the lighting in the picture, and they may not like it. It’s like peeling back an onion on every image. I find what specific things they are attracted to and make their spaces functional, livable, and aesthetically pleasing,” she added.
The result in the kitchen addition was the mixing of woods. The owners had plenty of cabinets and wanted white, but not so many. So, Glenna anchored the kitchen by adding a darker toned wood island, to break up the starkness of white cabinets. “I wanted to create special moments in the home where unique elements applied.” So, for example, when she was asked for a coffee bar, she worked it into the plan by hiding a coffee maker that slid in behind mirrored front cabinets. No unsightly cords. No visible stray coffee grounds.
Glenna can work most things into her plans, but notes in such a home, it still has to have the traditional touches it needs to feel not only aesthetically pleasing but correct. The kitchen opens into a pantry, which has a large window overlooking their 20 plus acre horse farm. Wanting to create a light feel in the room, Glenna opted for a different, lighter wood for the cabinets. The owners wanted it to feel like a different space. Previously there was a large, cumbersome island, which was removed. And the kitchen sink was moved into the pantry so while entertaining, used dishes could be hidden. A small metal table was added as what Glenna called a landing spot for serving.
In the adjoining living space, the owners wanted something other than the sectional they had. They found it difficult to entertain with such a furniture layout, wanting as much seating as possible. Glenna removed the old dining banquette, and a console table, and expanded the living space to accommodate more guests. A soft and inviting feeling was achieved by using lots of neutrals with pops of color. “A lot of our work is grounded in neutrals. It creates an approachable welcoming feel,” Glenna noted. Color comes in with accessories, like a throw blanket or pillows as accents. “I like to tell the story of a client through patterns and texture.” She said she must keep up on trends, but they are not the driving force. “The goal is to create a timeless space.”
So, how has Glenna been able to make it all come together? A diverse background married technology with artistry. An undergraduate degree from Lehigh University in Industrial Engineering was her mainstay. But having had a dad who was a woodworker and a mom who was artist, she was greatly influenced by design. “I’ve always had a creative spark,” Glenna noted. That meant after being out of school for eight years, and working for Gillette, she wound up taking cooking and photography classes, and she also wound up at the Rhode Island School of Design. “I fell in love with interior design,” she said, adding that it’s way more technical than most people realize. She then went on to get a degree in Industrial Architecture from Drexel, and took that and her business expertise, and put a toe in the waters of interior design.
She interned for an interior design firm in Philly, then a small architectural firm until after her second child, decided to go out on her own. That was in 2010. Now, over a dozen years later, her offices on Germantown Avenue in Northwest Philadelphia, house a staff of 12 and the files of many clients from all over the region. “I knew how design can be life-changing,” she said. “My goal and purpose is to change lives through design.” Mission accomplished.
Glenna Stone Interior Design is located at 8219 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. To reach Glenna Stone Interior Design by phone, call 215-995-2194. For more information, visit www.glennastone.com.
Chrysa Smith is a regular contributor who has some credits in and love for interior design