A Rittenhouse brownstone with a dumbwaiter and woodland creatures
House-hunting in the pandemic was tricky for the Barudins, moving from St. Louis, but they were instantly sold on the 200-year-old home.
Allison and Jeff Barudin’s townhouse is a visual delight, complete with pale pink and robin’s-egg blue walls, bold woodland-themed wallpaper, and funky furniture and lighting.
When the couple moved to Philadelphia from St. Louis in 2021, the pandemic made house hunting tricky. The pair wanted a home with a rich history and hoped to put their personal stamp on the decor. When they discovered the brownstone in Rittenhouse, built in the early 1800s, they were sold.
The house had been through many iterations in its 200-year history, including being broken up into apartments, having businesses on the first floor, and being rented as a single-family home. It was in a desirable neighborhood, had a full basement and a garage, but it needed help.
Jeff and Allison wanted a fun space to host family, friends, and neighbors. They worked with South Philly-based Design Manifest and Buono Construction in Phoenixville to realize their vision.
The first step was refinishing all of the floors in the four story, 3,400-square-foot, four-bedroom house. In the summer of 2023, they moved out during renovations on the first and second floors.
“We were looking to add back the historic touches that should have always been there while adding modern functionality and purpose to each room through thoughtful design,” said Naomi Stein, CEO and creative director of Design Manifest. “We added historic character back into the space via decorative elements like wall moldings and scenic wallpapers.”
The roomy new kitchen includes custom walnut cabinetry made by Christiana Cabinetry, featuring arched doors with ribbed glass fronts. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Wythe Blue from their historical collection, highlighting the quartz island and soapstone countertops. The floor is checkerboard marble tile.
The pair enjoys cooking — breakfast sandwiches are Jeff’s specialty. Counter space is plentiful, and appliance garages keep the countertops clutter-free. Highlights include Bertazzoni appliances and a dedicated beverage station.
They also created dedicated spaces for Pearl, a 4-year-old sheepadoodle, including built-in food and water bowls in the kitchen island and a bespoke crate within the family room cabinets.
The home’s layout meant putting the kitchen on the second floor, but the dining room and entertainment space on the first floor. They needed a way to carry meals downstairs, without having to navigate a circular staircase. The solution was a two-story dumbwaiter.
“We just imagined at a dinner party bringing a bubbling tray of lasagna down our winding antique stairs,” said Allison, who works in corporate development. “Now we use the dumbwaiter for all sorts of things.”
The second floor also includes an eating area off the kitchen and family room. Its focal point is the red vintage rug they brought from their previous home. In the family room, they added decorative millwork with picture frame moldings as a nod to the home’s history and hung wallpaper with a custom woodland design.
“It feels very peaceful and calm even though every once in a while, a tiger sitting on the ground might catch your eye,” said Allison. “You are always finding something new and fun.”
The first-floor entertainment space, decorated in soft pink and green, is meant to feel like a lounge in a boutique hotel. Framed arches feature wallpaper with a Where the Wild Things Are vibe.
“It’s fanciful and interesting and adds character to the room,” said Jeff, band director at Abington Friends School.
Divided into three zones, the first floor’s back features a curved bar with seating, a prep sink, and built-in cabinetry housing a wine refrigerator, warming drawer, ice maker, and table settings. An expandable table is centered in the space, with a cozy seating area toward the front of the house for after-dinner cocktails.
“We wanted a space that was conducive to having a lot of people over,” said Jeff. “The first floor was explicitly made for us to host guests.”
The couple love their neighborhood — the walkability to shops and restaurants, the tree-filled park nearby, the area’s rich history, and their welcoming neighbors.
“The best part of our neighborhood is that you can have this incredible home that gives you entertaining space and a space to relax, and also be anywhere you want by walking a few blocks,” said Allison.
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