This contemporary penthouse apartment mixes cool, clean interiors and reclaimed pieces in this city work space located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia. The space was too bare and the detailing boring, so the homeowner’s called on the designers at Groundswell Design Group to add character to the home. The designer’s specialize in reclaiming and re-purposing, which came into play on the walls and through the furnishings. To meet the needs of the client, one of the two bedrooms was opened up and turned into an office and lounge. The contemporary style of the home was mixed with rustic and salvaged pieces. The main living area features galvanized metal from a chicken coop roof which adds horizontal bands, rusty patina and an industrial edge to one end of the apartment. The furnishings throughout the apartment function as art.

Interesting facts about the project: The cost of the reclaimed barnwood call, 12 by 20 feet: $13 per square foot; $3,120 total. The cost of the galvanized tin wall, 11 by 18 feet: $7.50 per square foot; $1,485 total.

The team designed the mural and had it executed by graffiti expert Sean Gallagher.

The horizontal lines of the painting on the window wall inspired the design throughout the house, as did the horizontal movement of the Delaware river outside.

The computer desk was made by the design team of reclaimed metal and has a glass top. The construction of the Eiffel Tower was inspiration for the desk.

The high-top desk serves as a unique conference table for client meetings.

Groundswell designed the shelves, which are made of metal and reclaimed joists.

The bar and the live-edge shelves above it are reclaimed poplar wood. The bars between the shelves are supports from old school locker room benches.

The designers composed the half wall and another wall with wood reclaimed from barns in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The silvery gray wood is hemlock, and the brown wood is mushroom wood.

The designers knocked down the wall separating what was the second bedroom from the foyer, opening the whole space up as an office and lounge.

The reclaimed hemlock and mushroom wood combination carries into the bedroom on a large headboard. It’s 8 inches from the wall, allowing room for backlighting.

Photos: Top Kat Photo