House Tour: Amy And Michael Cohen's Philadelphia Colonial Gets A Surprising New Interior From Metcalfe Architecture And Design (PHOTOS)

We never would have guessed what was inside this stately stone 1920s colonial in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Mt. Airy. Though it blends right in with other the homes built in the same style on the block, owners Amy and Michael Cohen had big ideas for the interior of their family home. They turned to neighbor and friend Alan Metcalfe, Principal of Metcalfe Architecture and Design, to convert this grand structure into a vibrant, warm and colorful living space that meets their needs, as you will see in this house tour below.

Instead of a traditional colonial space consisting of many small rooms, Metcalfe designed an open floor plan that seamlessly connected the living room and kitchen to a beautiful brick patio in the backyard with a mahogany pergola, which is ideal for entertaining. He also designed a new mudroom on the back of the house for storage. Other modifications included custom built shelves, cabinets and bureaus and extensive closets for the Cohens and their teenage children. Their master bathroom also got an update, complete with a marble shower and counters.

The most interesting part of the renovation is the bold color palette throughout the interiors, which were influenced by the homeowners' art collection and reflected their style and personality. The newly remodeled kitchen's finishes are in bright primary hues, which juxtaposes the maple countertops and herringbone slate floor (which has radiant heating!). A wall separating this room from the dining area is an art installation by artist Paul Schultz, and is made by suspending plastic bread tags beween two pieces of acrylic.

Click through the slideshow to see before and after photos of this unique renovation, which successfully combines traditional architecture with modern design.