Here’s a recipe for a beautiful interior: Combine a family new to Pittsburgh with a solid-as-a-rock foursquare house in an urban neighborhood, and then blend liberally with the measured exuberance of interior designer Alisha Gwen. The results are family-friendly, great for entertaining, as well as fresh as a spring day.
Bright Accents Are the Secret to Alisha Gwen’s Family-Friendly Pittsburgh Home Design
The owners didn’t bring a lot of furniture with them, so Gwen started with a fresh slate. “My main objective was to maximize each space’s functionality for this busy family while still making sure the spaces were both welcoming to guests and comfortable for everyday life,” she recalls. Dark woodwork and drab colors were the first thing to go, brightened up mostly with a coat of white paint and a few amazing wallpapers.
Although most would call this space a “butler’s pantry,” this cheerful space is referred to as the “iced-tea nook” due to the clients’ devotion to this thirst-quenching brew. Adding an ice maker and beverage fridge seemed obvious. The tiles made by the kids of the house bring a special life to the space.
Bringing Personality to Each Room
The heart of the house beats in three interconnected rooms: kitchen, butler’s pantry, and dining room. “This family is full of personality and energy,” Gwen says with a smile, explaining the happy vibe she created for them. “The colors of the dining room were an extension of the light blue kitchen. I wanted to introduce another color in the dining room, but still have the spaces flow together harmoniously. After we discovered the dining room drapery fabric, then we knew that color would be green. For the butler’s pantry between the kitchen and dining room we wanted an unexpected pop of color between the two spaces.”
Alisha Gwen Interior Design is just over five years old. Across over 20 projects a year, Gwen and her two employees help clients make crisp, clean choices for whole-house renovations, including furnishings and décor, as well as a number of kitchen and bath remodels.
“Because we had a whole house to furnish, completely gutting the kitchen was not in our budget,” Gwen explains. “We updated the space with a fresh color on the existing cabinets, a bold tile floor, new fixtures, and also appliances. I like to call this a good, old-fashioned ‘kitchen facelift’.”
The beauty of this American foursquare home comes alive thanks to the fresh look it was given by Alisha Gwen Interior Design. She brought a unique blend of new, vintage, traditional and modern these rooms.
Not Only Beautiful, But Functional Too
The homeowners are part of Pittsburgh’s sports community, and the revised kitchen is frequently the scene of some fairly intense party-prep for donor events, team get-togethers, and recruiting receptions. Gwen made sure all of that could unfold comfortably in the house with furnishings that are comfortable for all shapes and sizes, fabrics, as well as finishes that survive the inevitable spills from food and drinks.
Alisha Gwen’s colors and finishes inspire happy living. Placemats and napkins at KimSeybert.com. Green and blue plates by Richard Ginori at Glassworks on Walnut Street. Macarons by Gaby et Jules. Cakes and cupcakes from Giant Eagle.
It was perhaps inevitable that the family’s hospitable nature and Gwen’s welcoming design instilled in us a bit of party spirit. Our photo shoot became an indulgent sharing of desserts. Then, the logic of Gwen’s choices became clearer. The layered patterns as well as the sequence of happy colors seemed to encourage us to enjoy ourselves. And we did.
Story by Keith Recker
Styling by Alisha Gwen and Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Interior Design by Alicia Gwen Interior Design
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