An old proverb says “Every man should plant a tree, build a house, and have a son.” On this little street in South Philly, I did all three with a little help from my lovely wife and my own father. The house was a 1920’s work rowhome and we rebuilt it from the inside out. Our renovation included opening up the middle second floor bedroom, adding a wet room bathroom and adding much needed storage throughout. Simple materials such as red oak flooring, redwood millwork and monochrome tiles create a peaceful antidote to the din of urban living

Our finished renovation created a home for our family to grow, and we welcomed our first son into the world here. He helped plant an olive and a hornbeam tree in the postage stamp backyard.