This Pennsylvania Midcentury Home Now Frames Nature From Every Room

Some homes have a quiet kind of drama baked right in, and this midcentury home in Villanova, Pennsylvania, is one of them. Set deep into a wooded slope and wrapped in views of ponds, bridges, and streams, the house should have felt like a retreat. Instead, years of piecemeal additions left it dim, disjointed, and strangely at odds with the land.

Lauren Thomsen Design stepped in to simplify the floor plan, revive the original 1960s character, and let daylight guide every decision. The transformation feels measured and clean, helped by a palette centered on Sherwin-Williams Snowbound, which brings clarity to the stone, oak, and restored ceilings. It is the kind of renovation that feels both refreshing and familiar the moment you walk inside.

Design: Lauren Thomsen Design | Photography: Daniel Isayeff

Letting the Landscape Take the Lead

Lauren began by rethinking how the home interacts with its setting. A previous addition was removed so the house could breathe again, and the circulation was reorganized to follow the slope of the site more naturally. Two new gabled roof shapes echo the original architecture and now frame some of the best views of the pond and wooded surroundings. Clerestory windows, multi-story glazing, and well-placed skylights work together to bring daylight into every corner and reconnect each room with the landscape outside. The exterior shifts slightly darker with (painted Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore), which gives the home a grounded, elemental presence among the trees.

Midcentury Bones, Reconsidered With Restraint

Many of the home’s strongest features were already in place. The exposed fieldstone, slatted ceilings, original beams, and long stretch of glazing were carefully restored and brightened. Lauren relied on Sherwin-Williams Snowbound throughout the main living areas to create a soft, consistent backdrop that lets those textures take the lead. New touches were introduced with the same intentional clarity. White oak cabinetry, sculptural shelving in the library nook, and vaulted ceilings in both the original and new spaces keep the entire home speaking the same architectural language. The fieldstone fireplace is finished in Sherwin-Williams Revere Pewter, which adds warmth without overwhelming the room.

A Core That Finally Lives Up to the Setting

What was once a fragmented interior is now a calm and light-filled center of the home. The living area opens to a wall of windows that highlight the canopy views, paired with a quieter material palette that feels easy to live with. In the dining room, things stay intentionally lean so natural light can move through the tulip chairs and surrounding surfaces.

The kitchen is now one of the brightest places in the house. White oak millwork, soapstone surfaces, and rounded Muuto pendants set the tone. Skylights overhead bring in gentle, diffuse light, giving the space a sense of calm that carries throughout the day.

A Private Wing That Feels Like a Retreat

The private areas of the home were redesigned with rest and clarity in mind. The primary bedroom features a vaulted ceiling and opens directly to a private patio, creating a small retreat within the larger landscape. In the en-suite bath, clerestory windows bring in light while maintaining privacy, and a new overhang mirrors the original midcentury detailing so nothing feels out of step.

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