Loading... To Emphasize Her Rental’s Lofty Ceilings, This Philadelphia Stylist Created a 14-Foot-Tall Gallery Wall

To Emphasize Her Rental’s Lofty Ceilings, This Philadelphia Stylist Created a 14-Foot-Tall Gallery Wall

In one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Philadelphia, finding a historic rental that aligns with a modern lifestyle can be challenging. Creative consultant and interior stylist Alexandra Morris Flint encountered this while searching for an apartment in early 2018. While many charming townhomes were available at affordable prices, they often proved to be too small or had low ceilings, which was a significant consideration given her husband's height. Morris Flint and her husband initially visited an apartment with 14-foot ceilings and oversized windows, which, despite being the first they saw, left a lasting impression due to the abundant natural light. Although the apartment’s historic exterior contrasted with its recently renovated, classic "white box" interior, Morris Flint saw potential to infuse it with character. Her first step was to repaint the space, transitioning from a cold, flat gray to Benjamin Moore’s Simply White to create a warmer ambiance. Due to the open floor plan, she strategically used Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray to differentiate the living room from the kitchen, painting the walls adjacent to the island and cabinetry in the contrasting hue. To further personalize the space, the couple immediately hired an electrician to replace the existing light fixtures. They chose large-scale pendants, 19 inches in diameter, by Thomas O’Brien, which enhanced the vaulted ceilings and transformed the apartment from a generic listing into a more inviting home. Morris Flint also highlights that lighting fixtures are a renter-friendly upgrade as they can be taken when a lease ends. Morris Flint adopted a gradual approach to decorating, allowing the apartment to evolve over time, consistent with her relaxed and lived-in aesthetic. She views a home as a living laboratory for creative exploration and style development. This philosophy guided the placement of their IKEA dining table, which became a central feature after experimenting with various layouts. Initially positioned under the windows, it was moved to a more central location to optimize the floor plan, now serving as both a dining area and a room divider, draped with a Zsuzsanna Nyul textile. Morris Flint advises flexibility with furniture arrangements, noting that initial ideas often need adjustment once one is living in the space. Her signature 14-foot-tall gallery wall, a focal point of the apartment, also evolved through experimentation. Initially a smaller, more cautious arrangement, it was rehung multiple times before extending to the ceiling. Morris Flint's approach to gallery walls involves anchoring the display with two or three larger pieces and then filling in with smaller details. She emphasizes that impactful art doesn't require a large budget, incorporating sentimental items like a restaurant valet ticket and a vintage wallpaper fragment. This creative ingenuity extends beyond wall decor; the couple's bed features a unique headboard made from a folding screen borrowed from her mother, designer Suzanne Kasler, adapted with brackets and a coordinating bed skirt. Three years into living in the apartment, Morris Flint continues to refine the layout and introduce new elements, embracing the impermanence inherent in decorating a rental. Her advice to others is to allow time to live in a space before feeling pressured to decorate everything at once, as this iterative process is key to creating an authentic and happy home.

86 months ago

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