Features: The Ultimate Philadelphia Dream House

THE STUDY

 Sure, you might do a little paperwork here, but in a room as inviting as this, you’re just as likely to curl up on the British roll-arm sofa and crack open that novel. “Understated traditional” is the peg architect Jerry Roller of JK Roller Architects gives the look he crafted for a couple living in Center City. The trick to creating this luxe comfort and slightly masculine feel, he says, is in the wood. Custom trims, moldings, shelves and cabinets—plus a dramatic coffered ceiling—were all hewn from American cherry. “There’s a fair amount of detail, but nothing too elaborate or ornate,” he says. “An evenness of detail and color tends to be calming.” The warm tones of the wood, says Roller, help to create intimacy in a room that’s actually fairly lofty, given its 12-foot ceilings. Of course, there are practical benefits, too: storage, and space for all those books.
 
Do-It-Yourself: If you can’t surround yourself with custom cherry, simply adding one wall of built-in shelves or cabinets can go far to achieving that library touch. Or for a similar effect without involving the contractor, buy two bookcases, and place them on either side of a focal point in the room. If you’re including a TV, Roller recommends a flat screen, which won’t interfere as much (at least, not visually). Don’t have a fireplace in your would-be retreat? The one seen here is actually a gas model, so no chimney required. —K.F.

JK Roller Architects, 1128 Walnut Street, 215-928-9331; jkroller.com.