A Day in the Very Stylish Life of Philly’s Best Kitchen Designer

The designer and architect behind Philly’s most fabulous kitchens dishes on her personal style.

Designer and architect Joanne Hudson is known for many things: her impeccable style, her signature round glasses – she has 25 pairs! – and, most importantly, her incredible kitchens. In fact, if you’ve been in a Philadelphia kitchen that you’ve desperately wanted to copy, well, chances are she designed it. (I’m not exaggerating; Joanne has designed 67 kitchens on Rittenhouse Square alone. Oh, and one in Nigeria.) I’ve been a fan of her style since I featured her Delaware beach house several years ago; now, she divulges the secrets behind it.

JOANNE HUDSON

A very stylish life. | Photography by Courtney Apple.

“I wake up around 5 a.m., shower, review my calendar over my first cup of coffee, answer emails, and then either go to my office in the Marketplace Design Center or to a job site or meeting.

My husband, Carl, and I love to eat dinner on the porch at Paramour at the Wayne Hotel. The menu is fresh and seasonal, and the cocktails are refreshing. [1] Moscow mules are my favorite drink. Usually I make them at home, but there’s also a great one at A.Kitchen.

On weekends, I like to stroll around Eagle Village Shops in Wayne and sip a coffee at [2] Café Fleur at the Barn at Valley Forge Flowers. I inevitably leave with a beautiful arrangement as well.

I have a mild obsession with handbags. Currently, my favorite bag is my canvas tote from South Moon Under. However, I confess to also owning a few lust-worthy Prada, Mulberry and Bottega Veneta classics from my travels and from Neiman Marcus.

When I need to replenish my supply of Nars blush, Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner or Kiehl’s Creme de Corps—life’s little necessities—[3] Bluemercury is my go-to.

I’m originally from Canada, and my most relaxing moments are at our weekend cottage on Lake Ontario, where we’re surrounded by vineyards, cheese factories, and a cute farm-to-table restaurant, East and Main, that reminds me of White Dog Cafe.

I use pieces from [4] my tabletop collection at home and give them as hostess gifts, but the kids’, baby and fashion accessories at Hello World in University City are all adorable.

[5] Round glasses have been my trademark for 30-plus years. I have quite the collection from Paris, New York and Italy, but also from See in Ardmore. I love wearing [6] oversize bracelets. Dandelion, also in Ardmore, sells striking ones.”