Nora & Hammam
Nora and Hammam put a lot of work into making this house their home - salvaging antiques, renovating to highlight the beautiful original details of the house, bringing baby Rami home for the first time, growing their own herb garden, and being the first to plant a tree on the block (after which the neighbors followed suit!). Here’s the story of 1821 S Watts Street.
Nora, Hammam and Rami
1821 S Watts Street | East Passyunk Crossing
Represented by Kristin McFeely
How would you describe your personal interior design style?
Modern antique mishmash
How would you describe your neighborhood?
Friendly, relaxed, and delicious
What was your non-negotiable when it came to finding your dream home ?
Open layout and outdoor space
What's your favorite room? Why?
The bathroom and kitchen. Both are laid out so well so that everything feels spacious and convenient. They both have custom touches, like a custom-built vanity sink using an antique sink top room in the bath and the under step storage in the kitchen. They also both have luxurious touches that really make they not only functional but a pleasure to use, like the hansgrohe faucets in the bathroom and heated floors and the bosch appliances in the kitchen.
What is one thing you need in your home to make it yours?
Plants
What makes you (or your family) laugh?
Dancing in a funny way.
A day spent running around the neighborhood: what's your first stop and last stop?
First stop is the Artisan Boulangerie up the block for a croissant from Amanda and Andre, a coffee from Reanimator on the way to Columbus park for a morning play with the neighborhood kids, a stop by the fountain on the way home, pick up bagels from Vanilya and a hello to Bonnie, and pick up lunch from Hardena or Cafe Nhan.
How has your home changed from move-in day?
A lot! We worked to maximize the space in smart ways so it functions at a much greater capacity than the square footage belies and renovated in ways that highlighted the beautiful original details. A closet with a salvaged antique mirror was added to the master bedroom to double the clothes storage, a transom to the bathroom door to let more beautiful morning light into the hallway, new bathroom with custom carpentry that harkens back to the original architecture of the house, new kitchen with a clean modern look that compliments the older details, and some built in bookshelves to round out the room. We also worked a lot on the backyard, planting beautiful flowing perennials and trees like service berry, lilac bush, bleeding heart, ferns, clematis, a luxurious wisteria that is trained all around the garden, and a whole array of perennial herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, chives, oregano, and mint for the next owner to enjoy cooking with. We also did less glamorous improvements like a new water heater and roof.
We also were the first to plant a tree (and American Hornbeam) on the block and neighbors loved it so much they have followed suit. We will soon have three trees and Watts street with be a cozy and shady little haven.
What's your favorite memory of your home?
Brining our baby home and enjoying a few months just all together with nothing else to do.
What was the catalyst to you purchasing a new home?
I got a job out in the burbs. Otherwise we'd still be at Watts Street enjoying our house and neighbors.
What's your favorite piece of Philly culture?
The food!
