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The ﬁnal design plan conﬁguration of Dower Hou

The ﬁnal design plan conﬁguration of Dower House included a 2-story rear addition to accommodate generous Kitchen and Dining spaces and a Primary Bedroom Suite. Interior renovations included reconﬁguration of spaces to accommodate an Entry Foyer, Butler’s Pantry, Mud Room, Powder Room, and a wider staircase leading to the second ﬂoor. Care was taken to remove existing stone, doors, hardware, cabinets, and millwork from the existing home for repurposing within the new addition; all existing building and landscaping stones were salvaged and reused. The success of the project was the result of a collaboration among architect, builder, tradespeople, and owner to achieve a remarkably elevated level of detail, ﬁt and ﬁnish.

Builder: @RittenhouseBuildersInc
Vintage Hardware Supplier: Ball and Ball

#WCpreservation #homepreservation #brognardokie #okieinfluence #westchesterhomes

#ThrowbackThursday After being named on the 2025

#ThrowbackThursday

After being named on the 2025 @Forbes America's Top 200 Residential Architects List earlier this month, Archer & Buchanan had a great time revisiting some previous award-winning projects.

The restoration and adaptive reuse of this 1898 William L. Price designed stable (originally part of the Alan H. Reed property) provided the opportunity to save a neglected piece of significant local architecture. The original structure was stabilized and reconstructed, adding a third floor level. Using numerous historic photographs as a guide, the alterations reflect the initial character of the stable that had been lost during years of neglect and thoughtless adaptations. The building is now a four bedroom home with spacious formal and informal rooms. This project went on to win the 2005 Palladio Award - First Place for Restoration and Renovation.

#stablerenovation #waynepa #2005palladioaward #restoration

Colder weather calls for cozy vibes and comfort fo

Colder weather calls for cozy vibes and comfort food. No one does this better than @TheWhipTavern in Coatesville, Pennsylvania!

This renovation transformed what was a nondescript local watering hole into a unique English style pub, full of character, detail and charm. It has quickly become a dining and social destination to a new generation of pub goers in this quant and scenic Chester County location. Have you been?

#thewhiptavern #coatesvillepa #chestercounty #chescorestaurants #pubfood

Barns & blue skies & pumpkins, oh my! This four-s

Barns & blue skies & pumpkins, oh my!

This four-stall barn with tack room meets the needs of every family member in different ways. For Dad it is a garden feature on axis with the house that creates an elegant backdrop for family events on the lawn. For Mom it is an oasis away from the cares of her professional veterinary practice (we paid special attention to ease of care for the family’s horses and making the tack room her personal “She Shed”). For the kids it is a place to run around with friends and enjoy the assorted animals of the farm. A win all around!

Builder: @McComseyBuildersInc
Photographer: @JimGrahamPhotography

#coatesvillepa #coatesvillehomes #chestercountybarns #chestercountypa

@StentonMuseum is one of the earliest, best-preser

@StentonMuseum is one of the earliest, best-preserved, and most authentic historic houses in Philadelphia. It was completed in 1730 as a country-seat planation house for James Logan, a Quaker merchant, politician, justice, scientist, scholar, and secretary to William Penn.

Since 1899, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have worked to “preserve and maintain Stenton as an historic object lesson.” Today, Stenton administers the award winning History Hunters Youth Reporter Program, which serves over 3,500 underserved Philadelphia schoolchildren each year.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (@nscdapa) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hosts the Logan Awards Dinner benefitting both Stenton and the History Hunters Youth Reporter Program. This year the Logan Award—given to a person who embodies the ideals of service, learning, leadership, and excellence, and whose considerable contributions have made a lasting impact in the Philadelphia region and Pennsylvania—honors Julia A. Haller, MD, and Alvina L. Brown.

Archer & Buchanan is proud to be a sponsor of this notable event supporting Stenton and its important history education programs.

#nscdapa #stentonmuseum #philadelphiapa #loganawards

Originally part of a large summer estate, this c.

Originally part of a large summer estate, this c. 1870 carriage barn additionally played the roles of car storage facility during World War II and, later, an internationally recognized show barn. Neglected for years, fallen into disrepair, but still structurally sound, the barn was brought into the 21st century by new owners wishing to transform and restore it. The 9,750 SF structure was converted from a show barn into a 4-bedroom residence with state-of-the-art kitchen, bathrooms, home office, and re-established horse stables with a wash stall and tack room.

The house is filled with unique details. Salvaged materials were used throughout including antique brick, hardware, windows and cabinetry. The great room fireplace mantel was discovered during construction hidden in the barn’s attic space covered in dust and cobwebs. Old stall posts were used as the great room stair newel posts. It was always the client’s dream to have their horses in their house – and this is a dream that came true beyond their wildest imagination.

Builder: E.C. Trethewey Building Contractors (@ectbuilders)
Photographer: Tom Crane Photography (@tomcrane111)

#carriagebarn #allaroundfarm #barnrenovation #equestrianliving #equestrianstyle

Soaked up the last bit of Daylight Saving Time thi

Soaked up the last bit of Daylight Saving Time this weekend by revisiting this beautiful sunroom renovation!

Sunlight streams through windows and doors on two sides of this glorious space which is connected to both dining room and kitchen. As part of this same renovation project in Chadds Ford, our client—incredibly skilled in finished carpentry and furniture making—contributed the beautiful woodwork in a stunning cherry-paneled study.

Builder: @LindsayConstructionInc
Interior Design: Laura Buchner (@MeadowbankTeam)

#sunroomrenovation #officerenovation #laylight #skylight

We are thrilled to be included in the 2025 @Forbes

We are thrilled to be included in the 2025 @Forbes America's Top 200 Residential Architects List! Of the 18,000 US firms considered, Archer & Buchanan was selected for inclusion based on a 3-tier system of evaluation conducted by the Forbes Architecture editorial team and the Forbes Architecture Advisory Board. Congratulations to every member of the A&B Team, whose talent, dedication and hard work has made this incredible honor possible!

#forbeslist #architecture #inspiringspaces #timelessspaces #forbes2025

Picture this…it's a fall football Sunday and you

Picture this...it's a fall football Sunday and your favorite team is about to play. You walk across the yard to your own private pub, make yourself an old fashioned, and watch the game with your friends and family.

What could be better?!

#privatepub #housebar #housepub #privatebar #uniquehomefeatures

The original land on which Dower House is built wa

The original land on which Dower House is built was part of 5,000 acres purchased from William Penn by Richard Thomas. In 1715, John and Mary Wall bought 150 acres from Thomas’s son, building a log cabin that was later replaced c. 1760 with a stone house that formed the original Dower House. An 80-acre parcel was sold to Thomas Hoopes in 1767, and throughout the 19th century, the Hoopes and Taylor families added Serpentine stone extensions.

In the early 1920s, author Joseph Hergesheimer and his wife Dorothy bought Dower House. Hergesheimer hired architect Richardson Brognard Okie to modernize it by adding fireplaces, storage niches, enlarged windows, and electricity along with other amenities. Landscape architect Thomas H. Sears designed the gardens. Hergesheimer memorialized these renovations in his 1926 book “From an Old House” along with tales of notable house guests such as Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, and H.L. Mencken. If walls could talk!

Builder: @RittenhouseBuildersInc
Vintage Hardware Supplier: Ball and Ball

#WCpreservation #homepreservation #brognardokie #okieinfluence #westchesterhomes

Tait and Lisa Norden purchased the Dower House pro

Tait and Lisa Norden purchased the Dower House property in the Fall of 2013, having relocated to West Chester, Pennsylvania from Maine. As restoration enthusiasts, they purchased the home after researching and visiting several old homes in the region. They were attracted to the building’s historic construction, intact details and unique spaces.

The Nordens hired Archer & Buchanan Architecture to help restore and modernize their home in keeping with the character and integrity of the existing farmhouse. Construction began in 2023 and wrapped up this year, exactly 100 years since the last significant renovation which was completed by R. Brognard Okie.

Stay tuned for more information about the history and expansion of Dower House.

Builder: @RittenhouseBuildersInc
Vintage Hardware Supplier: Ball and Ball

#WCpreservation #homepreservation #brognardokie #okieinfluence #westchesterhomes

Congratulations to firm partner Michele Thackrah,

Congratulations to firm partner Michele Thackrah, named a @MainLineToday Power Woman! Join us in celebrating all those honored at Main Line Today's Power Women Summit.

#mainlinetoday #powerwomen #powerwomensummit #womeninarchitecture

Congratulations to clients Lisa and Tait Norden on

Congratulations to clients Lisa and Tait Norden on receiving a West Chester Preservation Award for the renovations and additions to their home, Dower House. We are thrilled to have been a part of this wonderful project and played a role in ensuring the legacy of Dower House—built c. 1755 and widely considered to be the oldest continuously occupied home in West Chester—lives on.

Builder: @RittenhouseBuildersInc
Vintage Hardware Supplier: Ball and Ball

#WCpreservationaward #preservationaward #brognardokie #okieinfluence #westchesterhomes

The log cabin at Honor Farm began life more than 1

The log cabin at Honor Farm began life more than 125 years ago as an outbuilding on a Landenberg farm. Fallen out of use and into disrepair, the building’s materials were salvaged and reused to create what was originally intended to house a generator for the main house at Honor Farm.

Builder: Curtis Cruse Construction

#logcabin #honorfarm #ksq #kennettsquarepa #guesthouse

Inside Know Howe Farm, luxury and equestrian livin

Inside Know Howe Farm, luxury and equestrian living are thoughtfully intertwined. With a spacious tack room, a spiral stairway leading to a Man Cave loft, and living quarters that include a stylish kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms, and more, every space is crafted with care and sophistication.

Photographer: @JanaBannanPhotography
Builder: @McComseyBuildersInc

#knowhowefarm #equestrianliving #luxuryequestrian #pennsylvania #spiralstaircase

The refined architecture of Know Howe Farm combine

The refined architecture of Know Howe Farm combines traditional craftsmanship with modern design elements. The 6-stall stable features board and batten siding, reclaimed Pennsylvania field stone, and a distinctive standing seam metal roof - a seamless blend of heritage and innovation.

Photographer: @JanaBannanPhotography
Builder: @McComseyBuildersInc

#knowhowefarm #equestrianliving #luxuryequestrian #pennsylvania

On #WorldArchitectureDay, we celebrate the power o

On #WorldArchitectureDay, we celebrate the power of timeless design to shape our communities and enrich lives. At Archer & Buchanan, our commitment to blending classic craftsmanship with innovative solutions allows us to create spaces that not only stand the test of time, but also inspire those who inhabit them. Here’s to the architects and visionaries who transform dreams into enduring realities.

#architects #architectureday #timelessarchitecture #architecture

Congratulations to @FinleyBallrooms on the latest

Congratulations to @FinleyBallrooms on the latest addition to their lineup of incredible event venues, The Ivy at Ellis Preserve. We've been thrilled to be a part of the project and tip our hats to the efforts of Abate Construction Co. for getting it over the finish line! More to come about the architectural and interior design process for this truly lovely space.

#weddingseason #finleyballrooms #theivyatellispreserve #delcoweddings #delawarecounty

Despite a relatively small 1200 SF footprint, this

Despite a relatively small 1200 SF footprint, this multigenerational 3-story home in downtown Media, Pennsylvania, feels spacious due to its clean lines and open plan flooded with natural light. Thoughtful and creative design, including accessibility features such as space for an elevator, ensures the elder generation can age in place gracefully.

Photography: Halkin|Mason
Builder: Corso Brothers

#threestoryhome #architecturedesign #dreamhome #visiontoreality #mediapa

Folks looking to build a new home shouldn't be dis

Folks looking to build a new home shouldn't be dissuaded from purchasing a lot with a smaller footprint; thoughtful and creative design can make a little space go a long way! A&B Partner Michele Thackrah shares our recently completed Media Residence, the new multigenerational home for a couple, their children and their parents built on a 1200 SF footprint in downtown Media, Pennsylvania.

#threestoryhome #architecturedesign #dreamhome #visiontoreality #mediapa