When Dani and Nathan set out to find their perfect home in Fisthown, they needed a few things - some original character, a spacious kitchen and some DIY projects. 2623 East Hagert became the perfect culmination of their non-negotiables. We should mention that Dani’s HGTV and DIY obsession combined with Nathan’s woodworking business helps with the home renovation projects. Over the years, they’ve made Fishtown their home, but are heading out to the suburbs for a shorter commute and some space for Nathan to grow his business. Lucky for us, we get a front-row seat to this home that was hand-built with a ton of love.
Dani + Nathan
2623 E. Hagert Street | Fishtown
Represented by Carly Harris
How would you describe your personal interior design style?
A healthy mix of modern and rustic, with a bit of DIY.
If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen – this was the exit song for our wedding ceremony and still makes us dance every time!
How would you describe your neighborhood?
Vibrant, close-knit and always evolving. There is a unique neighborhood vibe that you get in Fishtown, with lifelong residents and newcomers alike welcoming you with open arms. Plus, there is always a new restaurant, bar or activity to check out.
If you could use your house as the setting for a remake of a movie, which movie would it be?
Harry Potter – mostly because we both grew up loving the books, and we’d love to go to Hogwarts for a day and try some Butterbeer.
What was your non-negotiable when it came to finding your dream home?
An older home with original character.
What's your favorite room? Why?
The kitchen. Our eat-in kitchen is bigger than any other we’ve had in Philly, which is super important because we both love to cook. Whenever we have parties, everyone always seems to congregate in the kitchen!
What is one thing you need in your home to make it yours?
Cats!
What makes you (or your family) laugh?
Each other – we both have a sense of humor rooted in sarcasm and dad jokes, so we’re constantly making each other giggle.
If you could throw a theme party in your house, what would be the theme?
A Great British Bake Off dessert party where guests have to compete and complete baking challenges, we judge each other’s desserts…and then we eat everything.
A day spent running around the neighborhood: what's your first stop and last stop?
First stop is Coffee House Too for bagels and coffee (and we sometimes take advantage of the complimentary mimosas). Last stop is Weckerly’s Ice Cream to check out their unique and always changing flavors – and most likely bringing a pint (or two) home.
How has your home changed from move-in day?
done a few bigger projects, including finishing part of the basement to include a laundry room and renovating the very plain bathroom to make it more our style. We’ve also painted every single room (some more than once), built functional shelving and storage in the home’s many nooks and crannies, and added other personal touches.
What's your favorite memory of your home?
Completing our bathroom renovation. We loved working together on the design (influenced by Dani’s obsession with HGTV) and execution (led by Nathan, who was born to wield a hammer). We are so proud that we did it ourselves and couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. Plus, we learned that we make a really great team!
What was the catalyst to you purchasing a new home?
Dani has been working in the suburbs for a couple of years, and it’s time for a shorter commute. As much as we love our little slice of Philly, we’re also ready to have more space so Nathan can grow his small woodworking business, Vitale Wood Design. Check out his Makers’ Story!
What's your favorite piece of Philly culture?
I’m sure we’re not the first to say this – but the food scene. Philly is full of so many talented chefs and diverse food options. Fishtown in particular has a ton of unique spots to choose from, ranging from corner dives to high-end dining. We both love Asian cuisine and there is no shortage of that!
