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

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.

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.”