Historic Expansion

The original house had been added to over time, but at its core was a beautiful old home with wide pine floors and plaster walls. A critical requirement of the project was to preserve the integrity of the historic structure while giving the new owners additional space for their growing family and friends. With some careful design and care during construction, we were even able to save two venerable oak trees which have graced the home for the better part of the past century.

Before

Garage Conversion

There is nary a clue that this refined, comfortable family room was once a bare bones garage, complete with a concrete floor and metal lolly columns down the center. The transformation was completed with wide board floors, a tall and elegant tray ceiling, antique beams and a focal point fireplace with period flair.

Before

Sunroom Addition

Sometimes a home needs one room to make it perfect. This home before the addition had charm, wonderful details, and a coziness that would be hard to replicate. What it lacked was a big bright space where family and friends could gather and relax together. The new sunroom, which has radiant heat, is as comfortable with snow on the ground as it is in summer with casement windows wide open making it a screened porch.

Before

Low Ceiling Fix

It is fairly common for an old farmhouse in a cold climate to have a low ceiling. That was the most efficient way to make use of the heat coming from fireplaces.

The owners of this old farmhouse wanted to make the most of their low ceilings while renovating their kitchen and dining area. We exposed the 200-year-old beams and floor joists and opened up the walls to the view with French doors and added a large porch. The difference in the way the room felt and the owner’s use of the space was like night and day.

Before

Litchfield Antique

Old homes need good caretakers. With time, everything needs freshening up and to maintain modern livability, a renovation or addition is sometimes in order. We were very excited when our clients moved into just that sort of home. In addition to restoring parts of the home, we renovated and added, always in keeping with the original.

Now the home works for the new owners and their lifestyle, but still fits well in the historic neighborhood.

Before

Fairfield County Kitchen

Sometimes all a kitchen needs is a make over. When our long time clients asked us to help them redo their kitchen, we jumped at the chance to help them with the new layout and to sharpen up the details.

The bright new kitchen works well and is a great place to cook with friends and family.

Added Value

To paraphrase a book title, this house epitomizes the New England concept of a "Little House, Big House, Back House, Barn". The house has grown organically to reflect the needs of its owner's over the years. We recently designed an updated kitchen/mudroom wing and a first floor master suite to blend with the original 18th century wing and a later gabled addition. This is the quintessential country home with a deep sense of history.

Before

Family Retreat

The small cape that formed the base for this extensive renovation was not adequate to accommodate the family gatherings envisioned by the Owners. The new accommodations are now comfortable for two as well as for a full scaled gathering.

 The interior has a casual elegance that supports the owner's style with an abundance of natural light, commodious but friendly rooms and materials that reflect an Old World ambiance, including wide board heart pine floors and plaster coated walls.

Before

Farmhouse Modern

Many of our clients own old farm houses and love the way they fit into the countryside of the Northeast. These same clients want the interior of their homes to be brighter and more modern than the original farm house.

In this project we renovated a large kitchen and added a bright sun room to an 1800s farm house in Litchfield County, Connecticut. One step out of the kitchen is the new sun room which, besides the multi-paned French doors paying homage to the farm house, feels thoroughly modern. The high ceiling and clean lines make the room feel even more spacious. The antique stone fireplace surround imported from France gives the feeling of permanence and grace.

Cellar Pub

Seldom have we been asked to collaborate with a client who has had such a fully realized vision of the final outcome as this basement pub. I believe he could see himself drinking a pint of stout with friends, throwing darts and playing pool in this space before we measured the existing conditions.

We had a great time helping make our client's vision a reality, working on the details, and throwing in our two cents worth.

Before

Basement Gym

Basements can be dark, windowless caverns that are only visited when the boiler is acting up. They can also be a treasure trove of underutilized inexpensive space for creative homeowners. Our clients decided to make their basement a destination. Their home gym includes a top quality work out space, sauna, a bathroom and changing room. With a gym like this, it is hard work not being in shape.

Before

Lake House Re-Imagined

There were no changes to the footprint, but this house went from dark and hulking to sparkling bright and "crisp". The lakeside vista provides the outward focus from the large windows in the kitchen and living room.

The site had obvious assets, but it took a leap of faith on the client's part to appreciate the home's potential. With focus and perseverance this house has become the perfect getaway destination.

Before

Transformed Ranch

From humble beginnings this ranch-style house became a formal, two story brick home. The Owners requested a home that felt like it had been in place for a very long time.

We utilized recycled brick made in the 1800's and built the walls with historically correct brick joints and limestone lintels.

With imagination and attention to detail, we were able to remedy this situation to become an impressive site with an equally impressive home.

Before

Home Revitalized

The owners of this house needed more space, better utilized space, and wanted to keep the historic character of their home intact.

We exposed much of the original structure of the historic home. We added period details and antique flooring which in the end made the house feel more historic than before the renovation. 

Renovation Style magazine liked the new home so much that they included a long article about it in their pages.

Before

New York Renovation

Many old homes we are asked to renovate evolve from an original small structure that had been added on to over the centuries. Often we are able to restore the historic sections of the home and renovate or add to it in a way that is both respectful and in keeping with the original structure.

In this case the oldest section of the home sustained extensive damage from termites and dampness over the centuries. Unfortunately there was not much to save, but that provided an opportunity to open up the floor plan to create bright spaces and a very comfortable family home on an historic site.

Family Space

Our clients asked us to transform the style and layout of their residence in Rhinebeck, New York and provide their growing family a place to gather. In my family, and most families I know, the favorite places to gather are in the kitchen and on the porch. We added a kitchen/family room, a front porch, a back porch and an all important mud room that provides a clean and organized entry to the house. We are so pleased to hear that these new spaces have become the hub and the heart of their home.

Before

Adaptive Re-use

From stable to house to renovated home, this building has reached a new level of style and grace. Once a stable for a nearby estate, it is now a free-flowing family home with traditional details punched up with flashes of contemporary color. A new kitchen addition nestles into the original L-structure, providing a hub between formal and informal spaces as well as becoming the center of family life.

Before

Cottage Renovation

With this house we converted a two family residence into a one family weekend cottage.

The redesign allowed on the lower level a mud room, play room and guest bedroom. The upper level contains a living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. The design fits the owner's lifestyle and their cottage works as a weekend and full time home.

Before

Family Farmhouse

Is it old or is it new? It doesn't really matter when it combines the best of both (but just so you know, it is all new). This quintessential family farmhouse has the light and openness that is perfect for an active family in the 21st century paired with the traditional style and details of a vintage home.

The light-filled kitchen has plenty of built-ins for maximum storage and a cozy dining space.

Before

Kitchen Renovation

The owner's requirements for this kitchen was to create a bright well laid out working kitchen on a budget.

We changed the cabinets, existing windows, the paint colors, floors, and added lighting to brighten up the space. The owners love their new kitchen, which has become the central gathering spot in their home.

Before

Shingled Renovation

"What can be done with a concrete block house?" was the first question we were asked at the job site. The owners wanted to expand and renovate an existing concrete block home they had just bought. A major requirement was the incorporation of light and openness to the home.

The design includes a double height living room/kitchen space which affords much appreciated views of the beautifully landscaped property.

Before

Farmhouse Renovation

Our clients bought an old farm house which had been added-to and modified since the 1800s.

The first task was to remove unwanted additions and interior finishes applied in the 1960s. We renovated most of the house; exposed old beams, replaced vinyl tile with antique wood flooring and updated the kitchen. To finish the transformation, we added a generous front porch which the owners use to relax and enjoy a beautiful pond.

Before