This modest 1839 Greek Revival grew piecemeal over the ensuing century. Their needs for the renovation were straight forward: a large kitchen with plenty of storage, rooms for informal and formal entertaining, and a comfortable master suite… and lots of room for books. Planning for the future, the owners also wanted an elevator along with various provisions to accommodate aging in place. Making the second floor functional was crucial, so we creatively altered newer sections of the roof to generate critical headroom without loss of style. We also carefully manipulated some of the newer exterior walls to gain critical square feet. These changes were reviewed and approved by the historical commission. At the first floor, the original living room and dining room were renovated. There is a new, large kitchen, with custom-designed cabinetry, and a breakfast nook with southern light and views into the garden. Adjacent and open to the kitchen is the family room, which sits nestled in an urban garden. The second floor has an open library at the top of the stairs, with a cathedral ceiling to augment its spaciousness. A light-filled hall leads to a study and the master suite. The master bath, with its soaking tub and custom-designed vanity, is wrapped in deep blue tiles, handmade in Morocco. We dropped the basement floor by three feet, then finished the level. The basement is now the auxiliary library, along with the laundry and overflow pantry.
