1880 HOUSE.
The homeowners sought to bring their love of modern design to their quaint New England farmhouse that was built in 1880. Over the years, the house had undergone a series of renovations that stripped most of the original details. This first phase of the renovation focuses on transforming and updating the interiors, and includes a small second-floor addition at the back of the house that expands the primary bedroom suite.
FIRST FLOOR.
Common in late-19th C. New England homes, the ground floor consisted of a compartmentalized set of rooms and a narrow entry hall. By removing two obsolete chimneys and many of the interior walls, a modern open plan that better supports this family’s lifestyle is established on the ground floor.
MODERN KITCHEN.
The sleek white kitchen with white triangular backsplash tile is a play on textures and is anchored by a square island with a wood seating console. The European cabinetry runs floor to ceiling, taking advantage of the 9 foot ceiling height and culminating in the dining area with open and closed cabinets that support the dining functions, much like a vertical side board. A convection cooktop, wall oven, microwave drawer, and appliance garage are among the amenities of this streamlined kitchen.
EXPANSIVE DINING.
By creating an efficient kitchen layout, the space for the dining area is maximized. There is ample space for large dinner parties with room to extend the table. The dining area is also designed to accommodate the children’s arts and crafts corner while they are young, with plans to add a micro lounge with soft seating in the not too distant future.
DISTINCT SPACES FOR GATHERING.
The open floor plan results in a large space that easily support entertaining and family gatherings, yet has enough delineation of functional zones to also support the day-to-day living, dining, crafting, playing, and cooking activities.
SECOND FLOOR.
A small addition in the rear over the existing one-story bump out allows for the addition of a new en-suite bathroom for the Primary Bedroom without needing to construct a new foundation. Rooms are reconfigured to efficiently use the available space, accommodate new large closets, and create a more generous main hall.
MAKING ROOM FOR AN EN-SUITE.
A careful reconfiguration of spaces allows for a new Primary Bedroom suite by expanding the second floor over a first floor bump-out at the rear of the house. A new cathedral ceiling gives this room a unique character within the home. Large windows and a skylight create strong connections to the outdoors and flood the room with daylight.
DESIGNING FOR TRANQUILITY.
The Primary Bedroom suite design intention is minimal, uncluttered, and calm. Large reach-in closets eliminate the need for dressers and other furniture within the room, and a refined palette of white, grey, and wood continues into the en-suite bathroom to support the tranquil design sensibility.
