This project began with a handsome center-entrance Colonial Revival house in a neighborhood where land values and house sizes had grown enormously since my clients moved there in the 1980s. Tear-downs had become standard in the area, but the house was in excellent condition and had a lovely recent kitchen. So we kept the existing structure as a starting point for additions that would maximize the potential beauty and value of the site.

A highly detailed Gambrel-roofed gable reaches out to the street with a welcoming entry porch. The existing dining room and stair hall were pushed out with new glazed walls to create a bright and expansive interior. At the living room, a new angled bay brings light and a feeling of spaciousness to what had been a rather narrow room.

At the back of the house, a six-sided family room with a vaulted ceiling wraps around the existing kitchen. Skylights in the new ceiling bring light to the old kitchen windows and skylights. At the head of the new stairs, a book-lined sitting area is the hub between the master suite, home office, and other bedrooms.