05/26/2026
Projects like this always make me happy. Here's why:
1) The homeowners really care about their home and respect its life story--built in 1844, surviving a fire, shouldering several "creative" additions and renovations, and ultimately embracing a new kitchen we installed
2) Some elements of the home were restored to their original beauty while some historic choices were passed over in favor of a more modern layout and a larger kitchen. Historic value has its place--high ceilings, big windows with beefy trim, exposed brick. But so does the functionality of semi-open living spaces, long islands, and an easily accessible laundry.
3) The finishes aren't necessarily "timeless" (I'm not totally sure how to define them at term, honestly), but they do fit with the character of the whole home. They act like well-chosen jewelry that complements an outfit without overpowering the main subject. We see that with the brass fixtures and especially with the salvaged mantels
4) The homeowners explicitly stated the importance of paying for quality where it counts and supporting small, local craftsmen. During the design phase I presented a few different options from cabinets, ranging from 15-35k. The budget was important, but more importantly, they wanted something built well by folks who live down the street (shoutout: )
5) The homeowners (and their two young kids) truly live in the space. You'll have to trust me a bit on this one since they made sure to do some thorough tidying up before I came over for photos, but still, it's not just a show piece for them. Nor do they bubble wrap everything and insist it's kept looking like a museum. (Maybe the mountain of boardgames and library books that snuck into the third photo can help prove my point).
This home has seen 180 years of folks figuring life out and building families together. What better way to respect a home (and receive value back from it) than to respect its roots, restore and strengthen its bones, and grow yet another loving family within its walls.
