A two-phase renovation and addition dramatically changed a Washington Square West row house from a dated and segmented series of spaces to an open and light-filled home.

The first phase of the project moved the kitchen from an enclosed space in the middle of the first floor into an open, airy space at the front of the house. An existing master bath was renovated and a new home office was carved out of an existing bedroom. Phase One allowed the client enough functional space to move in and prepare for Phase Two.

Phase Two significantly changed the feel of the house and gave it a unique presence on a traditional block. Through demolition of a portion of the second floor and an addition built on the rear of the house, a new two-story volume was created to let light stream into the interior. Large windows and tuck-away doors open the living room physically and visually to the yard. The use of the same stone on the fireplace and yard wall connect the indoors to the outdoors. A custom millwork assembly of maple and LED lights is a feature of the room's ceiling, designed to draw the eye upward and provide visual interest when viewed from either level of the house.