Our Clients, the proud owners of a landmark 1860’s era Italianate home, desired to greatly improve their daily ingress and egress experience. With a growing young family, the lack of a proper entry area and attached garage was something they wanted to address. They also needed a guest suite to accommodate frequent out-of-town guests and visitors. But in the homeowner’s own words, “He didn’t want to be known as the guy who ‘screwed up’ this beautiful old home”. Our design challenge was to provide the needed space of a significant addition, but do so in a manner that would respect the historic home. Our design solution lay in providing a “hyphen”: a multi-functional daily entry breezeway connector linking the main house with a new garage and in-law suite above.

The garage remodel seamlessly blends with the home’s existing architecture, utilizing matching materials and replicating key architectural details. This sensitive approach preserves the historical integrity of the Nakoma Neighborhood, while the addition of a 2-car garage provides much-needed convenience. The result is a harmonious fusion of modern functionality and classic charm, transforming everyday life for the homeowners.

CLIENT GOALS Nearly every room of this lovely Noe Valley home had been thoughtfully expanded and remodeled through its 120 years, short of the kitchen. Through this kitchen remodel, our clients wanted to remove the barrier between the kitchen and the family room and increase usability and storage for their growing family. DESIGN SOLUTION The kitchen design included modification to a load-bearing wall, which allowed for the seamless integration of the family room into the kitchen and the addition of seating at the peninsula. The kitchen layout changed considerably by incorporating the classic “triangle” (sink, range, and refrigerator), allowing for more efficient use of space. The unique and wonderful use of color in this kitchen makes it a classic – form, and function that will be fashionable for generations to come.

The homeowner of this old, detached garage wanted to create a functional living space with a kitchen, bathroom and second-story bedroom, while still maintaining a functional garage space. We salvaged hickory wood for the floors and built custom fir cabinets in the kitchen with patchwork tile backsplash and energy efficient appliances. As a historical home but without historical requirements, we had fun blending era-specific elements like traditional wood windows, French doors, and wood garage doors with modern elements like solar panels on the roof and accent lighting in the stair risers. In preparation for the next phase of construction (a full kitchen remodel and addition to the main house), we connected the plumbing between the main house and carriage house to make the project more cost-effective. We also built a new gate with custom stonework to match the trellis, expanded the patio between the main house and garage, and installed a gas fire pit to seamlessly tie the structures together and provide a year-round outdoor living space.

Maximizing storage without compromising the kitchen's timeless aesthetic required meticulous space planning and custom cabinetry design. Every inch was carefully optimized to increase functionality while maintaining the proportions and character of this luxury historic kitchen. A narrow space between the refrigerator and the wall ovens was transformed into full-height pull-out pantry cabinets, converting what could have been wasted space into highly efficient storage. These custom pull-out pantries provide exceptional organization and effortless access to pantry staples, spices, baking supplies, and small kitchen essentials, keeping everything within easy reach while preserving clean, uncluttered countertops. By extending the cabinetry to the ceiling, the design also enhances the room's architectural presence and reinforces the bespoke, furniture-quality craftsmanship throughout the kitchen. This thoughtful storage solution demonstrates how intelligent space planning and custom millwork can dramatically improve the functionality of a luxury kitchen while remaining true to the home's historic character.

In the Montlake neighborhood, this 1926 home’s original kitchen featured a mix of outdated elements, including the original 1920s cabinets and laminate countertops from the 1990s, giving the space a disjointed appearance. The goal of the remodel was to create a more cohesive, functional kitchen that blended seamlessly with the rest of the home’s historical charm. One of the key highlights of the project was the installation of custom glass cabinets, designed to match the existing leaded windows in the home. Additionally, an archway was constructed, thoughtfully integrating design elements and flow from the dining room entry way to create a unified look throughout. During the renovation process, we encountered a challenge with matching the original top nail wood flooring, which was no longer being produced. Working with the client, we milled down 5-inch planks to closely match the desired look. While the exact match was no longer possible, the solution preserved the intended aesthetic of the space. Overall, the remodel resulted in a more functional timeless kitchen that reflects both the historical charm and the homeowner’s vision for the space.

This itty bitty kitchen in a historic Richmond row house had been closed in by unnecessary walls, creating a tight, dysfunctional galley style kitchen with very little storage space. Working alongside our artist and cabinetry making clients, we created a custom design with handmade, custom cabinetry pieces while opening up the kitchen to the dining area, making the space feel exponentially larger. The result is a clean, modern, functional and big energy kitchen.

Maximizing storage without compromising the kitchen's timeless aesthetic required meticulous space planning and custom cabinetry design. Every inch was carefully optimized to increase functionality while maintaining the proportions and character of this luxury historic kitchen. A narrow space between the refrigerator and the wall ovens was transformed into full-height pull-out pantry cabinets, converting what could have been wasted space into highly efficient storage. These custom pull-out pantries provide exceptional organization and effortless access to pantry staples, spices, baking supplies, and small kitchen essentials, keeping everything within easy reach while preserving clean, uncluttered countertops. By extending the cabinetry to the ceiling, the design also enhances the room's architectural presence and reinforces the bespoke, furniture-quality craftsmanship throughout the kitchen. This thoughtful storage solution demonstrates how intelligent space planning and custom millwork can dramatically improve the functionality of a luxury kitchen while remaining true to the home's historic character.

The challenge with this kitchen was to integrate it with the period style of this historic home. Functionality, as well as style were major points of emphasis for the homeowner as well as the designer. The entire space, including the breakfast nook, was completely gutted to make it easy to use and entertain. The reclaimed horse fence flooring added a great finishing touch. Photo credit: ○w. allen hoover photography

This historic home in Oak Park was in need of updating, with deferred maintenance inside and out requiring extensive work. This created an opportunity to rethink the house for a modern family in the 21st century, with an updated plan, a strong connection to the yard from the kitchen and new mudroom, covered patio, and flexible rooms for work-at-home, gym, or guest functions. The insulation and mechanical systems were upgraded to Phius levels, and a solar PV array added to meet annual net zero energy performance. With minimal upfront energy expenditure, the home’s operational carbon was reduced by 100%, and the house is a delightful place for the young family to grow into.

HouseHome took a small, dark, corner kitchen space, and turned it into a fun, bright, open, and functional kitchen that matches the age and stature of this beautiful historic home.

This small addition to an antique colonial added functional living space while the total renovation made living in a small house enjoyable and efficient. The addition actually went closer to the water so variances were granted by the state as well as town planning and historical commissions. The new railing system allows for full viewing of the water as you are seated at the table enjoying watching the activities on the water.

HouseHome took a small, dark, corner kitchen space, and turned it into a fun, bright, open, and functional kitchen that matches the age and stature of this beautiful historic home.

This beautiful 100 year old home located in Downtown Valdosta Historical District underwent a complete renovation to modernize the home while preserving its character. The project included extensive interior and exterior updates designed to improve functionality, increase curb appeal, and create a timeless, welcoming space. Every detail was carefully planned to deliver a cohesive transformation from start to finish.

The Historic Haven kitchen blends restored architectural charm with modern functionality. Soft neutral cabinetry pairs with a glossy zellige tile backsplash, creating a play of subtle texture and light. The sage-green patterned floor adds a hint of color and vintage warmth, grounding the space in timeless character. Open shelving keeps the kitchen airy and approachable, while classic hardware and a traditional bridge faucet honor the home’s historic roots. Every detail reflects a quiet balance of old-world craftsmanship and contemporary comfort—elevating the heart of the home into a serene, enduring retreat.

In the Montlake neighborhood, this 1926 home’s original kitchen featured a mix of outdated elements, including the original 1920s cabinets and laminate countertops from the 1990s, giving the space a disjointed appearance. The goal of the remodel was to create a more cohesive, functional kitchen that blended seamlessly with the rest of the home’s historical charm. One of the key highlights of the project was the installation of custom glass cabinets, designed to match the existing leaded windows in the home. Additionally, an archway was constructed, thoughtfully integrating design elements and flow from the dining room entry way to create a unified look throughout. During the renovation process, we encountered a challenge with matching the original top nail wood flooring, which was no longer being produced. Working with the client, we milled down 5-inch planks to closely match the desired look. While the exact match was no longer possible, the solution preserved the intended aesthetic of the space. Overall, the remodel resulted in a more functional timeless kitchen that reflects both the historical charm and the homeowner’s vision for the space.

This early 20th-century house needed careful updating so it would work for a contemporary family without feeling as though the historical integrity had been lost. We stepped in to create a more functional combined kitchen and mud room area. A window bench was added off the kitchen, providing a new sitting area where none existed before. New wood detail was created to match the wood already in the house, so it appears original. Custom upholstery was added for comfort. In the master bathroom, we reconfigured the adjacent spaces to create a comfortable vanity, shower, and walk-in closet. The choices of materials were guided by the existing structure, which was very nicely finished.

With stunning views of the Annisquam River, this beautiful first period home was constructed in 1690 for Nathanial Harraden, sailing master of the USS Constitution. It is believed to be the oldest remaining house in this neighborhood of Gloucester. Our extensive historic restoration preserved the integrity and historic details of the original structure, which had been altered significantly over time. Deteriorated structural elements were repaired or rebuilt, and historic elements including beams were revealed. A bright new kitchen and bathrooms provide a functional layout suited for modern living, and use authentic natural materials that will patina and weather in harmony with the rest of the home. The new island counter was hewn from a large decaying tree on the site, and hand-painted marble tiles adorn the backsplash. New cabinetry was hand-crafted using methods authentic to the time. We preserved the kitchen’s existing brick floor, which originally provided a durable surface for milking animals inside during cold winter months. Using authentic materials and craftsmanship of the era, this special house celebrates its historic character and embraces modern updates that will welcome home generations to come.

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