This 1930’s gem did not have a functional, beautiful kitchen. In fact, many cabinets barely opened, and some appliances didn’t even work. The top priority was to replace the cabinetry, appliances, and finishes in the main kitchen and butler’s pantry for better functionality. The original footprint was kept mostly intact, with only minor adjustments to improve flow, connectivity, and layout. Custom cabinetry was designed to enhance storage, and a suite of high-performance appliances was installed. Finishes like a herringbone tile floor and soapstone countertops were chosen for longevity and durability. The secondary goal was to match the beauty of the rest of the home, with traditional elements, symmetry, and warmth. Details like fluting on the range hood and a unique corbel shape mirror original moldings. Stained oak accents were color-matched to the home’s existing woodwork. White oak cabinet interiors and custom inserts create a furniture-like feel. The finished design blends seamlessly into the historic home, and also enhances functionality for day-to-day living, hosting, and gathering.

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Located on a narrow site between a local access road and Lake Washington, this three-level home is designed to take full advantage its lakefront views. Built on an undersized lot, quality of space was a priority over a large footprint. With an integrated garage, living, dining, master suite, guestrooms and office areas are compact into one-half floors. Most of the third level is designed to be multi-use. The ground floor level contains storage and a mother-in-law suite. Modern in style, with touches of traditional forms and materials of Tuscany, the home features a double height living/dining with a slide-fold door allowing the exterior deck to become an extension of the interior living room. A custom designed interior tile floor inlaid with re-claimed wood creates a warm, well-crafted feel to the interior. Owner designed and built barn doors extends that same sensibility to the upper level. Exterior landscape design incorporates a large outdoor ground level patio with a beautiful pervious paver system, plantings designed to enhance the shoreline, integrates existing access to the boat dock and lake.

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Located in one of the Ritz residential towers in Boston, the project was a complete renovation. The design and scope of work included the entire residence from marble flooring throughout, to movement of walls, new kitchen, bathrooms, all furnishings, lighting, closets, artwork and accessories. Smart home sound and wifi integration throughout including concealed electronic window treatments. The challenge for the final project design was multifaceted. First and foremost to maintain a light, sheer appearance in the main open areas, while having a considerable amount of seating for living, dining and entertaining purposes. All the while giving an inviting peaceful feel, and never interfering with the view which was of course the piece de resistance throughout. Bringing a unique, individual feeling to each of the private rooms to surprise and stimulate the eye while navigating through the residence was also a priority and great pleasure to work on, while incorporating small details within each room to bind the flow from area to area which would not be necessarily obvious to the eye, but palpable in our minds in a very suttle manner. The combination of luxurious textures throughout brought a third dimension into the environments, and one of the many aspects that made the project so exceptionally unique, and a true pleasure to have created. Reach us www.themorsoncollection.com Photography by Elevin Studio.

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

This client sought to update their recently purchased home in Alexandria. A gourmet kitchen that complemented the size of the home and property was a top priority. They wanted more light-filled and connected living spaces for their growing family. Updating the finishes throughout the home was also a necessity. Design challenges included an existing utility space that occupied a large portion of the kitchen footprint, making the kitchen cramped and narrow. In addition, the foyer was dark, confined and uninviting as a result of its organization and enclosed nature of the main stair. To overcome the challenges, we relocated the utilities, creating a more usable footprint for the kitchen. The aging furnace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace located in a newly insulated and conditioned crawl space. A new hot water heater was placed in the finished attic, and the electrical panel was also relocated. Then, we designed a portion of the kitchen to mask the need for dropped structural headers: the refrigerator, freezer and pantry were placed under the area that necessitated a drop bulkhead, creating a sleek built-in area for the appliances. Once the utilities were moved, the kitchen could be opened up to a large family room and designed with a much-improved layout. Two new four-panel exterior doors replaced small doors at the family room to connect the main living space with the beautiful yard. In addition, white bead board was added to the family room ceiling, creating more visual continuity with the adjacent white kitchen. To transform the foyer into a grand and welcoming entry, a small amount of space was taken from a large second floor bedroom, and the entire second floor structure was supported with a series of flush beams to allow the stair to be opened and expose the rail. New glass doors to the den, relocated at an angle from the main stair provide the foyer with more natural light and a wider, more inviting path to the kitchen. In the master suite, the bedroom and bathroom entry doors were relocated to improve the room’s layout and offer more bathroom privacy and space for a walk-in closet. A room forgotten by the previous owner was turned into a family mudroom with built-ins and wainscoting to keep the family organized in style. Photography by Greg Hadley

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

This client sought to update their recently purchased home in Alexandria. A gourmet kitchen that complemented the size of the home and property was a top priority. They wanted more light-filled and connected living spaces for their growing family. Updating the finishes throughout the home was also a necessity. Design challenges included an existing utility space that occupied a large portion of the kitchen footprint, making the kitchen cramped and narrow. In addition, the foyer was dark, confined and uninviting as a result of its organization and enclosed nature of the main stair. To overcome the challenges, we relocated the utilities, creating a more usable footprint for the kitchen. The aging furnace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace located in a newly insulated and conditioned crawl space. A new hot water heater was placed in the finished attic, and the electrical panel was also relocated. Then, we designed a portion of the kitchen to mask the need for dropped structural headers: the refrigerator, freezer and pantry were placed under the area that necessitated a drop bulkhead, creating a sleek built-in area for the appliances. Once the utilities were moved, the kitchen could be opened up to a large family room and designed with a much-improved layout. Two new four-panel exterior doors replaced small doors at the family room to connect the main living space with the beautiful yard. In addition, white bead board was added to the family room ceiling, creating more visual continuity with the adjacent white kitchen. To transform the foyer into a grand and welcoming entry, a small amount of space was taken from a large second floor bedroom, and the entire second floor structure was supported with a series of flush beams to allow the stair to be opened and expose the rail. New glass doors to the den, relocated at an angle from the main stair provide the foyer with more natural light and a wider, more inviting path to the kitchen. In the master suite, the bedroom and bathroom entry doors were relocated to improve the room’s layout and offer more bathroom privacy and space for a walk-in closet. A room forgotten by the previous owner was turned into a family mudroom with built-ins and wainscoting to keep the family organized in style. Photography by Greg Hadley

These homeowners came to Castle looking for a solution that would allow them to stay in their 1946 stucco bungalow in the St. Paul neighborhood that they loved. What was once a young couple’s starter home (1 ½ story with two bedrooms on the main floor and a tiny attic space) was no longer big enough after having two kids. The need for more room became the family’s highest priority, so they came to Castle for help creating the space they needed for their growing family. With very little headroom in the attic, the decision was made to tear off the roof and add a completely new 2nd story addition with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a commons area. The stairway to the new 2nd-floor space needed to be rebuilt to comply with code requirements and was extended slightly into the dining room below. The new 2nd story addition gave the homeowners an opportunity to revise the exterior look of the home with vertical board and batten siding above the 1st-floor stucco. A new front entry portico was added to compliment the addition, and the existing masonry chimney was extended above the new roof line. The homeowners took over the work on the project after drywall was installed and did all the interior trim & millwork, tile, flooring, and painting & staining themselves. They’re loving the results! Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!