This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. A new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

In a walkable neighborhood near the center of town, a historic masonry and timber frame structure has a new future as a residence containing 10 apartments. The property was originally built by the Elks in 1913 and later became a Masonic lodge, which included a bar, kitchen, meeting rooms and office space. The new apartments range from studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units from 500 square feet to 1000 square feet. In conformance with the municipality’s 20% affordable housing requirements, two of the apartment units will be priced as affordable housing. The top floor of the existing building is double-height, allowing for mezzanine space. Apartments are designed as loft style, with modern detailing; a “SoHo aesthetic.” The character of the building is being restored and preserved, and where possible original brick, stucco, and wood are exposed and refinished. The exterior gains a new stair and elevator tower addition, along with new window openings where necessary. A new plaque designed for the building describes its historic roots in Princeton. With the inclusion of a green roof, LEED for Homes certification is being pursued for the project.

In a walkable neighborhood near the center of town, a historic masonry and timber frame structure has a new future as a residence containing 10 apartments. The property was originally built by the Elks in 1913 and later became a Masonic lodge, which included a bar, kitchen, meeting rooms and office space. The new apartments range from studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units from 500 square feet to 1000 square feet. In conformance with the municipality’s 20% affordable housing requirements, two of the apartment units will be priced as affordable housing. The top floor of the existing building is double-height, allowing for mezzanine space. Apartments are designed as loft style, with modern detailing; a “SoHo aesthetic.” The character of the building is being restored and preserved, and where possible original brick, stucco, and wood are exposed and refinished. The exterior gains a new stair and elevator tower addition, along with new window openings where necessary. A new plaque designed for the building describes its historic roots in Princeton. With the inclusion of a green roof, LEED for Homes certification is being pursued for the project.

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Seattle

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

In a walkable neighborhood near the center of town, a historic masonry and timber frame structure has a new future as a residence containing 10 apartments. The property was originally built by the Elks in 1913 and later became a Masonic lodge, which included a bar, kitchen, meeting rooms and office space. The new apartments range from studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units from 500 square feet to 1000 square feet. In conformance with the municipality’s 20% affordable housing requirements, two of the apartment units will be priced as affordable housing. The top floor of the existing building is double-height, allowing for mezzanine space. Apartments are designed as loft style, with modern detailing; a “SoHo aesthetic.” The character of the building is being restored and preserved, and where possible original brick, stucco, and wood are exposed and refinished. The exterior gains a new stair and elevator tower addition, along with new window openings where necessary. A new plaque designed for the building describes its historic roots in Princeton. With the inclusion of a green roof, LEED for Homes certification is being pursued for the project.

In a walkable neighborhood near the center of town, a historic masonry and timber frame structure has a new future as a residence containing 10 apartments. The property was originally built by the Elks in 1913 and later became a Masonic lodge, which included a bar, kitchen, meeting rooms and office space. The new apartments range from studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units from 500 square feet to 1000 square feet. In conformance with the municipality’s 20% affordable housing requirements, two of the apartment units will be priced as affordable housing. The top floor of the existing building is double-height, allowing for mezzanine space. Apartments are designed as loft style, with modern detailing; a “SoHo aesthetic.” The character of the building is being restored and preserved, and where possible original brick, stucco, and wood are exposed and refinished. The exterior gains a new stair and elevator tower addition, along with new window openings where necessary. A new plaque designed for the building describes its historic roots in Princeton. With the inclusion of a green roof, LEED for Homes certification is being pursued for the project.

In a walkable neighborhood near the center of town, a historic masonry and timber frame structure has a new future as a residence containing 10 apartments. The property was originally built by the Elks in 1913 and later became a Masonic lodge, which included a bar, kitchen, meeting rooms and office space. The new apartments range from studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units from 500 square feet to 1000 square feet. In conformance with the municipality’s 20% affordable housing requirements, two of the apartment units will be priced as affordable housing. The top floor of the existing building is double-height, allowing for mezzanine space. Apartments are designed as loft style, with modern detailing; a “SoHo aesthetic.” The character of the building is being restored and preserved, and where possible original brick, stucco, and wood are exposed and refinished. The exterior gains a new stair and elevator tower addition, along with new window openings where necessary. A new plaque designed for the building describes its historic roots in Princeton. With the inclusion of a green roof, LEED for Homes certification is being pursued for the project.

Example of a trendy home design design in Seattle

This remodel negotiates the owner’s desire for a modern home with the municipality’s desire to maintain the home’s ‘historic’ character.  To satisfy these potentially conflicting interests, our strategy restores the house’s shell while completely gutting the interior to achieve greater connections to the landscape beyond and between previously disconnected levels on the interior. At the exterior, new doors and windows with black frames hint at the elegant and restrained aesthetic that guides the design throughout. Similarly, a new cantilevered deck at the rear and new French doors at the front create connections to outside that echo the new spatial openness of the reorganized interior. The original home, although two stories, functioned like a single story home. To remedy this, the primary formal move was to remove the center of the home and insert a new, open stair that visually and physically connects the two levels. To take advantage of this, the lower level was enlarged and completely refinished to provide two new bedrooms, a music room, a playroom, and a bathroom. Similarly, the upper level was completed updated with a new master suite, an updated bathroom, new finishes in the main living spaces, and a new Henrybuilt Kitchen.

As a carriage house there was no kitchen in the design in order to meet the municipality’s restrictions. However, with a fully functional bar for comfortable wine & cheese pairings, the space doesn’t feel lacking.

Each year, volunteers tend the garden, and water it during the summer drought; they also water the nearby memorial trees if needed. (It is actually a co-operative, low-maintenance municipal garden, supported by community volunteers who take care of the perennials, while the city takes care of the grass and the remainder of the site).

As a carriage house there was no kitchen in the design in order to meet the municipality’s restrictions. However, with a fully functional bar for comfortable wine & cheese pairings, the space doesn’t feel lacking.

Each year, in the summer, perennials such as yarrow and daylilies, pop up next to the markers and monument, making it look as if a family member has left a special bouquet in remembrance. (It is actually a low-maintenance municipal garden, supported by community volunteers who take care of the perennials, while the city takes care of the grass and the remainder of the site).