A 1961 home with an under-eight-foot living room ceiling needed some freshening. We slanted the ceiling to match the roof pitch, and added a wall of bookshelves in the dining room. We gutted the kitchen and started over—complete with heated porcelain tile floor. A tiny bathroom had previously included a shower, which we replaced with a full-size vanity that features a striking vessel sink. Relighting the living room required new wiring. Our project manager suggested carrying the existing theme of arched door openings into several of the remodeling details.