Project Goals

• Connect the kitchen with dining and living rooms for easy entertaining.
• Open the parlor-level ceiling and reuse an original fireplace with a fresh mantle.
• Carve out a pleasant garden apartment for extended family.
• Give each bathroom better storage, natural stone surfaces, and reliable fixtures.
• Provide direct access from the main residence to the yard while screening the basement garden for privacy.

Design and Implementation

Layout & Circulation

• A slim steel stair now links the parlor deck to the garden; its landing doubles as a buffer so basement occupants enjoy a defined outdoor nook.
• Removal of a non-load-bearing wall let the kitchen share sight-lines with the living room; a raised ceiling heightens that view clear through to the rear treetops.

Materials and Finishes

• Parlor kitchen: existing cabinet bases wrapped in new custom walnut millwork, paired with Vermont Danby marble tops.
• Master bath: Vermont green slate floor, Delft hand-made wall tile, walnut vanity, and custom walk-in closet.
• Kids bath: Danby marble counter and playful tile.
• Basement: Ikea cabinetry meets durable tile for a welcoming yet economical apartment.
• Throughout: marble thresholds, walnut accents, and restored plaster trim.

Key Elements

• Counter peninsula between kitchen and living room adds seating without sacrificing storage.
• Exposed range-hood duct keeps crown mouldings intact.
• Custom drawers and shelving tuck into unused pockets for day-to-day efficiency.
• Boiler upgrade and new radiators improve comfort on all levels.
• Installation of back flow preventer to deter flooring during rain events.

Challenges

• Upgrading and concealing new air handlers into open kitchen design.
• The owners’ keen eye for detail required frequent reviews of drawings, samples, and mock-ups—a collaborative rhythm that ultimately refined every choice.
• No structural engineer was engaged, so close coordination with the contractor ensured the new stair, boiler, and house-trap replacement met code without surprises.

Outcome

From the parlor you can now look past walnut cabinetry, through the living room, and out over a patchwork of back gardens—an effect the clients liken to a treehouse view. The reworked kitchen supports lively family meals; the marble-lined baths feel calm and handmade. Downstairs, the once-dark cellar now hosts visiting grandparents in comfort. Visitors remark on the seamless flow and warm materials, and the owners have expressed how the renovation strengthened their bond with the home they have cherished for decades.