Historic Charm in a Small Town

The original home had the details, the wavy glass and the proportions, but not the space. The owners needed more room and a kitchen that could actually be cooked in, without the addition announcing itself from the street.

The original foundation, flooring and windows stayed. A rear addition carried the new square footage where it would not compete with the historic front elevation, and the attic was brought up into a usable upper level rather than left as storage.

Inside, herringbone flooring runs through the main level, floating shelves and a built-in bar handle display and entertaining, and the television was recessed into the wall so the room does not revolve around a black rectangle. The bathrooms lean modern with black hex tile and a freestanding tub, which the historic shell can carry.

Old houses reward restraint. Keep what cannot be replaced, put the new work where it belongs, and the addition stops looking like an addition.