This was a special renovation because the goal wasn’t to make an older home feel new. It was to preserve the character that made the home special while completely rethinking the spaces that no longer worked for the family. Some areas were taken down to the studs and rebuilt, while others received a lighter touch, allowing the original Colonial character to remain part of the story.

The kitchen is a great example of that balance. Classic white cabinetry, warm wood floors and traditional detailing feel appropriate to the architecture, while the layout and amenities were updated for the way the family lives today. We intentionally kept the home’s original wood-burning brick fireplace in the kitchen, preserving its age, imperfections and charm rather than replacing it with something new.

We also looked for opportunities in spaces that weren’t being fully used. The attic was transformed into a kids’ haven tucked beneath the rooflines, complete with an old ladder leading up to it that adds a little sense of discovery and reminds you that you’re still in an old home.

Downstairs, the personality changes completely. The finished lower level includes a theater along with a bourbon room and kitchen designed with more of an adult speakeasy feel. Polished concrete floors and moodier finishes give it a character all its own and create a great space for entertaining.

Throughout the renovation, the old and new were intentionally allowed to live together. Original details weren’t something to work around—they became part of what makes the finished home so interesting. It’s a renovation that gave the family all the function and spaces they wanted while still feeling like the beautiful, established Colonial home it has always been.