“This project is a three-story, three-family home that required a full gut for renovations. The overarching goal of the renovation was to celebrate the architectural features of the original nineteenth-century structure while adding contemporary sensibilities and elements to modernize the space. We preserved and restored many of the unique features, materials, and finishes of the original building, but we also updated the layout, designed a new stair progression to the third floor, and installed high-performance elements, such as triple-pane windows and heat pumps, to create an energy-efficient environment.

“The owners occupy the second and third floors. Since the home has a unique hilltop location, we knew immediately that the living spaces would be on the third floor, which offered the best natural light and views. We used large window panels to dissolve the lines between indoors and outdoors and take advantage of cityscape views and sunset panoramas. Engineered beams allowed us to reimagine the ceiling plane and volume of the third floor into a modern great room—we vaulted the ceiling and added two full-length dormers on either side of the existing roof, which helped to maximize the space. The room hosts a variety of gathering areas, all of which are anchored by a ten-foot kitchen island with a simple white quartz countertop. Dining and living spaces are on either side of the island, with generous seating for entertaining, and a quiet sitting nook is tucked around the corner. The kitchen cabinets were built by Brian Nilsen of Evergreen Cabinetry, the backsplash tile was sourced from Old Port Specialty Tile, and Nate Deyesso of DSO Creative built the light fixture over the dining room table.

“The materials used throughout are simple, crisp, and clean in form and finish. A mix of metal, oak, maple, and glass create a soft, organic palette. There’s a sculptural quality to the space, with natural light as a unifying element, and just enough wood accents keep things feeling warm and welcoming.”
—Rachel Conly, owner and principal at Rachel Conly Design