Wallace Renovation

We met this client several years before doing a project together - sometimes it takes some time! And it was worth it...

We selectively renovated this single family home in Somerville, MA to suit a busy empty-nest couple with a love for entertaining, family, and specialized hobbies. Starting at the heart of the home - the kitchen - we removed the dated cabinets and opened up the whole back of the house for a wide-open dining, cooking, and entertaining space - complete with 8' skylight! We also created a stronger connection to the deck, redesigning the whole exterior for relaxation and entertaining.

Take a closer look at that kitchen/bar space - it has "morning mode" for coffee and breakfast, and "party mode" for entertaining, with "flipper doors" that open to reveal a light-up bar and a drinks fridge and ice maker. A sink and hot water dispenser round out this incredibly practical and fun addition to this house.

Part of what makes a great first floor entertaining space is thoughtfully accommodating the tasks of daily life, like laundry, coat closet, and half bath. We did this here by creating a discreet hallway with all these functions tucked off of it, both for privacy and for efficiency.

We also added a custom fireplace, new entry tile, new trim throughout, and new stair balusters and handrails on the first floor.

In the basement, we created a custom exercise space as well as a full jewelry and quilting studio!

On the second floor, our focus was on the primary suite. Here, we actually *removed* an unused roofdeck, which allowed much better flow and practical space for furniture. We added a full wall of closet/wardrobe space, and of course, a fully custom bathroom. Featuring two [!] skylights, a curbless shower, dual vanities, separate toilet room, and lots of thoughtful custom touches, this space directly reflects the owners' taste and lifestyle.

Also on the second floor, we renovated the guest bathroom, and installed a series of custom library cabinets in one of the guest rooms.

Finally, the third floor houses a working office for one of the owners, who consults globally, meaning we needed a way to control the sound from late night phone calls. We decided on a full glass wall, which allows light to bathe the space while also keeping calls private. This unique space reflects the value of our experience in the commercial/industrial world - many of those details can work in homes as well!

On the exterior, we focused on new porches and decks, even coming up with creative ways to use the existing historic balusters. We also repainted the entire exterior, giving us a chance to repair and patch things while also refreshing and brightening the exterior.

A very special project with a very special client, we were delighted to work together to bring a unique vision to life.

Photos: Kyle Caldwell