Somerset Road
Lexington, MA

Project scope

Gut remodel of original home, demolition of previous additions, new additions (renovated 4,140 sq. ft., new 1,440sq. ft.)

Our charge

It is unfortunate that sometimes renovations to older homes do not age well. Such was the case with this 19th century home that was added onto, probably in the 1960s.

Our client wanted spaces that support contemporary home lifestyles, but also capture some elegance reminiscent of the neoclassical building.

After agreeing that the previous additions had to go, we set about to re-plan the original home along with new additions to create a first floor with unencumbered flow and natural light; a second floor with two children’s bedrooms and the master suite; a bedroom suite in the attic; and recreation space in the basement. A separate bedroom suite, a few steps above the main floor level, is located over the garage.

The narrow lot was a challenge, but we were able to create a 2-car garage at the back, connected to the original structure by a new wing containing a family room. At the first floor, the line between the old and new structures is blurred by the open plan containing the family room, kitchen, and breakfast area. The kitchen was moved out from a back corner room, which we re-purposed to be a home office. An unused side porch was enclosed to create a sunroom.

The original foyer stair was a conundrum; though nicely detailed, it was cramped and configured with very low headroom at the first floor landing. After studying several options it was decided to rebuild the stair and cut away a portion of the second floor landing. In doing so, we created a more functional and comfortable stair, and allowed circulation from the foyer directly to the family areas.