Historical carriage house in Brookline Mass. required very careful attention to transform a dark space while maintaining the wonderful historical features of a unique home. We began with a radical expansion of the hayloft to impart airiness, light, comfort and a bit of drama to the active household of five, plus the animated pooch. In addition, we gut renovated and expanded the kitchen, transformed the den and guest bedroom and reconfigured the upstairs kids’ rooms. Interior design also by VSA in collaboration with client.
“My perfectionist architect friend says he wants to live in our renovated home”—Brookline client
New great room now flooded with natural light due to the opening up of the atrium space; we also replaced an 80st style fireplace with a locally-sourced brick one and a salvaged pine mantle, to draw out further the original character of the home.We opened up the wall to adjacent den to create more sightlines and bring in light. Farrow and Ball sap green new french doors. The home has been featured on the Farrow and Ball website and social media.Brick walkway is echoes in historical “Philadelphia” brick of the hearth inside.We kept the staircase from a previous renovation but transformed it with the black and green palette. The new great room with northern and southern light from above.Dutch Baroque details like this peekaboo window that allows more Northern exposure and even daylighting over a writing nook in the kitchen–historical Farrow and Ball colors of mouse back, pale powder and blackened at the cabinetry. The decor was a collaboration with client and incorporating existing furnishings.
We played with the theme of niches and nooks in the old historical home, adding a ledge built into the entrance wall for keys and what-nots. New white oak floors throughout.
We sanded, stained and preserved old barn doors dating back to the original late 19th century structure for horses.We created reading nooks in the residual space from the newly expanded, double height living room below.The original structure was a horse shed built in 1895 and soon became a small home, in the famed Fisher Hill neighborhood of Brookline, Mass., with grounds by OlmstedThe peekaboo window and other portals add a touch of Dutch baroque as seen in paintings by De Hooch and VermeerMaps and family dog in this refurbished office. Farrow and Ball mouse back at shelves. Pillows by St Frank.
