carriage house, brookline, massachusetts

A careful but bold gut renovation that reinvigorates this 1890s carriage house of a historical neighborhood; we preserve various antique elements while expanding and introducing new ones that respect and play off the historical essence. The challenge was to restore the spirit of the 1895 small home that had since undergone ugly renovations and unintegrated additions but also make it work for a large modern and outdoorsy family. the house keeps the central core, once a small opening that is believed to have been used for a hayloft to feed sheltered horses. however, we increase the opening by 5 feet, so that it becomes an atrium space with steel rails and northern and southern light that floods the downstairs–transforming a dreary living space into a great room with locally-sourced brick hearth. historical Farrow and ball and Benjamin Moore color palette that includes the earthy greens and bright blue accents seen in the Merchant Ivory film, Remains of the Day.

steel tension rods replace a series of awkward rafters to open up the ceiling and direct the eye to the 1890s cupola. we also expanded the constricted opening in the second floor to let in more light and impart some grandeur to the first floor great room for the family to gather by a new hearth.

Finishing construction, April 2021