Lower Lewis Street

This house was cut in half in 1973, with one half sold because it was too much for the family to manage. The original owner retained the half we renovated and moved it to the corner of the lot, next door to its sister half. In the split, the home lost its entry foyer, main staircase, kitchen, and dining room and maintained the ballroom and primary bedroom. The house remained in the family until our client purchased it, so there were some quirky details to resolve.

We modernized the house while retaining many of the historic features of this grand summer home, especially the amazing wraparound porch. During the total renovation, we enhanced energy efficiency and added new design ideas, such as the modern floating staircase. The stairwell occupies a two-story addition that allowed us to open the middle of the house, bathing the interior spaces with light.

Built to support multi-generational use, the home’s wraparound porch is the hub of summer living. The custom modern kitchen we designed provides bar seating for work or on-the-go casual dining, while the dining room is perfect for relaxing family gatherings. The addition of roof dormers enlarged the third-floor attic allowing more living and sleeping space so everyone can escape for some quiet time.

Contractor: Costello Fine Homebuilding

Interiors: Susan Bielski Interior Design Consultation

Landscape Design: Phyllis W. Cole Landscapes

Photography: EDK Studios, Erik Kowalski