This new home office space opening onto a deck replaced an existing screened porch that lacked direct access to the backyard. In addition to creating a dedicated workspace, the owners wanted to better connect their home to the outdoors—providing space for outdoor living and allowing their dogs to safely enjoy the yard off leash. Above the new office, a second-floor deck creates a private outdoor retreat for the upper unit of this two-family Victorian home.

Finished back yard view.  Photo courtesy Peter Boyajain, Real Estate 109.

Almost finished office and decks.

 

A gently sloped ramp wraps around the main deck, providing easy access for pets of all sizes and ample width for convenient snow removal in winter. The deck’s traditional character is achieved through a thoughtful blend of classic wood detailing and durable, high-performance materials.

If you’d like, I can also create a combined version that flows seamlessly with the previous paragraph so both sections read as one continuous project description.

Almost finished office, decks, and dog ramp.

Before: screened porch views

Converting the second-floor screened porch to an open deck helped reduce the visual mass of the addition, allowing it to extend farther into the yard without overwhelming the main house. This change also made it possible to restore the original roof eave line and enhance the views from the third-floor dormer.

Finished main deck with awning. Photo courtesy Peter Boyajain, Real Estate 109.

New office. Photo courtesy Peter Boyajain, Real Estate 109.

Interior details reflect a simplified interpretation of traditional trim, including classic-style window casings and baseboards, along with hardwood flooring selected to match the existing home. An antique radiator relocated from elsewhere in the house adds character, while modern shades complement the energy-efficient windows and door.

The office and deck addition was completed in conjunction with renovations to the first-floor unit, including a reconfigured kitchen layout, updated hall bath fixtures and finishes, and an enhanced primary suite featuring a new bath and dedicated laundry area. The project was completed in 2023.

Front View

Our clients and their two children lived in a small Cape in a neighborhood they love and want to stay in. They could walk to shops and public transportation, had a nice big yard, great schools, and wonderful neighbors, but they needed more space for their growing family. After considering moving within the neighborhood they chose to add space and improve the overall quality of their own house.
 

 Before and After front view.
 

Living Room View.
 

Kitchen-Dining View
 

Kitchen Window View
 

Kitchen View
 

 Primary Bedroom Interior
 

Deck detail
 

Front and back porches

A second floor was added to provide space for two bedrooms with a shared bath and a primary suite with bath and walk-in closet. A new front porch keeps the scale and style of the house compatible with the neighborhood and provides sheltered outdoor space.

A more generous entry hall and new stair to the second floor lead the reorganization of the first floor. The two existing bedrooms were converted to a home office and a mud room, while the existing galley kitchen space was opened up to give more space to the living and dining area. The kitchen was relocated to the former family room space at the back of the house with access to a new patio area.

The kitchen features simple Ikea cabinets with elegant granite countertops. Reusing existing Energy Star rated appliances helped keep costs down. The new windows and French doors provide good views of back yard. Natural daylight on 3 sides helps connect the family with the changing times of day and variations of the seasons.
 

What helps make the project ‘green’?

• Staying in the city to minimize transportation needs
• Keeping as much of the existing structure as possible and keeping the addition modest – just enough to provide needed program spaces
• Improving energy performance of existing house and building the new to a high standard
• Incorporating products and systems to improve air quality for occupants with allergies
• Incorporating ‘green’ materials and Energy Star products (and re-using existing) where possible, such as Hardi-plank siding, wood flooring, lighting and appliances.

 
Photos of this project appear in the 2010 book Practical Green Remodeling – Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes.
 

Gables and layered shed roof forms enliven a relatively compact building volume. Traditional New England shingle siding and double hung windows blend with Arts & Crafts style elements such as the deep roof overhangs.

Front View
 

Front View
 

Construction—Living room corner
 

Back View – living room, kitchen porch roof, breakfast area with corner deck, family room over garage, primary bedroom (with box-bay window) above family room
 

Kitchen and Breakfast Area view

The kitchen opens to a covered porch that overlooks the backyard and meadow.  The tall casement windows at the sink area reaching down to the countertop, the adjacent French door, and skylights in the porch roof allow ample daylight light into kitchen. Traditional cabinetry is set off by granite countertops, glass tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances. The glass backsplash tiles appear again as an inset detail on the newel posts of the nearby stair.

Living room fireplace view

There are many built-in bookcases and cabinets throughout the house, from mud room to Living room.  A wood mantle and cabinets give the Living room fireplace a traditional look with convenience of a gas insert that can provide plenty of heat when wanted. 

Stair hall view

Arts & Crafts style details appear throughout the interior from finishes such as art tile and light fixtures, to wainscoting and flat panel doors.

Stone wall along drive
 

Deck railing detail with lamp

Eave details

The clients’ building lot was mostly lightly wooded slopes bordering a meadow previously cleared for the septic system of a house that was never built.  An outcrop of ledge at one side of the meadow dropped into a ravine that opened out at the lower side of the site onto an antique cart path and stone boundary wall.  Hillside House was sited at the edge of the meadow, adjacent to the ravine.  Ledge stone that was removed for the construction was used to create landscape walls of large rocks preserving the lower part of the ravine and supporting a circular drive hugging the shoulder of the slope.

Gables and layered shed roof forms enliven the relatively compact building volume, and work along with the slope of the site to allow the entry façade to present a modest 2-storey appearance.  The 3-storey façade on the opposite side of the house offers plenty of exterior wall area for natural lighting, including a light-filled corner with direct outdoor access for a basement office space.

Traditional New England shingle siding and double hung windows blend with Arts & Crafts style elements such as the deep roof overhangs with cedar roof support brackets made by the homeowners themselves. 

Storage space in the basement walkout area became a garden workroom connecting the greenhouse to a new exercise room. The cork flooring and eucalyptus paneling in the exercise area, along with the stone and stucco walls at the greenhouse, enhance the feeling of connection to the earth.

Project with DSA|Dewing & Schmid, 2005