The design for a new guest suite above an existing garage added a strong anchor to one end of this traditional New England cape style home, and provided needed space and flexibility for the clients.

Approaching the entry court with the garage ahead and the front entry porch of the main house to the left.

Garage and Attic, “Before,” with mudroom entry to the left, and Garage with New Guest Suite, “After”

The new taller roof line and double window signal living space above the garage. The entry to the new guest suite is set to the right of the garage for privacy, and to balance the entry to the family mudroom to the left of the garage. The open porch and stone landscape path at the guest suite entry emphasize connection to the landscape that is also an important feature of the house overall.

 Front porch and formal front entry, garage door trim detail, and dog ramp at the mudroom steps.

Guest entry with windows stepping up to the second floor, and the stone landscape path leading past the door to the guest bike storage/mechanical room.
 

Guest bike storage/mechanical room entry with stone step. The landscape path leads to the informal garden between the house and the stone wall at the edge of the meadow, the family room patio, and the sunroom beyond.
 

 Back of the garage and guest suite, with the family room to the right, overlooking the garden and meadow.
 

View from the meadow of the rest of the house, with the one story family room wing between the garage/guest suite and the original Cape. The sun room at the Southwest corner of the original house, and the bay beyond at the formal living room, additions done in 1998, face a formal walled terrace.

Project completed by Lipcon Construction, Concord, MA.

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.

This project created a new guest suite and home office space in the unfinished basement of a 2012 condominium home. With plenty of ceiling height, it was possible to work the design around the structural columns and heating/ac ducts and still have an open, light feel to the spaces. To help to spread the available natural light internal transom windows and french doors were used between the new rooms and a french door replaced a solid door at the top of the basement stair to bring light down the stairwell. The guest suite has one bedroom and a full bath, open sitting and dining areas, and snack bar. The home office space and access to the rest of the unfinished storage space are located adjacent to the stair.

View from bottom of stair across snack bar to bedroom beyond. Double french doors with transom allow shared light from the bedroom window.

Dining area view toward bedroom and back hall.

Sitting area, view from dining area.

Gas fireplace with black granite hearth. Custom surround and mantle site-built by contractor.

Another French door and more transom glass in the wall between the sitting area and home office.

Home office, view back toward guest suite sitting area.

Home office, view of built-in bookshelf, and French door to hallway at bottom of stair.
 

Project completed in 2017. The contractor for the project was N. Sabella, Inc., Framingham, MA.

 
A new bay window adds just enough space, and lots of interest, to a second floor master bedroom.
 

 Bay window- AFTER, with second floor bay and new roof at first floor.
 

 Bay Window- BEFORE, at first floor only

 

Construction by N. Sabella Inc., 2017

 
Our clients and their two children lived in a one story 1950’s Bungalow in a hillside neighborhood with a beautiful water view. They loved the informal village feel of the neighborhood and the easy access to outdoor activities but they needed more space for their growing family. They also needed office space for telecommuting days, upgrades to mechanical systems, and improved energy efficiency
 

View of South side
 

The addition of a second floor provides space for bedrooms, bath, laundry and primary suite, and views of the lake to the front and south side of the house. The south facing roof allows for future solar panels. Generous windows with wide, flat trim, angle brackets at the eaves and front entry roof, and the natural fir doors add interest to the straightforward shape of the house.

Project completed in 2016. Built by D.B. Schroeder & Co., Inc.

This family room addition to a 1920’s Georgian Colonial features generous windows and French doors opening onto a landscaped terrace. The new family room space is adjacent to an open and spacious kitchen and provides ample area for entertaining guests while cooking as well as a comfortable and serene family space.

On the exterior, the addition features half-round columns and panels beneath the windows to evoke the feel of an enclosed porch. The roof shape and trim moldings draw from the original garden room that was removed for the new addition.

Renovation of the kitchen area included new and additional cabinets and resizing the island to work with the new family room layout. The flat-panel style and dark wood of the new kitchen cabinets chosen by the homeowners create a comfortable balance with the open views on the family room side of the space.

Living/Family Rooms
 

The garage is detailed to match the existing house, with hand made brackets and customized garage doors. The siding textures echo the pattern on the house house with narrower clapboards above and wider below. Inside the garage, a platform hoist makes it easy to lift motorcycles and materials to the 2nd floor workshop.

The new second floor workshop has views of the existing house and gardens as well as ample natural light. 

 Perennial garden between garage and house
 

Back View
 

View of Hillside House from garage
 

Perennial garden and stone wall views

Workshop view with hoist at left
 

The owners of this south facing mid-70’s garrison colonial had always wanted a front porch to sit out on in the evenings, to unwind and enjoy their view.  The porch addition changes the style of the house to a Federal look.  The project also includes taller first floor windows to bring the view inside, and new front yard landscaping.

 Federal Front Porch Addition
 

Federal Front Porch Addition, before and after views
 

Federal Front Porch Addition, side view