Ronald Road

In this project, the homeowner was hoping to add some space to the second and third floors of the home and in the process, improve the way in which the house related to its surroundings. Originally a squat, wide gambrel, with an uninsulated enclosed porch, we were able to take advantage of the new work to rebalance the proportions of the exterior.

The porch was opened up and highlighted as a sheltered space, allowing more light to penetrate the entry foyer. To counteract the increased height of the attic floor that could easily have overwhelmed the street, we also opted to define a brow at the second floor. Vertical walls replaced the steeply pitched lower half of the gambrel roof, increasing usable square footage on the second floor without altering the existing footprint.

Inside, we enlarged an existing first floor office, reorganized some spaces to create a generous master suite, guest room, and office nook on the second floor, and added two kids’ bedrooms, a bathroom, and laundry on the previously unfinished attic level. To connect the bedroom spaces that were now split between two floors, a new set of stairs was built with large windows looking out to the beautiful sidewalk tree beyond, and filling the space with light.