• “This house just doesn’t entertain well,” exclaimed the long-time owners of this 1940’s split level residence. “We want to entertain larger groups of family but we don’t do it every day.” Zoning rules prevented the enlargement of the structure so moving was briefly considered but rejected. “After all, this is home,” was a quote that captured the spirit of the family. Ultimately the design challenge was best expressed in their question: “How can we have it both ways?” The 630 square foot project – area contained a cramped entry, medium – sized living room, oversized fireplace, awkward nook, small dining room,
  • and a tiny, outdated, isolated kitchen. “And we don’t want to remove the kitchen walls,” the owners said, reacting to a friend’s suggestion of an open bar. “We’d have even less cabinet space and don’t want the area to feel messy when the kitchen is in use.”
  • The design goals were clear: Create elegant, well-connected spaces suitable for both intimate and festive gatherings that balance both a formal an informal style within the existing square footage.
  • The challenge was met by retaining the existing room divisions to preserve a sense of formality Read more