Blog

Perched high on a hill in Newton, Massachusetts, this much-loved 8,000-square-foot English manor-style home had been the heart of one family for more than forty years. As the owners transitioned into a new chapter as empty-nesters, they faced a choice familiar to many: downsize, or transform the home they cherished into a place that could support their evolving needs. They...

If you’re planning a home renovation or thinking about building, it can be confusing to know who to hire first. Many homeowners begin with a contractor or designer, only to discover later that the project actually requires an architect. Knowing the difference early can help you avoid delays, extra costs, and rework. Design Build Firm vs Architect – The Key...

Designing a home on the Cape & Islands is a unique balancing act – equal parts creativity and compliance. Coastal architecture demands not only vision and artistry, but a deep understanding of the regulations that shape what’s possible. From FEMA floodplain requirements to setback limitations and evolving rules around foundation heights, the framework is constantly shifting. A home that met...

This 1800s Victorian home in Wellesley was transformed to meet the needs of a growing multi-generational family – all while preserving the grace and charm of its historic exterior. For the homeowner, Kristen DiBella, a designer herself, living in a vintage residence had always been a dream. Yet the original layout and aging infrastructure couldn’t support modern family life. The...

Beautiful homes don’t happen through architecture alone. They are the result of a thoughtful partnership between the architect and the landscape architect – a collaboration that begins at the very start of a project. When these disciplines work together from day one, the home feels rooted to its surroundings rather than placed on the land as an isolated object. Architect...

Adaptive reuse residential design is the practice of taking an existing building – often one that originally served a different purpose – and thoughtfully transforming it into a home or residential space, rather than tearing it down and rebuilding from scratch. It merges history with modern function, allowing us to preserve a structure’s character while reinventing its purpose for contemporary...

The home office has shifted from a nice-to-have to a must-have. With many people working at least a few hybrid days a week, Boston-area homeowners are investing in and expanding their home offices to support productivity and creating a part of the home that’s intended to stand on its own. Whether it’s reimagined during a Brookline home renovation or the...

There’s something timeless about a cottage on a New Hampshire lake – the still water, the wooded shoreline, the feeling of escape. For this project, two aging cottages stood on a stunning piece of property. While the setting was perfect, the homes themselves needed more than a facelift. The challenge? Respect local zoning rules, preserve the spirit of lakefront living,...

In recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, more families in Greater Boston and across the Cape have adopted multi-generational living, where three or more generations live under one roof. Now, it’s not everyone’s preference, but for some families, it’s a viable option.  Whether it’s grandparents moving in, adult children returning home for “in-between” periods, or extended family staying long-term,...