Blog

On the Cape & Islands, where homes are shaped by the landscape and water, the line between inside and outside has always been intentionally softer than in other regions. Homeowners across the Cape don’t just want a simple deck or patio; they want spaces that function as true extensions of the home. At Slocum Hall Design Group, our approach to...

Low ceilings are a common characteristic of many historic New England homes. At the time, 7-foot ceilings were a practical design choice, helping conserve heat in an era before modern insulation and energy efficiency. While these proportions can create a sense of warmth and intimacy, they may also feel restrictive by today’s standards. Rather than viewing low ceilings as a...

The way you enter a home shapes everything that follows. In classic, Colonial, or Victorian homes across Greater Boston, entry sequences were designed for a different era and set of needs. Formal front doors were used occasionally, side entrances were used daily, and little connection between the two. That’s not how families operate today.  At Slocum Hall Design Group, we...

Transforming a historic home is never about erasing the past; it’s about redefining how it lives today. For this 1860s farmhouse in Newton, Slocum Hall Design Group approached the project with a clear vision: preserve the essence of the original structures while introducing a bold, modern framework for contemporary living. Originally composed of two separate buildings, a 1,800-square-foot main house...

When homeowners begin rethinking how their homes function while hosting gatherings, the conversation often centers around the first floor.  In many classic New England homes, the first-floor living spaces were originally divided into small, purpose-driven rooms. Picture formal dining rooms and enclosed kitchens; living spaces that operated independently of one another. Today, that model has shifted. The first floor has...

When families begin considering a home renovation, the conversation often starts with square footage. More space, more rooms, or more additions can seem like the natural solution for improving how a home functions. But in many cases, the real issue is not the size of the home but how its spaces connect and flow with one another. In older houses...

When longtime clients purchased the property next door to their previously renovated Wellesley home, they came to Slocum Hall with a vision that was anything but ordinary. They wanted to create a dedicated space for their four athletic sons, while also adding a guest residence that felt fully integrated with the existing estate. The result was a thoughtfully designed two-structure...

In many New England homes, the garage was historically treated as a secondary structure – detached, utilitarian, and often disconnected from the daily rhythm of the house. Today, homeowners are looking for something different.  There has been a noticeable rise in demand for attached garage additions that improve convenience and design integrity. When approached tactfully, a garage addition can do...

Colonial homes hold a special place in New England/Bosontian architecture. Their balanced proportions, millwork, and purposefully defined rooms are hallmarks of design heritage. Yet the kitchens within these homes were designed for a very different era, one that doesn’t always align with how we live today. Classic colonial kitchens are smaller, more isolated spaces meant for function rather than gathering....