Carriage House

Located in Cumberland Foreside, this project began as an existing brick carriage house that had an unfinished interior, no insulation, and limited room for growth. Our clients—empty nesters with grown children and grandchildren—came to us with the hopes of playing up the potential of this cozy space to create a place that would foster a sense of togetherness for visiting weekenders.

With the exterior needing to stay mostly the same, we turned our attention inward. A lot of life fit into this small space from a kitchenette, living room, and game area to a full bath and a loft, which we then turned into a reading nook. We replaced the windows and swapped out the garage bay door for a large triple-sash window that invites more natural light into the space. A natural wood finish floor-to-ceiling gives the space a homey feel while custom built-ins, the loft, and a unique stair play a pivotal role in defining character.

It was an interesting challenge for us to rework the existing wood framing inside in order to provide a tight, well-insulated enclosure. The limited space was also a unique hurdle when it came to fitting proper mechanical systems into the building. Lastly, finding a way to maintain the existing exposed beams and timber floor joists called for close collaboration between our team and the builder, which we were very pleased with.

Our team collaborated closely with a handful of family members in order to devise a happy harmony amongst everyone’s dreams for the space, both in the shared living areas and in the private rooms. We even custom-designed an entry door to complement the entrance to the main house, tying a thoughtful thread from the primary home to the guest house.

At the project’s end, what was once something of a storage space was now a comfortable, playful guest house for all to enjoy.