The project is an extensive renovation and addition to a late nineteenth century Victorian home in the Wayland Square neighborhood of Providence. Previously the childhood home of the owner, it is now a home for him, his wife, and two young children. He knew everything he loved about the home, but recognized it’s drawbacks, including a rear addition on the original house that completely blocked the kitchen and living area from any visual connection to the rear yard.

The entire rear portion of the ground floor was reconfigured to create an enlarged kitchen and living space that now opens onto the rear yard through a south-facing glazed wall of the one-story addition. The existing foundation of the old addition was re-used and a new beam now spans the width of the house allowing the kitchen area to open onto a dining area with built-in window seat. The overhanging roof deck above provides shading to the recessed sliding patio door and large window on either side of the window seat bay.

Pewter colored cabinetry with inset doors and soapstone counters wrap two sides of the kitchen area. The white oak flooring of the rest of the house extends into the renovated areas and to an island with seating for three. Large openings in the cabinetry wall provide both access to the mudroom and create a deep countertop and window overlooking the side entry. Historic window trims and casings were preserved where still in place.

The reconfiguration of the lower floor and removal of the rear staircase allowed for the existing primary bedroom to extend the full width of the house and include an ensuite bathroom. Access to the bedroom was relocated to shorten the length of the existing central hallway and create an oversized door that pockets into the wall.

Across the room is a sliding glass door leading to a private hardwood roof deck with metal cable railing. A wall of built-in white oak wardrobes divides the sleeping area from the bathroom, with a deep oak portal with concealed pocket door. A skylight centrally located in the bathroom maintains privacy and is visible from the bedroom through the oak portal. The bathroom is flooded with natural light, and the view of the sky provides a visual relief to the sloped ceiling. The bathroom is finished with a restrained material palette of honed white dolomite marble, lime plaster, and white oak. The marble tile floor extends up the shower walls and creates a low storage surface to create a seating surface. The lime plaster walls are water resistant and color matched to the dolomite marble tile. The oversized shower opens to the room with its full height frameless glass enclosure. The floating white oak bathroom vanity is topped with a white marble top. A large frameless medicine cabinet floats on the lime plaster wall and is naturally lit by the full height window to the side.