As a Boston architecture firm with experience in modern residential design and whole-home renovations, we were asked to thoughtfully reimagine the house, not only restoring its integrity but enhancing its layout and design to better align with contemporary living.
One of the first and most important challenges of this Jamaica Plain home renovation was the site’s descending topography, which slopes down from the front of the house toward the rear yard. While the lower-level living spaces opened directly onto the garden, this grade change created a vertical disconnection between the main living areas upstairs and the outdoors. Recognizing the importance of indoor-outdoor connectivity, we focused first on resolving this relationship. Our solution introduced a new interior switchback stair at the rear of the house, connecting the main living level to an outdoor deck at a newly created intermediate landing. This design move, a hallmark of thoughtful modern residential architecture, creates a cascading effect, tying the upper living spaces directly to the landscape. From the stair landing, the new layout also allows for continued access down to the lower-level bar, pool room, additional bedroom, and office. From the rear deck, a few more steps lead to a lower terrace that seamlessly integrates into the landscape.
On the main living level, we completely reconfigured the interior layout. A new organizing element — a continuous “spine” — now separates the public and private zones of the house, dividing the living, dining, and kitchen spaces from the bedrooms. This spine takes the form of a custom-built white oak storage wall, combining open shelving with concealed cabinets. It acts as both a privacy buffer and a visual connection between spaces, introducing moments of transparency where appropriate. Extending this cascading concept, the spine continues down to the lower level, reinforcing a sense of vertical flow through the house.
The project also includes a new cantilevered addition at the rear, expanding the kitchen and dining areas to enhance the main living space. A large wall of glazing along this new volume brings in abundant natural light and frames views toward the distant Boston skyline, reinforcing the home’s connection to its setting.
Throughout the renovation, we drew from our expertise as residential architects in Boston to create a clean, modern design that respects the home’s mid-century roots. The material palette and design details were intentionally understated, emphasizing a minimalist sensibility. Rift-sawn white oak highlights the spine and kitchen cabinetry, while a restrained selection of finishes, fixtures, and lighting enhances the home’s mid-century character. The increased glazing and simplified materials work together to balance a warm, natural atmosphere with clean, contemporary lines.
