Situated on a historic thoroughfare near the Nation's oldest public park, this residence deliberately strays from the colonial references of its gas-lamped, cobblestoned neighborhood. Envisioned as a 'cabin in the city' and rendered in autumnal tones, its moody bohemian atmosphere more closely aligns with the clients' love of the outdoors and far-flung travel. 

 

After a flood rendered half ot the home unusable, our long-term client engaged us to redesign the space to accommodate the needs (and rapidly expanding piles of 'stuff') of two growing pre-teens and an active family calendar. Our strategic approach included a bedroom swap and conversion of the damaged area into a primary suite and a high-functioning mudroom that would harmonize with the existing public spaces ,  and allow them to remain comfortably in the home for the next decade.

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Monkey-themed décor serves as a playful talisman in the new en-suite, which connects to the tile-wrapped entry foyer through a full-height reeded glass partition. This transparent wall was designed to draw the limited natural light into nearby spaces and, with a touch of irreverence, offer distorted glimpses of figures beyond.

 

Hovering above the run of stairs, a towering, 14' long wall of a multi-level, illuminated, custom cabinetry was designed to capitalize on the 3' of previously unavailable height discovered at demolition. With its built-in bench, utility closets, integrated mirrors, charging ports, and even a feeding station for the family pet, it functions as a pantry, linen closet, dry bar, printing station, craft respository, reading nook, and staging area for the family's daily activities. Above, a rippling, suspended, MHLI-designed slat structure with integrated lighting neatly disguises building utilities.

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In the primary bedroom, a full suite of custom millwork hides steam pipes and HVAC components, and eliminates the need for freestanding furniture. We scrutinized every inch of the room to apportion storage as scrupulously as sleeping cabins aboard luxury yachts. Soffits, corners, and vertical surfaces house dual wardrobes, niches in place of nightstands, 42" long under-bed drawers, and even a slim trapezoidal dresser fit into a narrow, otherwise unusable void. A rare, 1960s Müller & Zimmer hand-blown glass ceiling lamp punctuates the enveloping smoked oak and Roman clay surfaces, cooperatively conjuring a moody chalet tucked into a wintry alpine grove.