best. Old can be cold and drafty, and my pas-
sion is creating clean, contemporary spaces.”
As with many old houses, headroom is
wanting, so Finn cleverly added an extra layer
of sheetrock 2 feet around the perimeter of
the living room ceiling, creating the illusion
of a loftier space. Tall casement windows also
help. “The lack of mouldings on the windows
keeps the interior from looking too Colonial,”
says Finn. “And I love the woodsy view the
windows offer.”
Finn is masterly at blending the old with
the new, as in the original 12-by-12-foot space
off the kitchen, now used as a breakfast area,
where a small table and two chairs wait by the
hearth, inviting a call to morning coffee.
The kitchen was gutted and a peninsula configuration — which “cut the kitchen
in half,” says Finn — was replaced with an
island layout. A new bump-out, 13 feet long
and 2 feet deep, along the back wall allows
for windows above the cabinets, which hold
the oven, sink, and dishwasher. Though living and dining room fireplaces were converted
to gas for convenience, the kitchen fireplace
and the original beehive oven next to it (still
used every so often for making pizza) burn
the first thing to
consider when
renovating a space
What is economically
feasible to change to make
the space function better?
Don’t be afraid to move
walls and change windows
to get a fresh look.
tip for combining
old and new design
elements
Respect the old, but
remember that old isn’t
always better.
