PROJECT OVERVIEW

Our client, a concierge veterinarian with a lively household of rescued animals—ranging from cats and dogs to rabbits and the occasional raven—came to us with the goal of honoring the 1925 cottage character of their home while making it more livable for both human and animal residents. With a demanding on-call schedule and a home that doubles as a recovery space for animals, functionality was just as important as charm. As their forever home, the client wanted to prioritize a long-term investment in quality, practicality, and enduring character.

The original kitchen was a 1990s time capsule, dominated by golden wood tones, black tile countertops, and a clunky peninsula that disrupted the natural flow of the space. It lacked proper ventilation, felt disconnected from the home's historical roots, and didn’t support the client’s day-to-day needs. We reconfigured the layout to remove the peninsula and open the sightline from the living room through the kitchen to the back deck. Glass-paned pocket doors—modeled after the home’s original windows—were installed between the kitchen and living room to provide architectural charm and allow the client to easily quarantine recovering animal patients.

The client sourced a restored vintage Wedgewood range, which became the heart of the kitchen. To complement it, they selected custom inset cabinetry that provides enclosed storage and a period-appropriate look. We focused on cleanable surfaces and integrated a workstation for charting and administrative work, ensuring the space would support both work and daily life. A 250-year-old antique French oak trestle table now anchors the room, accompanied by vintage rugs collected by the client over the years—each piece bringing warmth and history into the revitalized space.

The guest bathroom became a place for bold expression as the client grew more comfortable with color throughout the project. We selected a striking wallpaper and matched the cabinetry and trim paint to hues found within the pattern, creating a cohesive, personality-filled palette. A custom mosaic tile floor was designed to echo tones from the wallpaper, adding richness and detail to the compact room. Polished nickel plumbing fixtures and historically inspired lighting throughout both the kitchen and bath lend a sense of timelessness and craftsmanship, grounding the design in the home's original era while still feeling fresh and modern.

One significant challenge arose during construction when the fabricator discovered a major flaw running through the quartzite slabs selected for the kitchen countertops—right through the area we needed. With fabrication just days away, we acted quickly to source a suitable replacement. Thanks to clear communication and swift coordination with our vendor partners, we found an alternative that kept the project on track and met the expectations and desires of the client. Today, the finished spaces reflect everything the client hoped for: a thoughtful blend of historic character and modern function, built to support their life, work, and ever-growing animal family. The home now feels cohesive, calm, and deeply personal—just as it should be.

Construction Partner: Coda Construction

Photography: Kaitlin Green