Extra Bliss

“We love the old village,” say the owners, who have been coming to the area for over 20 years. “This house had wonderful curb appeal to begin with, but we saw the opportunity to really clean up the exterior and to modernize the interior.”

The Cape-style portion and central fireplace, which date back to the 1790s, were preserved. The front entry porch and the two wings, complete with upper balconies, were restored to reflect the style of the early to mid-20th century. While all the windows were replaced, they match the originals in size, layout, and placement.

The interior feels warm and inviting.

At the homeowners’ request, the living, dining, and kitchen areas were combined into an open layout. A former sunroom was incorporated into this space, allowing sunlight to fill the entire first floor. In the kitchen, a structural beam wrapped in reclaimed wood from the original house adds a distinctive design detail and a meaningful connection to the home’s past. The house was lifted to create the finished basement, which has a brick-clad light well to brighten the space.

An outdated and unattractive rear addition was removed and replaced with a more functional, visually appealing structure that provides a one-car garage and a back entry. The creative use of arches in this new section is the only exterior feature that departs from the home’s traditional style.