Peachtree
Renovation & Addition
Raleigh, NC
Twelve years later, Jim was married to Catherine, they had two children, and the house had already grown through two additions. In 2020, expecting their third child and navigating life during Covid, the need for space shifted once again. What began as a simple refresh and nursery quickly became a full renovation, with the primary suite remaining untouched.
With the house already expanded in every direction but one, we went back and down—digging out the lower level to gain 400 square feet and consolidate hobbies onto a single floor. Above, a new family room and two bedrooms completed the transformation.
The result: a former 1,000-square-foot American Small House–style bachelor pad, now a 5,000-square-foot home for a family of five and their St. Bernard, Sandy.
The first time I stepped foot into this home was in 2008. Jim, forever the host, was having his first house party. He smoked a whole pig, daytime turned into nighttime, and I probably left early because I was still in grad school. The details are fuzzy, but I can bet my now husband, Michael, woke up with a headache and an eau de bourbon and pork…
Site Plan
Basement
For the basement, Jim wanted to utilize design elements from his favorite place, Japan. Characterized by simplicity, harmony, and a deep appreciation for nature, the elements used also facilitated the practical programmatic needs for the wine storage, full bathroom, and prep kitchen, with a focus on minimalist details and materiality.
MINIMALIST DETAILS
Wall paneling is used to conceal multiple programmatic elements. The entry to the bathroom and wine cellar, the kitchen, and additional storage are all integrated into the wall system.
MATERIALITY
The design follows a traditional Japanese approach by implementing natural materials: Plaster, Oak, Concrete, and Brass. The juxtaposition of this limited palate further emphasizes their materiality, enhancing the contrast between rough and smooth, translucent and opaque.
Design Process
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Several targeted updates elevated the home’s exterior, with small, deliberate details working together to create the “grown-up, forever home” Catherine envisioned.
A Pennsylvania bluestone veneer grounds the three-story façade, giving the house a weighted base. Carefully detailed window and door conditions reinforce the impression that stone is the primary wall material. Existing wood porches were replaced with bluestone slabs, and new retaining walls extend the material throughout the site.
In the family room, expansive windows allow the space to function as a sunroom, offering sweeping 180-degree views of the property. An overhanging roof moderates late afternoon sun, while the upper level—clad in lap siding and set back from below—adds variation to the façade and enriches the experience of the interior spaces.
Exterior
Trim Details
By referencing historical precedents, carefully designed wall paneling elevates the formality of the existing living room. The introduction of new trim throughout the house ties the new construction to the old.