Here is a shot of a completed historic home remodeling on Union Street in Northfield.

The project consisted of a complete exterior make-over and a small, two-story addition (single-gable portion on the right) that provided significant value to both the interior flow and exterior look of the home. For a sense of what existed before our work, see the before photo. I hope you’ll agree that we’ve added some richness, similar to other historic homes in Northfield.

Careful listening, collaborative design, and sensitive detailing allowed us to make a marked improvement to this home while respecting both the budget and the homeowners’ desire to do the work themselves.

This is what we call a “surgical” addition to a house: a small addition with big results for functionality and aesthetics.

Although the house is not on the National Register of Historic Places, it is an older home that still has a lot of character. We worked hard in design to support and enhance that character with the new addition, despite limited lot space. How? Through careful attention to proportions and details and through listening to and echoing the existing architectural language of the home.

What doesn’t meet the casual eye are other issues important to the owner that the plan addresses, such as natural ventilation, energy efficiency, appropriate openness to the neighborhood, handicap accessibility, space utilization, and keeping the addition small.

We are pleased with the initial response of passers-by and the neighbors: The Owner already reports unsolicited comments about how well the addition blends in with the existing house in Northfield; it’s not even sided yet!

Mueller Dahl Remodeling is building the addition.