Status: Completed Spring 2003.

The Admiral Converse house, an elegant brick Federal residence on Main Street in Norwich Vermont, captured the imagination of a family with young children relocating to the US from London. The historic structure, largely intact with the exception of vintage1950’s bathroom suites & kitchen, had wonderful bones, curious details, and a magical garden.

The gracious original rooms were brought back to life with vibrant Georgian colors, bookcases and windowseats. The low-ceilinged dining room with beehive fireplace was dramatically altered with tinted plaster and the insertion of a contemporary stair with steel & cable railings, a precursor to the sleek modern kitchen/family room addition in a barn-like form extending out into the garden.

The soaring volume of the new “barn” is wrapped with a book-lined balcony and loft. A bright blue diner banquette and multicolored chandelier bring playful elements to the spare maple kitchen. A funky ships’ ladder, submarine-style bulkhead door, and yacht-inspired bathroom, are among the nautical details inspired by the original seafaring owner.

General Contractor: Karl Johnston High Caliber Buildings, Strafford, VT Interiors: DPF Design, White River Junction, VT

Photos by Rob Karosis