Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1325707
6 WINTER 2021 Nancy E. Berry, Editor P.S. The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art New England is calling for entries for the 2021 Bulfinch Awards. Visit classicist-ne.org for details on how you can enter. I F THERE IS ONE THING THAT I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND during the pandemic, it is how much I value my home—which brings me comfort and, well, joy. I love my early Queen Ann, with all of its original two-over- two windows, moldings, and plaster walls. However, spending so much time at home, I have realized there are a few things that I would like to upgrade. I'm dreaming of adding a walk-in steam shower to supplement my original claw-foot tub, integrating a surround-sound system, and replacing my old Shabby Chic sofa with something more sophisticated. I'd also like to brighten up more of the darker rooms in the house with lighter paint colors. (I did paint my bathroom a powder room pink, which I simply adore.) And it appears that the rest of the North Shore, as well as the whole nation, has also taken stock of their homes and how updates can bring them more comfort and joy. Home improvement projects have skyrocketed. In fact, Home Depot's sales increased by 25 percent in June 2020 over the previous year. Homeowners have analyzed every detail of their living spaces during the pandemic—from kitchen fixtures to paint colors to how each room functions. According to the Wall Street Journal, Houzz has seen a 58 percent surge in the demand for home renovation and design professionals. Updating backyards with pools, outdoor kitchens, and sports courts has also increased across the country and in our neck of the woods. In this issue, we take a look at some major renovation and design projects across the North Shore that have transformed houses into places of comfort and joy. Interior designer Meghan Shadrick collaborates with architect David Whitney to renovate a 1909 Colonial. To modernize the first-floor layout, the architect added 12 feet to the back of the house. This extra square footage created room for both an island and a breakfast nook. The furnishings, fabrics, and walls are kept in a palette of greens, blues, and earthy oranges, allowing the homeowners' art collections and pottery to stand out. Howell Custom Building Group updates a 1950s split- level in Andover, including opening up first-floor spaces to create one large room that flows from the kitchen to the adjoining dining and sitting areas. Skylights bring in added natural light, brightening the interior spaces. And MMO Designs teams up with Windhill Builders to renovate an early-1900s summer house in Marblehead, updating it for year-round living. Architect/designer Mary Michael O'Hare has transformed the interior through many restrained moves, including reworking interior walls, replacing dark paneling, and expanding windows, and landscape designer Matthew Ulrich has created exterior spaces on the 5-acre property that extend the options for gathering with family and friends. It's a true masterpiece of teamwork. We hope you find inspiration in this issue as you contemplate updating your own home to bring you more of the comfort and joy we all cherish right now. Cheers, COMFORT AND JOY nshoremag.com/nshorehome/ from the editor // W I NTE R 2 0 2 1 P H O T O G R A P H B Y M I C H A E L J . L E E 82 Meghan Shadrick brings joy to her client's home with a vibrant floral print drapery.