The owners wanted to maintain the existing scale of the house in harmony with the neighborhood, so they requested that the project not change the existing appearance of the house from the street.

The existing central stair down was retained, but its flimsy guardrail was replaced by a wall of bookshelves. New French doors allow the study to be closed off from the master bedroom if one person is working while another wishes to sleep.

The compact bathroom features a curtainless shower with two heads, a Japanese soaking tub, and a toilet with a control arm. The two sinks share a vanity cabinet, but one looks at a mirror while the other looks out a window.

This project earned a Built Green 3 Star certification for its ecological features. The old hot water heater was replaced by a gas fired tankless version that serves the whole house. The dormer addition was wrapped in an air barrier and insulated with recycled cellulose, packed dense to eliminate air infiltration. Old carpet was removed to expose the original fir flooring, which was refinished with a natural wax. Salvaged flooring from a nearby school demolition was spliced in where patching was necessary.