Cambridge House

Cambridge House

This contemporary addition to a classic house gave the client the best of both worlds, combining the character of the historic front with a spacious modern and light filled wing. The front of the house had been modified numerous times and little original material remained, but that was used as the inspiration in the recreation of an historically appropriate interior for the older portion of the house. In the rear, the old wing was removed and replaced with a new contemporary design, with a large double height family room at the center, overlooking a large terrace and the yard beyond. Fixed louvers are precisely designed to calibrate the amount of light in the south facing living area, limiting heat gain and creating dramatic shadows against the slate fireplace wall. The new kitchen is anchored by a 9 foot custom range, with cabinetry in custom flame walnut veneer, and the balcony above is lined with glass display cabinets, with a glass, bronze and walnut handrail. Inside the slate tower is a new open tread walnut stair illuminated by a large skylight and flanked by a burled walnut paneled wall with concealed doors. In the Master Wing, a ground floor in-law suite abuts a small sitting room, and the entire second floor is given over to the Master Suite, with the bedroom cantilevered over the garden, a skylight bathroom, generous walk in closets, and a Japanese bath and tatami suite beyond. The basement holds a large game room, movie room, gym and spa, walk in wine cellar, laundry, and substantial storage, as well as a three car garage. On the exterior, the ship lap siding of the old house is echoed in copper cladding, while the slate sculpings on the center stair tower echo the slate of the historic roof.
Catherine Truman was the Lead Designer for this project while at Ann Beha Architects.
Photos by Eric Roth, Peter Van Der Warker, James Smith, and courtesy of Maggie Gold Selig