The “Frankenstein” Fear:
We hear it from almost every client who owns a pre-1900s home: “We need more space, but we don’t want it to look like a spaceship landed on our vintage farmhouse.”
It is a valid fear. Drive through any New England town, and you will see them—historic homes with clunky, boxy additions that ignore rooflines and scale. These “Frankenstein” renovations solve the space problem but destroy the property’s character (and resale value).
For our recent Project Sixty Two, an 1870s farmhouse in East Greenwich, the challenge was significant. The homeowners needed a modern two-car garage, a primary suite, and a fourth bedroom. Adding this much mass to a modest 19th-century structure is an architectural high-wire act.
The Solution: The “Connector” Strategy
To add substantial square footage without overwhelming the original structure, we utilized a “mudroom connector.”
Instead of attaching the new addition directly against the main house, we built a smaller, recessed connecting structure (the mudroom) that links the old house to the new wing. This visual break tells the eye where the historic house ends and the addition begins, reducing the perceived scale of the new build.
Inside, this connector serves a vital function, bridging the gap between the 1870s living spaces and the new modern amenities.
Hiding Modern Luxury in Plain Sight
The new wing houses a spacious two-car garage with a luxurious primary suite above it. By carefully matching the roof pitch, eave details, and siding reveal to the original 1870s specifications, the addition appears to have been built alongside the original house.
We also revitalized the exterior porches and created a pergola-covered terrace that flows into the garden, further softening the transition between old and new.
The Bonus: A Backyard Studio
Modern living often requires separation. Beyond the main addition, we transformed a 430-square-foot outbuilding into a versatile studio workspace. This creates a dedicated “work from home” zone that is physically separate from the main residence—a feature that has become a top priority for high-end buyers in East Greenwich.
See the completed historic home addition in East Greenwich to view how we integrated a garage and primary suite that looks entirely original.