Ridgewood Colonial Revival Renovation: Historic Charm Meets Modern Living

Ridgewood Colonial Revival: Blending Historic Character with Modern Living

When homeowners Peter Field and Kay Bhothinard first discovered their 1930s Colonial Revival home on one of Ridgewood’s most desirable streets, they recognized it as a terrific find—but one that would require significant work to meet their modern living needs. Situated near their daughter’s school and featuring 1,700 square feet of living space with a deep backyard that immediately captured their hearts, the house offered excellent bones but needed substantial updates. After living in the home for five years, Peter and Kay knew it was time to transform their vision into reality. They enlisted the expertise of architect Jeff Jordan and builder Zack Dettmore to tackle the renovation, which became part of This Old House’s 46th television season.

Defining the Renovation Goals

Before breaking ground, Peter and Kay established two primary renovation goals that would guide every design decision. Their first priority was to expand the visual connection between the interior living spaces and the outdoors, making the backyard the focal point for virtually every room in the home. This vision reflected their genuine love for the property’s outdoor spaces and their desire to maximize natural light throughout the house.

Kay’s second major concern centered on the kitchen, which she described as dark and tight. The original kitchen layout felt cramped and uninviting, lacking the hospitality and functionality a modern family requires. Rather than pursuing a completely open floor plan, they wanted a more thoughtful layout that maintained some separation while improving traffic flow and usability. These goals would become the driving force behind architect Jeff Jordan’s innovative design approach.

The Design Philosophy: Honoring the Past While Embracing the Future

Architect Jeff Jordan crafted a design strategy that perfectly encapsulated the project’s philosophy: maintaining the home’s historic character on the front facade while introducing modern aesthetics at the rear. “In front, we are keeping the size and scale intact, but in the rear, we have large windows creating a modern aesthetic while taking advantage of the southern exposure and views to the backyard,” Jeff explained. This approach ensured the home would continue to fit seamlessly into its historic neighborhood while providing the contemporary comfort and functionality the homeowners desired.

The Two-Story Rear Addition

The cornerstone of this renovation is a two-story, 500-square-foot rear addition that serves as the primary agent of change. This modest yet impactful expansion adds the necessary square footage without overwhelming the original structure. Notably, the addition remains completely invisible from the front of the house, preserving the home’s street-facing Colonial Revival appearance.

The first floor of the addition houses the completely reimagined kitchen, while the second floor contains a serene primary bedroom suite. Both floors feature five-foot-high wraparound windows facing the backyard, creating an unobstructed connection to the outdoors and maximizing natural light throughout the new spaces. These wraparound windows are a defining architectural feature, with four 5-foot-high windows in both the kitchen and primary bedroom, two of which meet at the corner to create a spectacular wraparound effect.

Interior Layout Enhancements

Beyond the addition itself, Jeff’s design refined the existing home’s layout through strategic modifications. A new hallway connects the dining room to the kitchen, creating better traffic flow and visual coherence. Along this hallway, a full bathroom and pantry provide essential functionality. The three existing second-floor bedrooms remain largely unchanged, preserving the home’s original character while the addition’s square footage also allows for an expansion of the existing second-floor full bathroom.

Window Upgrades and Exterior Aesthetics

To achieve the updated aesthetic Peter and Kay envisioned, architect Jeff specified new casement windows for the entire house. This window style replacement represents a significant visual upgrade from the original double-hung models. Casement windows provide a more contemporary appearance while offering superior thermal performance due to their tight-sealing design.

The exterior materials were carefully selected to create visual harmony between old and new. Gray fiber cement clapboards cover the main house, while fiber cement shake siding adorns the addition. The casement windows feature dark trim that coordinates with these materials. New side and rear entries are defined by accent walls crafted from natural-look composite oak, creating visual interest while maintaining the home’s overall character.

This Old House host Kevin O’Connor praised the thoughtful exterior approach: “What I love about this project is that the house is getting just enough modern flair on the front from the casement windows to make you notice something has changed, but it will still sit well on the street as a Colonial Revival.”

Engineering Solutions for Maximum Glass Exposure

Builder Zack Dettmore faced unique structural challenges when incorporating so much glazing into the rear addition. The extensive glass area significantly reduces the racking resistance of the building structure. To address this engineering concern, Zack implemented specialized framing techniques and structural reinforcements that allow the large wraparound windows to exist safely while maintaining the addition’s structural integrity and weathertightness.

The New Kitchen: A Gathering Space

The original kitchen, with its single countertop near the sink and barely enough room for a small table and three chairs, has been completely transformed. The new kitchen, measuring 16 by 14 feet, offers one-and-a-half times the square footage of the original. It features countertops lining two walls and a banquette positioned along the wraparound windows with views of the backyard.

This new kitchen layout provides multiple work zones and gathering spaces, addressing Kay’s desire for a more hospitable environment. The bright, airy space with its abundant natural light from the wraparound windows has become the heart of the home, fulfilling the homeowners’ vision of a kitchen that encourages family connection and entertaining.

The Primary Bedroom Retreat

The second floor of the addition houses a Zen-like master bedroom that provides a soothing haven from daily life. The space features a vaulted ceiling with collar ties wrapped in red oak, creating a minimalist aesthetic with warm wood tones. The wraparound windows emphasize the connection to the backyard beyond, allowing the homeowners to enjoy nature’s views from their private retreat.

The primary bathroom features thoughtful luxury touches including a soaking tub positioned beneath a skylight and double vanities for convenience. Working within budget constraints, the homeowners chose to include only one full bathroom on the second floor, but ensured every detail reflected their design vision. The bathroom door connecting to the master bedroom became a craftsmanship showcase, with Zack’s team creating a wall of red oak that incorporates the door with concealed hinges, maintaining the minimalist theme throughout.

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva added a final artisanal touch by hand-turning a red oak doorknob on his lathe, demonstrating the care and attention applied throughout the project.

Modern Systems for Comfort and Efficiency

Beyond aesthetic improvements, the renovation prioritized comfort and energy efficiency through comprehensive system upgrades. The original double-hung windows throughout the house were replaced with casement-style windows, which provide superior thermal performance and the desired modern appearance.

The most significant upgrade involved replacing the failed boiler, leaking radiators, and window AC units with an entirely new HVAC system. A gas-fired combi boiler now supplies hot water for all faucets, provides hot water for a radiant heating system beneath the kitchen floor, and delivers both heating and air conditioning through an efficient miniduct system. This integrated approach ensures consistent comfort throughout the home.

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey noted the exceptional results: “Of all the projects we’ve done, this one benefited most from the miniduct system.”

Preserving Historic Details

Throughout the renovation process, Peter and Kay remained committed to honoring the home’s original character and preserving historic details. They carefully removed an original stained-glass window from the dining room and stored it safely during construction, planning to reincorporate it thoughtfully into the redesigned space. Most of the home’s original oak flooring has been preserved in place, and the living room’s fireplace remains intact, serving as a reminder of the home’s heritage.

“We like the idea of honoring the original house,” says Kay, reflecting this philosophy. This balanced approach—respecting the past while embracing the present—defines the entire project.

Connecting Indoor and Outdoor Living

The renovation extended beyond the home’s interior to create compelling outdoor living spaces that Peter and Kay had envisioned. A large new patio was constructed in the area where the addition meets the original house, instantly establishing a strong indoor-outdoor connection. This patio easily accommodates an oblong dining table that seats eight, transforming the backyard into an extension of the living space.

Additional outdoor amenities include a seating area surrounding a freestanding firepit, providing a cozy gathering spot for cooler evenings. The homeowners also added a water feature, collaborating with This Old House mason Mark McCullough and incorporating input from Peter’s daughter, Genevieve, to create a landscape element that brings movement and sound to the outdoor space.

This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada highlighted the importance of this outdoor expansion: “Outdoor rooms are so important to a house and here they had enough space to do them well.”

The Transformation Process

Once framing of the new addition was completed, Peter and Kay began to tangibly experience their renovation. “When we first walked through the framed addition, it was wonderful to feel the use of space come alive, after so long of just trying to envision through drawings and renderings,” Peter reflected. Walking through the skeletal structure, they gained confidence that Jeff’s design would seamlessly transition from the old house to the new addition, creating unified visual and functional flow.

After a nine-month renovation period, the couple moved back into their transformed home and immediately began reveling in the results. “It was so worth the wait,” Kay enthused. Peter added, “The house respects the neighborhood but also reflects us—which is just what we wanted.”

Key Project Statistics

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the primary goal of this renovation?

A: The homeowners wanted to expand views of the outdoors, making the backyard a focal point for every room, and to create a brighter, more functional kitchen with better gathering spaces.

Q: How much square footage was added to the home?

A: A two-story, 500-square-foot rear addition was constructed, increasing the home’s total living space while remaining invisible from the street.

Q: What makes the wraparound windows special in this project?

A: The five-foot-high wraparound windows on both floors face the backyard, with four windows in both the kitchen and primary bedroom. Two windows meet at the corner to create a wraparound effect with maximum outdoor views.

Q: Why were casement windows chosen over the original double-hung windows?

A: Casement windows provide superior thermal performance due to their tight-sealing design and offer a more modern aesthetic while maintaining the home’s character.

Q: What HVAC system was installed?

A: A gas-fired combi boiler system was installed, providing hot water, radiant floor heating in the kitchen, and heating and cooling through an efficient miniduct system.

Q: How was the original kitchen different from the new one?

A: The original kitchen had only one countertop near the sink and barely room for a small table with three chairs. The new kitchen measures 16 by 14 feet and features countertops lining two walls and a banquette with backyard views.

Q: Were any original home elements preserved?

A: Yes, the homeowners preserved original oak flooring, the living room fireplace, and carefully removed and stored an original stained-glass window from the dining room to reincorporate thoughtfully.

Q: What outdoor improvements were made?

A: A large new patio was added, including a dining area for eight, a seating area around a freestanding firepit, and a water feature designed with input from the homeowners’ family.