Kim Case Cheryl St. Onge

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They wanted to make sure that what first appealed to them about the home was not destroyed, and decided to work with Portsmouth architect Robert Rodier. “Our objective was to stay true to the period of the house, which dates from the 1860s,” says Emily.

“The house clearly had seen families and children grow, and parties and celebrations over the last 150-odd years.”

Because they wanted to keep the house’s historic integrity, even as it was expanded to accommodate their family-oriented and entertainment lifestyle, they enlisted an experienced builder who came to her on the strong recommendation of her architect.

Matching the new to the old was a large part of what originally interested Frank Alexandropoulos in this renovation project. “The exciting part was the challenge of keeping the continuity, particularly in the woodworking details,” says Frank, the owner of Alex Builders & Sons.

The family room boasts a cleverly constructed TV cabinet over the fireplace built by local John Lummus of Islington Mill. Lummus explains the goal was to break up the large expanse of back wall with plenty of storage.

“In the dining room, we worked hard to match the original, hand-crafted crown moldings and wainscoting. Back then they didn’t have electric plane saws!” says the craftsman with a chuckle.

As a frame-to-finish builder, Alexandropoulos came up against many projects throughout the house that needed special care to integrate the history of the home with its new life.

“We had a lot of fun with the staircases,” he said. “To match the two new ones to the old one we custom turned the newel posts and handrails. Then to match the existing rails we applied a special oxidizing finish which gives the appearance that the wood has aged about a hundred years.”

The dining room of the original house, with its wide plank pine flooring and wonderful wood molding along the high ceilings, “was obviously the scene for many happy gatherings,” notes Emily. “It is a big easy room with fabulous long windows overlooking the front yard and stately Pine Street.”

But the signature seven-foot windows needed to be replaced. “Each window was a custom replacement dropped into the original casements. They were beautiful and we didn’t want them altered,” says Frank.

A built-in custom bench greets visitors who enter from the Grove Street entrance built by Alex Builders & Sons.
The transition between the old and the new is integrated throughout the house, yet the distinctions still hold.

As one enters from the front porch, the charm of the original house is felt immediately in the detailed woodwork, seven-foot-high doors, heartwood pine floors, and architectural pediments, which all speak to the home’s early days.

The family room boasts a cleverly constructed TV cabinet over the fireplace built by local John Lummus of Islington Mill. Lummus explains the goal was to break up the large expanse of back wall with plenty of storage.

But it’s amazing what a turn of the corner can bring. Entering from the new side entrance on Grove Street, what catches the eye is completely different from the front entry; from here one immediately appreciates the modern amenities that this house has to offer.

With the addition, the floor plan of the house now allows for improved traffic flow, and from the Grove Street entrance one can see the family room, kitchen, and the gracious front entrance.

When designing the house, the couple included a below-ground garage, complete with heated drive. But no one has to climb stairs with arms laden with groceries: the covered half-circle drive, or porte cochère, which allows cars to drive directly up to the door, solves that problem.

“I have always loved the charm of a porte cochère and asked the architect to incorporate one,” says Emily. “Now that we have it, we are sure of its value. Whether friends are dropping by or dropping off children, there's always a weatherproof place to enter the house.”

Built for two, the master bath glimmers with all the extras: whirlpool tub, double sink, glass shower stall and flat panel television. Adding a splash of glamour and depth, the back wall is completely covered in one-inch multi-colored glass tiles. An elongated tapered window floods the stairwell above the family room with natural light.

In planning the new kitchen, the couple was working from a blank slate. The kitchen was designed by Linda Cloutier of Lifestyles Kitchen and Bath, and includes nearly every amenity.

A wall of north-facing windows hangs opposite the double oven, full range, and a generous pass-through to the family room for easy handing off of the late-night popcorn. And there is plenty of room for storing that popcorn—the large walk-in pantry, with shelving on three sides, is a cook’s paradise, as are the oversized island and roomy double fridge.

From the heart of the family room, one can easily move to every other portion of the house, including the upstairs, the back porch, kitchen, and library. But despite the easy flow, the room invites one to stay.

“Emily and Chris were dream clients,” says master cabinetmaker John Lummus of Islington Mill when asked about his experience working with the family.

“They knew what they wanted and were really nice throughout the time we worked there, bringing us drinks and lunch on Fridays. We all enjoyed working with them.”
The results of satisfied craftsmen are seen clearly in the family room, where Emily and Chris wanted to break up the expanse of wall around the fireplace.

Lummus accommodated with a cleverly constructed bank of cabinets that blend seamlessly into the rest of the room and hide the plasma television and other electrical accoutrements, in addition to installing the stereo speakers in the ceiling.

Upstairs, the existing rooms were transformed into inviting spaces for children and guests, and the renovation provided an opportunity for the couple to build a master bedroom suite, which includes ample closets and a luxurious bath.

But of all the aspects of the house that they truly enjoy, the location in a downtown family neighborhood in Exeter is the most valued. Says Emily, “We love the easy come and go in the neighborhood with this wonderful mix of people.”

The front of the house, as viewed from Pine Street, is the original wing, carefully updated with new windows, trim and a fresh coat of paint.