It does require some scrutiny to discover how a house of demure dimensions came to possess such an expansive demeanor. Architect Benjamin Calvan did not knock down walls or raise the roof beams. He did not paint everything a space expanding white, punctuate ceilings skylights, scale back furniture, line walls with mirrors, or pare down on possessions. Instead, in defiance of conventional wisdom, he reshaped rooms with bold blocks of color, prominent pattern, layered on texture, and towering built-ins. In effect Benjamin enlarged his cottage without remodeling it at all. Except for five new sets of French doors, he made few structural changes.

Room view extension

A door between the bedroom and hallway was removed and the wallpaper extended the length of the corridor to give the small room the character of a master suite. 

Color effects

Layers of paint were striped from the mantel to restore the fireplace's focal point status. A large-scale painting fills the often awkward void between mantel and ceiling.

French Doors and daylight

Replacing a small window with French doors, brought daylight and verdant views into the bedroom's realm. The 50's lamp/table, a flea-market find, puts a collection of Italian pottery from the same period on a pedestal.

New windows and French doors help transform an old garage into a light, airy office, just steps from the house.