The Harrington Home

A couple years ago, Kevin and Lisa Harrington faced a decision: Fix everything they didn't like about their Arlington home or start searching for someplace new to live. Their list of complaints was long, from poor flow in the kitchen to a sloping floor to bathroom pipes that froze every winter. On the recommendation of neighbors Terry and Steve Goodwin (who we profiled in our fall 2005 newsletter), the Harringtons contacted Custom to see if we could help out.

After several rounds of discussions, we came back with a solution that pleased Kevin and Lisa. It took the form of a kitchen/family room addition, kitchen renovation and outdoor deck.

"This work allowed us to stay in our home. I'm so glad we didn't have to move," said Lisa.

A Wonderful Setup for Entertaining

The Harringtons love hosting friends and family, but the former layout of their house made that difficult. So opening up the kitchen, dining room and family room along with updating the kitchen were their key goals.

Following our initial conversations, we proposed making some changes that would improve the flow throughout the first floor without expanding the footprint. But Kevin and Lisa came to realize that they also wanted more overall space. That's when the thinking shifted to doing a bumpout.

The addition extends out from the rear of the property. The size of the lot limited how far back we could go, but the bumpout has made a major difference in terms of flow. It has also created space underneath the house that the Harringtons have turned into a shaded patio.

"We had the option to enclose underneath the addition and make it a storage area, but we decided to keep it open," said Kevin. "That's opened up outdoor space that we can use six months out of the year."

The improved layout, meanwhile, lets Lisa stay involved in the party conversation while she's busy in the kitchen. "It's a wonderful setup for entertaining - I can cook and still be part of the festivities," she said.

Blending Old & New

Kevin and Lisa praised Custom for our ability to bring their rough ideas to life and to offer practical solutions that fit their budget. They also liked the work we did blending in things like crown molding, window trim and cabinets with the home's classic look. "Everything feels new to us, yet fits in with the rest of the house," said Lisa.

The Harringtons enjoyed working with Custom, from president Bill Farnsworth ("so professional and approachable," said Lisa) to lead carpenter Bryan Lamoureux ("very knowledgeable and experienced," said Kevin). In fact, they've already started to spread the word.

"We've been satisfied to the point where our friend in Wellesley hired Custom solely on our recommendation," said Kevin. "We enjoy our house so much more now. It was 100% money well-spent."