The Hive

The Hive This remodel transforms three small, crowded rooms into an expansive, open kitchen connecting directly onto a new backyard deck. The coziness of a former breakfast nook is re-created with a built-in bench with discreet storage, and a pre-existing island is re-imagined with a new marble surface and complementary marble slab installed above the counters. The new modern kitchen, combines bamboo, white, and glass cabinet materials and integrates an original Wedgewood range stove providing a spacious, open environment. Outside, the new deck design addresses a previous basement flooding problem and brings together the upper and lower floors with a floating “crow’s nest” balcony, maximizing available outdoor space for use by both couples. To avoid the need for a support post, the balcony is supported by steel beams cantilevered into the house itself. Its custom rail system is galvanized steel and stainless steel cable, leaving as much space open as possible, and a steel awning overhead protects the new door from potential rain damage. The deck itself, as well as its railings and trellis structure, are built in durable ipe, a smooth barefoot-friendly hardwood. Stairs and seating create a smooth transition from the elevated deck down into the yard, where the new owners installed flagstones and setup their own bee hives.