Blackdog Builders gave a second life to this kitchen in this 1970s home. Located in Hollis, New Hampshire, the original layout felt undersized, lacked natural light and failed to make the most of the peaceful, tree-lined views beyond the windows. The goal was not to overhaul the house, but to create a space that felt intentional, functional and in harmony with the setting, while working within the constraints of the existing structure.
Rather than building outward to disrupt the home’s clean lines, the solution came from rethinking what already existed; an underutilized covered patio beneath the home’s cantilevered second floor became an opportunity for the design/build team to expand the kitchen footprint without altering the home’s overall massing. By enclosing this space and folding it into the kitchen, the design team significantly improved functionality while maintaining architectural integrity.
According to the builders, working within the home’s existing structure required careful planning, particularly around elements like a steel beam and structural columns. Rather than treating these as obstacles, the design embraced them as defining features that helped shape the final layout.
Photo Credit: Blackdog Builders
