Home Remodeling in Arlington, MA

Arlington was largely built out in the early decades of the 20th century, when streetcar lines made it possible to live here and work in the city. The result is a dense, walkable town with small lots, mature trees and very little room to build outward.

The houses. Two-family houses are a defining part of the stock, especially in East Arlington, and many have since become condominiums. Alongside them are colonials, bungalows and four-squares from the same years. The town has seven local historic districts, including Jason/Gray, Pleasant Street and Mount Gilboa/Crescent Hill, where most exterior changes are reviewed by the Historic District Commissions.

The projects that suit them. In Arlington the answer is rarely an addition. It is a better use of the footprint that exists. Kitchens in two-family units are narrow, with a chimney, a back stair and a rear porch all competing for the same wall, and a good plan often comes from moving a doorway, not a foundation. Bathrooms are stacked one above the other, so drain and vent routes are shared between floors. Original fir and oak floors, heavy casings and built-in china cabinets are common, and worth keeping where they are sound.

How we approach it. In a condominium that was once a two-family house, we ask first what the documents say: which systems are shared, what the association must approve, and when work may take place. Our designers then draw the unit in close detail, because in a compact plan a few inches decide whether a refrigerator, a pantry or a second sink fits.

Tell us about your house. The first consultation is complimentary. Let’s Talk or call (978) 788-0050.

Our services: Kitchen Remodeling · Bathroom Remodeling · Basement Finishing · Flooring · Interior Renovation & Finish Carpentry