PROSPECT HEIGHTS LIMESTONE
The clients’ vision for this project was to transform a long-abandoned townhouse in the landmarked Prospect Heights neighborhood into a financially sustainable and light-filled home for their young family. When purchased, the building’s structure was compromised, and all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems required full replacement. While the initial assumption was that the existing structure would need to be enlarged to meet their programmatic needs, Horrigan O'Malley proposed a more efficient reconfiguration of the interior that provided ample space without altering the historic footprint.
A key component of the design was the integration of a fully renovated garden-level tenant apartment, which helped meet the family's financial sustainability goals. This apartment was connected to a shared vestibule and included an owner's powder room and direct private access to the basement level, maintaining a sense of privacy and separation from the upper floors.
Throughout the home, historic details were carefully restored or thoughtfully recreated, and paired with clean modern elements that support a relaxed, contemporary lifestyle. The design emphasized openness and natural light: the original staircase was maintained as an open vertical connection, and two new skylights along with a solar tube were introduced to bring daylight deep into the core of the house—including into the master bathroom on the second floor.
At the rear of the home, generous windows and doors maximize garden views and natural illumination. The kitchen's rear wall was replaced with a combination of broad steel French doors—both double and single—which open onto a newly constructed parlor floor deck with stairs leading down to a lush garden. This connection between indoor and outdoor space enhances the sense of openness and livability.
Minimalist cabinetry and a palette of bright colors were used throughout to highlight the restored natural wood moldings, creating a calm, balanced contrast between historic character and modern simplicity. The result is a home that feels both timeless and tailored, achieving the clients’ goals without sacrificing the building's architectural integrity.
A key component of the design was the integration of a fully renovated garden-level tenant apartment, which helped meet the family's financial sustainability goals. This apartment was connected to a shared vestibule and included an owner's powder room and direct private access to the basement level, maintaining a sense of privacy and separation from the upper floors.
Throughout the home, historic details were carefully restored or thoughtfully recreated, and paired with clean modern elements that support a relaxed, contemporary lifestyle. The design emphasized openness and natural light: the original staircase was maintained as an open vertical connection, and two new skylights along with a solar tube were introduced to bring daylight deep into the core of the house—including into the master bathroom on the second floor.
At the rear of the home, generous windows and doors maximize garden views and natural illumination. The kitchen's rear wall was replaced with a combination of broad steel French doors—both double and single—which open onto a newly constructed parlor floor deck with stairs leading down to a lush garden. This connection between indoor and outdoor space enhances the sense of openness and livability.
Minimalist cabinetry and a palette of bright colors were used throughout to highlight the restored natural wood moldings, creating a calm, balanced contrast between historic character and modern simplicity. The result is a home that feels both timeless and tailored, achieving the clients’ goals without sacrificing the building's architectural integrity.