New meets old

A bold modern addition shakes up a traditional Cape in a historic Massachusetts town

- TED CUSHMAN

Every time Megan and I come here, we’re reminded that this is definitely where we want to raise our family,” says Lincoln Pasquina of the 1880s Cape Cod-style house in Concord, MA. One reason is the land: three sloping acres with a meadow and woods, bordering a horse farm with a pond. Another is the house itself, an antique Cape that reminds Lincoln of his childhood on Boston’s North Shore, and marks a return for his wife, Megan, to the town where she grew up.

But the house comes with some drawbacks, too, notably a dark, low-ceilinged first floor, an awkwardly chopped-up second floor, and a nondescript 1960s garage addition. With a 2-year old son at home and plans to grow their family, Megan and Lincoln are looking to add more space—in part because they are committed to a work-from-home lifestyle. To expand the existing house while honoring its history, they enlisted local architect Andrew Sidford to draft plans for a renovation, which will be documented as part of TOH ’s 43rd television season.

Sidford’s design includes a dramatic departure from the Cape’s traditional architecture: a modern addition, with high shed roofs and lots of glass, that offers needed extra room and broad views of the private back part of the property. “I’ve always loved modern additions on historical houses —the juxtaposition, if done right, can be so beautiful,” Megan says. “Also, while we love the coziness of the existing house, it’s very important to us to have some living space with tall ceilings and lots of light and air.”