Amy Blackstone

Renovation on a Budget Wins National Award

When construction costs were soaring, we undertook this whole-house renovation on a budget. Although marketplace conditions forced the clients to carefully edit their wishlist, we still managed to design a renovation that retained the charm of the existing house but (in the clients’ words) was “open, comfortable, exquisite, minimal, calm, and bold.” We created a […]

From Convent to Woodmere Art Museum

A Chestnut Hill mansion gets a renewed life. Philadelphia has often been extremely hot in the summer, especially back in 1857. To escape the heat and pollution of the city, merchant William Henry Trotter built a 10,000-square-foot summer cottage on Germantown Avenue in then-rural Chestnut Hill. In 1896, the cottage was expanded significantly into a […]

Things Fall Apart

Why do we have a building code? It’s a sad fact that sometimes big things that people build do not last as long as intended. Some fail slowly over time; others catastrophically all at once. We can name notorious bridges, boats, dams, and even buildings that have met an untimely demise. Generally, communities are in […]

Vacation Home Renovation

We’re working on renovations to this charming Cape Cod cottage. Vacation home renovations can have unique requirements particular to their location and planned use.

Renovation and restoration of Electric City building

We’re collaborating with architects DXDempsey on renovation and restoration of the iconic Electric City building in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Construction Timeline – More Videos

Here’s the third post in the construction timeline of our development project in Chestnut Hill. The carpenters have been working steadily, so the house is really taking shape. In these videos you can get a sense of the work it takes to get a house built, especially when working in an already developed urban setting. […]

Framing Begins on New House

The framing has begun on our new house. Here’s the next installment of construction videos as our development project in Chestnut Hill moves along. Watch and listen as Jeff explains how it all works!

How to Update an Old House

In our practice, we’re often called on to modernize or update an old house. What does that mean, exactly, and what’s the best way to do it? Some things to consider are trends, wow-factor kitchens, technology, and overall layout.

Museum Building Gets Zoning Green Light

As the local architects for the Woodmere Art Museum’s development of the former St. Michael’s Hall in Chestnut Hill, part of our job is to navigate the path to getting zoning variances for the project. We’re happy to report the variances have been approved. Proposed Plans The four-acre property and 19th-century mansion purchased by Woodmere […]