The word “renovation” often suggests sweeping changes that strip a house back to its bones. But that doesn’t always have to be the case.
Like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, a nondescript 1990s stucco house in Rye, New Hampshire, was reimagined into a shingle-style beauty—without ever being taken down to the studs.
“A lot of times people think you need dramatic changes to make an impact,” says Alexander Muentener, project manager at Maugel DeStefano Architects. “Our job is to refine and edit to find what’s most important.”
For the owners, who saw the 2,700-square-foot, three-bedroom house as their forever home, the goals were clear: updating the exterior, enlarging the primary suite, replacing the kitchen, and bringing in more natural light inside, all without altering the home’s essential character.
Working alongside Muentener, Custom Residential Studio lead architect Britni Rotunda drew inspiration from the neighboring homes and the character of the seacoast.
“The challenge,” Rotunda says, “was to work within the existing site and footprint while still honoring the owners’ expansive vision.”
The views from the site informed some of the design direction. The house overlooks the Piscataqua River from the front and back, while the front also offers glimpses of a golf course.
A new deck tucked off the kitchen offers a perfect spot to unwind. Details like the fire pit and outdoor kitchen thoughtfully extend the living spaces. To maximize the views and brighten the interiors, the team replaced windows and added bifold doors, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.
CM Ragusa Builders stripped the house down to its existing sheathing, replacing the dated stucco and finishes with classic cedar shingles, a treatment that Chris Ragusa, owner of the building company, notes is low maintenance.
The exterior was refreshed with new doors and windows. Thoughtful architectural refinements—including new gables, bracketed awnings with metal roofs, vintage-style garage doors, and a petite front portico—transformed the exterior with a timeless, historically rooted character, all without enlarging the footprint.
The team brought these designs to life with high-end materials and meticulous craftsmanship. Fieldstone-clad chimneys now anchor the home, further grounding it in its new-old style.
Inside, thoughtful reconfiguration opened up the floor plan. The kitchen, anchored by a central island and white cabinetry, flows into a family room with a classically styled fireplace. A pale blue subway tile backsplash lends a subtle touch of color, while a breakfast nook with window seats creates a cozy corner. New hardwood floors throughout the home bring comfort and warmth.
“The kitchen–living room combo really knocks it out of the park,” Ragusa says.
The living room, brightened with new windows and lighter finishes, benefits from bifold doors that open onto a new front patio, enhancing connection to the yard. Upstairs, the primary suite gained a larger bath with a walk-in shower, a double vanity, and a makeup counter, while tucked-away eaves cleverly became storage.
Throughout, the updates strike a balance between traditional and transitional. “The owners didn’t want trendy,” says Muentener. “They wanted timeless, because this is their forever home.” In the end, the once-ordinary house now feels as though it has always belonged in its neighborhood—exactly the goal the team and homeowners set out to achieve.
Kitchen and Bath Design by Jodi Gould Designs