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Thankful for these amazing clients, both of whom l Thankful for these amazing clients, both of whom let us back into their homes yesterday, amidst busy Thanksgiving preparations, so that we could tour our current clients through.
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It’s not lost on us how fortunate we are to work with great people, and seeing them settled into their homes as they get ready to host family & friends, makes the effort worth it.
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Both of these spaces pictured are kitchens within full-house remodels. Walking through each house, looking at the thousands of decisions and details and seeing how everything is holding up, we are also reminded of how lucky we are for the incredible subcontractors and trade partners we get to work with…. From @mjackelectric to @oblenesplumbing and @favoretohome @fields_plastering_ @newengland.tile @flex @downeastlandscape @jasonsimonetty and @millwork_masters @yaleappliance and @metcabinet who fabricated the cabinets and stonework on both of these projects.
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Lastly, thanks to our team here at @shake.ac who continues to show up and help us design and build these projects- and this company.
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Architecture : Construction : Interior Design by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
This headboard wall was intended as a defining, ae This headboard wall was intended as a defining, aesthetic feature of the primary suite, but it was born out of practical problem solving.
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This townhouse overhaul was incredibly ambitious in its scope, from energy goals to its structural reconfigurations, but we take pride in helping our clients strike the right balance and value. While there was plenty of masonry and demolition scope elsewhere, we decided to only remove this unused chimney down through the 3rd floor, keeping it as a presence to work around on the floors below. This decision was partly driven by cost, but we also knew that we could properly hide or incorporate it into the design.
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In order to locate the bed against that wall, we tucked shelving units on either side of the chimney and designed a headboard wall whose figure curves down on either side to capture the end tables and screen the bedside storage nooks. The wall works to center the bed in the room and to hide the slightly off-centered chimney, all without disrupting the window layout.
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Architecture : Construction : Interior Design : Millwork by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Hygge & West / Schoolhouse Electric wallpaper coll Hygge & West / Schoolhouse Electric wallpaper collaboration “Alpine Garden” sets the tone in this powder room from our Charlestown townhouse project that was featured in last year’s @bostonhomemag “Best of Boston” issue. The powder room is tucked away through an entirely reconfigured rear ell, accessed via the kitchen and pantry.
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Architecture : Construction : Interior Design : Millwork by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
This home in Charlestown was a thorough gut and adThis home in Charlestown was a thorough gut and addition, inclusive of a modern, efficient exterior building envelope. The effort poured into the performance of the home - from insulation, to air sealing and of course the all-electric mechanical systems - results in a fully modern home fit for its time. But its character holds onto and celebrates its history alongside its modern reinvention. Pictured here is the 2nd floor den where we couldn’t help but preserve and expose this vestige of its original life.
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Architecture : Construction : Interior Design : Millwork by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Framing progress up at our new build in Reading, V Framing progress up at our new build in Reading, VT. @robertsondesign & @cjmooneyy getting it done…
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Architecture : Construction by @shake.ac
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #customhomes #newconstruction #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #vermont #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Finish stretch at our South End project! Ready for Finish stretch at our South End project! Ready for final pass on paint and floors next week…
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Architecture : Construction : Interior Design : Millwork by @shake.ac
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #customhomes #newconstruction #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #vermont #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Signs of life at our Southie townhouse project as Signs of life at our Southie townhouse project as our clients and their family have started to move in! While work certainly remains on our punchlist, we’re thrilled to have our certificate of occupancy in hand and to see this vision of a city home come to life.
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We are immensely grateful to our clients, both for their trust and their patience, throughout such a significant transformation and an often unwieldy process. We really couldn’t be more thankful to have the opportunity to work on these projects and we know full well what a commitment they are.
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To all of the members of the SHAKE team - from design through construction - and to our trade partners who worked on this job with us: you should be incredibly proud of your contributions for without this collective effort there is no outcome to speak of at all.
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We’d like to thank: @oblenesplumbing @mjackelectric @favoretohome @newengland.tile @fields_plastering_ Davey Associates, Supreme HVAC, @longflexflooring , @downeastlandscape , Savini Roofing, McGuire Enterprises, Terry McLaughlin Masonry, @metcabinet , Glass Doctor, @millwork_masters , CEC land, Ronan 953, Advance Concrete Construction, Anderson Insulation, @yaleappliance , and @themarvinbrand
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Architecture : Construction : Millwork : Interior Design by @shake.ac
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Looking forward to further development of the interiors before we can get @sabrinacolequinn through for some proper photography!
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #customhomes #newconstruction #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #vermont #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
This custom vanity and medicine cabinet above, desThis custom vanity and medicine cabinet above, designed and built in-house, nestle in under the slope of the eave to make the most of the space without feeling squished as you stand at the mirror. The form and dimension of the vanity organizes and allows for movement between the separate areas for the toilet, shower and freestanding tub while maximizing an airy, open space connected to the larger bedroom.
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction : Millwork by @shake.ac
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Tile by @newengland.tile Stone by @metcabinet Plumbing by @oblenesplumbing plaster by @fields_plastering_ painting by @favoretohome electric by @mjackelectric
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #customhomes #newconstruction #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #vermont #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
1st floor system coming along at our new build up 1st floor system coming along at our new build up in Reading, VT. Touch down lightly and keep a tidy job site… not a bad spot for it!
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #customhomes #newconstruction #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #vermont #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
The bathroom of our Somerville basement overhaul, The bathroom of our Somerville basement overhaul, featured on Architectural Digest’s site @getclever earlier this year, was certainly not the focus of the larger project but it packs a lot of character into its small footprint and is emblematic of many of the complex challenges we faced here.
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Running underneath the floating vanity and the shower bench is a reinforced-concrete perimeter curb that allowed us to buttress the existing building foundation while digging down to significantly increase headlight throughout the space. In terms of utility, the concrete slab has a network of french drains beneath it leading to a sump pump and water retention system outside. In terms of comfort, the entire slab features a hydronic radiant system that keeps everything warm underfoot, including as it flows continuously into the curbless shower.
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Excited to share some renderings of a project we d Excited to share some renderings of a project we designed and are now in the process of building in Reading, Vermont.
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Situated on over 20 acres of wooded land and propped up on a knoll with beautiful mountain views, this 2400 SF home with lofty energy performance goals seeks to touch down lightly and maximize its natural setting. As SHAKE is located in Boston, this project has not been without its challenges. Communicating and visualizing the nuances of any site is critical, and it’s certainly a bit different when the project is not minutes away and already defined by a dense urban neighborhood! But we couldn’t be more grateful for the trust our clients share with us, and this experience has reminded us of how lucky we are for the partnerships we’ve made.
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The design of this building splays out in plan, keeping the volume compact on the “front” or West gable end and then expanding to accommodate the more public, double-height space on the East with its views toward the mountains. Meanwhile, the building is pushed aggressively to the Northern, wooded slope to maintain precious flat, sunny open space on the South lawn. A screen porch and outdoor fireplace anchor the West end and provide a secondary social space for chasing evening light while also serving as a key element to the “face” of the home first seen upon arrival.
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Much more to come on this! Stay tuned….
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
Renders and drawings also by @shake.ac
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #customhomes #newconstruction #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #vermont #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
The @bostonhomemag renovation feature on our Charl The @bostonhomemag renovation feature on our Charlestown townhouse in their Best of Boston Issue last year focused on the interior of the home which is how we so often see and think about urban remodeling. But in this case there was over 3800 SF of conditioned space that received all new plumbing, mechanical and electrical, multiples new staircases and structural reconfigurations, a significantly-lowered new basement slab complete with an active drainage system, and a revamp of the envelope with new continuous roof insulation and air barrier. Within this larger picture of a comprehensive project, the rear “ell” of the home was certainly a special focus.
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The ell features a new kitchen and half bath on the first floor with the bathroom and closets of the primary suite on the second. Needless to say, it was not in great shape as we started to take it apart during demo. Significant work was done to the structure and rotted foundation/sills, plus a new slab was added underneath providing clean, dry storage adjacent to the rest of the basement which became living space with the newly lowered slab. The windows and doors in the ell were not mere replacements, but part of an entirely new composition that lends a sense of purpose and intention to the volume. The importance and significance of the spaces within now read on the exterior in stark contrast to its previous state as a series of ad hoc layers on top of previous decades of remodeling adventures.
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
Progress photos by @shake.ac
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
At our townhouse project on the Flat of The Hill, At our townhouse project on the Flat of The Hill, we are taking the opportunity to completely level all floors. The original frame is robust and was in incredible shape, but we are reframing a few sections where joists were not continuous due to long-since removed secondary staircases. Really wish we could keep these double-height spaces!
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #winchester #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
5 years ago we photographed our full remodel/addit 5 years ago we photographed our full remodel/addition project in Winchester with @jane.messinger and it feels like a lot has happened since then!
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This was a very important project for us, as it marked at the time our largest and most complex project to date. We had to grapple with zoning and historical challenges, but perhaps most valuable of all was just the formal and functional design challenge it posed as a 1902 colonial marred by a fairly disastrous 2 story addition from the 80’s…. All of that while we were formalizing the early stages of SHAKE architecture : construction as a company.
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
Photography by @jane.messinger
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #winchester #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Had the pleasure of shooting one of our Charlestow Had the pleasure of shooting one of our Charlestown townhouse projects that we completed last year with the ever-talented @sabrinacolequinn and @corinnekdipietro (not pictured). They each bring so much to the critical process of capturing, memorializing and celebrating completed work… be it through the search for an angle, the adjustment to a scene, or the consistent tweaking of their own technical process.
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We also continue to be so grateful for our clients, not just for their patience and commitment to the projects themselves, but for how they welcome us back into their homes amidst busy schedules. These projects take so much from so many on our team at SHAKE and from each of the subcontractors we work with. We will be looking back on this project, as the finished photography starts to roll in, to remember where this property came from, and to hopefully shine a light on the hours and hours of work that it took to get it to where it is now.
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Featured on Architectural Digest’s site @getclev Featured on Architectural Digest’s site @getclever earlier this year, our Somerville project was the latest phase in a whole home remodel for some of our favorite people. This project had the lofty goal of creating an aery, oasis lounge in what was previously a decrepit basement with some serious water issues (see image #3 for before).
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To achieve this we designed a new insulated basement slab (complete with embedded hydronic radiant heat) that was significantly lowered for more head height while hiding beneath it a robust drainage system. The structural curb along the permitter of the space enabled this design at a fraction of the cost of having to underpin the foundation.
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Exposed-edge, Birch Ply millwork (no edge-banding or face frames in sight!), designed and built in-house, wraps the perimeter of the space, often hiding or playing off of the mass of the concrete curb. Bench/booth seating is punctuated by a central media console that defines two distinct areas within the living and entertaining space. A spare bedroom/playroom in the rear leads out to the backyard and is separated by a barn door made from pine salvaged on site. Paintings by @markus_sebastiano and SHAKE’s very own @vincent_van_beau were commissioned and created for our clients, and they mark the beginning of a collection of memories - through art, music, laughter, - that this space aims to facilitate and curate over time.
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Architecture : Interior Design : Construction by @shake.ac
Styling by @corinnekdipietro
Photography by @sabrinacolequinn
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Ribbed plaster fireplace surround coming to life a Ribbed plaster fireplace surround coming to life at our South End project. A long low bar of white oak storage drawers are being fabricated and will serve as a functional perimeter hearth element running the length of the living space.
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Stopped by Charlestown to scout photography for th Stopped by Charlestown to scout photography for this beauty with @sabrinacolequinn (swipe for a few before shots from years back). Can’t wait to capture and share this project… every inch of the interior and exterior was gutted/stripped, with two shed dormers and a two-story rear addition added. The basement was dug down, multiple bathrooms added. Staircases relocated. Structure reinforced and reconfigured.
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It was a super constricted site, and the permitting process was a challenge to say the least, but ultimately we created a home that is drastically more efficient, both in terms of its energy use as well as its added and maximized square footage. We’re certain that this project has helped strengthen Charlestown’s rich historical context while achieving a standard of density and performance that our modern cities - and our environment - demand.
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
A collection of images from the start of demolitio A collection of images from the start of demolition at two different Beacon Hill projects. It’s going to be a busy summer as we are in the teeth of the finish at our South End and Southie projects alike (with other projects in design), but these two projects are simultaneously being gutted and moving into pickup demo.
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While Beacon Hill presents a number of different challenges beyond even parking, we continue to be honored to be working on such old homes in Boston’s historic neighborhoods. It’s a wonder to take them apart, to breathe new life, energy performance and detail into them... Plus sometimes you find rad flip phones stuffed in the wall that immediately transport you back to the nineties!
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
Inspired moments of kids artwork all over the wall Inspired moments of kids artwork all over the walls before demo commenced at our Beacon Hill townhouse project!
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#architecturaldesignbuild #residentialarchitecture #designbuild #architecture #construction #remodel #contractor #architect #boston #charlestown #southie #southend #beaconhill #somerville #finehomebuilding #residentialarchitecture #customhomes #oldmeetsmodern
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