Brookside Cottage

This cozy cottage was built as an ADU in North Adams, MA.  The original build date is unknown, and the unit had seen substantial wear and tear over the years.  As the project started, I discovered there was no insulation in the exterior walls, and the attic insulation was drastically inadequate.  There was also an aging oil furnace heating system that needed to be replaced.

I undertook a full renovation that included replacing the stapled acoustic tile ceiling with drywall and recessed lighting throughout.  I fully redesigned the kitchen with a more spacious layout and replaced linoleum flooring with ceramic tile.  The bathroom was fully redone with new fixtures, beautiful tiling, and the addition of a window looking to the creek at the property edge.

Attention was also given to energy efficiency with a number of design decisions.  Blown in insulation was added to the exterior walls and attic.  A rooftop solar array system was added that fully offsets energy usage for more than half of the year.  The oil furnace was replaced with a heat pump central HVAC system.

The exterior deck was rebuilt, and the front entry vestibule foundation was repaired and the walls above fully rebuilt.  The basement had asbestos floor tiles removed and remediated.

The resulting cottage feels both cozy and spacious.  What was originally dark and drafty now feels bright, inviting, and weatherized.  I also planted a number of fruit trees and bushes in the yard.  The cottage now provides an all-season, comfortable home which is energy efficient and connected to nature.