Putting themselves in the mind set of architects a century ago is how the designers of this remodel approached the challenge of adding onto a lovely Victorian cottage in Capitol Hill.

Home to a bustling real estate firm, the former residence had endured one previous addition on the rear. That addition was half demolished, and then rebuilt as part of the work.

Matching the front roof lines became the theme of this remodel. The front gable was projected all the way back over the original house and the addition, to create 900 square feet of new second floor office space under the roof. French doors open out of the second floor and overlook a lovely existing courtyard and garden.

A Bay window located on the first floor suggested the octagonal tower form at the front of the house, and since the tower penetrates the roof, it was sided with cut cedar shingles to match the original gable ends.

All the bandboard and gable trim was copied exactly so there would be a perfect blend of the old and new.

Inside, a highly detailed oak stairway tucked into a corner of the main front room provides a focal point as well as access to the new second floor offices. New moldings were cut to be precise copies of the original Victorian baseboard and casing for the new spaces, as well as to patch in areas of the old house that already had modern trim installed. The owners furnished the office with antique fixtures, an assortment of furniture and lace curtains to further the period effect of the house's Victorian roots.

The before and after photos above and below demonstrate how architects can use old ideas to create a thoroughly modern home.