“Walwood,” originally built in 1905, is a brick Georgian residence designed by Newark-based architect A. Wallace Brown as a seasonal retreat from his primary home. Recently purchased by a young family, the house required a sensitive renovation to update the dated second- and third-floor layouts and better accommodate their needs and lifestyle. Interventions on the ground floor were minimal, limited to new trim and finishes within the existing living room.

In collaboration with Birgitte Pearce Design, the upper floors were reconfigured to include two en-suite bedrooms, a children’s playroom, and a complete redesign of the primary bedroom suite. An awkward hall connecting the rear stair to the third floor was reworked to create clearer, more efficient circulation. The primary suite was designed with an emphasis on symmetry and order, and its new bathroom features a large shower, a separate water closet, and a custom double vanity with fixtures and fittings by Drummonds Bathrooms.

On the third floor, the existing guest room was modified to incorporate closet storage, with custom-built-in bookcases set into the knee walls. A new study was introduced, defined by a custom bronze-and-glass partition that borrows light from the adjacent hall while maintaining privacy. Custom millwork, including a credenza and additional built-in shelving, anchors the space.

• Interior Design: Birgitte Pearce Design
• General Contractor: Orchard Hills Construction
• Photographer: Mike Van Tassell