Helios Design Group

Nov 2014

Our clients wanted a simple, open, vacation house on their spectacular site in New Hampshire. And it needed to be completed, from design through construction, in less than a year. With a large living-dining-kitchen area on top, to take advantage of the views, and kids bedrooms and playrooms tucked below, the house is a clean, crisp expression of a classic New England house form. We also designed the systems fully off-the-grid, to avoid the cost of connecting down to the bottom of the hill, and to support sustainability.

$1m

Alexandria, NH

Jun 2014

Barn like addition with board and batten exterior; mid sized transitional home-studio with polished concrete floors and jungle gym

$350k

Watertown, MA

Feb 2010

This beautiful Greek revival house had 'good bones', but was sorely in need of some loving attention, as well as some sorting out of awkward earlier additions. Our clients wanted to keep the feel of the house, remaking the kitchen, family room, master suite and bedrooms, make space for a live-in au pair, and house the cars which weren't part of the calculation in the original 19th century building. The original roof and lantern was damaged in a fire; we took the opportunity in rebuilding to relocate the lantern directly over the spiral stair, extended the stair up another story, and built out bedrooms and a bath on the attic level. On warm days the lantern and new roof deck serve as an office, with a hell of a view.

$600k

Boston, MA

Apr 2013

This kitchen was originally small, dark, and cut off from the rest of the house - not where the owner, who's a serious cook, wanted to spend time. We brought in a ton of light through the new windows at sink and stove, and rebuilt a stair to connect to the second floor. Though the palette is grey on grey, it feels warm and light; an old mudroom in one corner became part of the kitchen allowing room for a custom-built table for prep and companions. The smallest bedroom in the house became a bathroom with a steam shower; the ornamental dog belongs to Milton Trimitsis, contractor for the project.

Boston, MA

Jan 2009

The developer of these homes in downtown Edgartown looked for both market rate and affordable buildings to blend well with the classically inspired existing houses in the area. We designed them with the painted clapboard and heavy detailing of Cape Greek Revival and Colonial. We kept the buildings low by tucking some bedrooms under the eaves, and stayed with traditional detailing throughout the interiors.

Edgartown, MA

Jan 2008

The owners of this 18th century house, with 19th and 20th century additions, asked for a new kitchen and family room, and new master bedroom suite above. Their real desire in that lovely spot was to make the house work for the way they live - connected to the outdoors both visually and practically. We balanced the requirements of the local Historical Commission with their modernist sensibilities - including rosewood and mosaic for the bath, and floor-to-ceiling windows capturing a view of conservation land behind the house.

Lincoln, MA

May 2014

Our client for this whole house reconstruction was one of the most hands on clients we've ever worked with. The project consisted of reconstruction of a 19th century Brookline house. The cross-gambrel roof was entirely reconstructed from the floor line, steeper than the original, and houses an airy master bedroom suite.

Brookline, MA