Historic Attic Office and Retreat

More room to work while preserving the character of the home

Coppola Brothers converted the attic of a century-old home into a private office and retreat, carrying the home’s architectural character up through the staircase. The owner gained a place for focused work and relaxation, with custom details shaped around the constraints of the roof.

The scope

A staircase that feels original. We refinished the stair components, commissioned a handmade newel post to match the original below, and installed a custom bound runner with traditionally detailed attachment.
Privacy within a generous opening. Custom sliding double doors and their tracks were carefully sized to make the opening as large as the roofline allowed, giving the owner a room that could close off without feeling confined.
Structural work behind the finished space. A steel member was craned into place to support the ridge above, and new windows were sized for the attic.
Comfort and finishes considered together. Heated bathroom floors, coordinated white trim and gray-stained doors, matching shelving, and a television that displays artwork supported the room’s use as both an office and a retreat.

The finished upper floor connects naturally with the rooms below while giving the homeowner a dedicated space of his own.

Location: Lambertville, New Jersey
Completed: 2024

Meaning in the details

A place, thoughtfully made.

Look closer at the choices
that shaped the finished space.

Restored staircase with a patterned runner, white newel posts, and a dark wood handrail

The staircase

A staircase that feels original.

We refinished the stair components, commissioned a handmade newel post to match the original below, and installed a custom bound runner with traditionally detailed attachment.

Craft beyond the surface

Behind the
finished space.

The finished upper floor connects naturally with the rooms below while giving the homeowner a dedicated space of his own.

A staircase that feels original.

We refinished the stair components, commissioned a handmade newel post to match the original below, and installed a custom bound runner with traditionally detailed attachment.

Privacy within a generous opening.

Custom sliding double doors and their tracks were carefully sized to make the opening as large as the roofline allowed, giving the owner a room that could close off without feeling confined.

Structural work behind the finished space.

A steel member was craned into place to support the ridge above, and new windows were sized for the attic.

Comfort and finishes considered together.

Heated bathroom floors, coordinated white trim and gray-stained doors, matching shelving, and a television that displays artwork supported the room’s use as both an office and a retreat.

The completed project