Historic Tavern Apartment in Essex, New York

The second phase of the Essex Stone Building restoration was remodeling the second-floor apartment. One major design/architectural problem that had to be worked out was how to access the apartment from the inside. The only stairs were on the outside of the building, which were not functional. We also needed to design stairs to access the new third-floor living space that we created.

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The design of the apartment was guided by wanting to bring back the original glory of the building while also creating a functional and beautiful space for the owner. We took out all the finishes from the old space to start with a blank template and then got to work. The heated floors and sleek kitchen and bathroom design complement the added support timbers. Many of the finishes, like the wainscotting, were created with reclaimed barn wood from a local barn that was being taken down. The new space feels twice as large and so inviting. Plus the view of Lake Champlain is truly stunning!