Thrall Residence

Location: Raleigh, NC

Completed: 2009

Square footage: 1,535 (heated), 380 (exterior)

A major renovation and modest addition transformed the Thrall home from a series of dark, small rooms to spacious rooms with generous natural light. The added space had to negotiate restrictive, tight watershed and property setbacks. The total footprint had to remain small.

Now a new front porch welcomes visitors and owners to an open plan living area. The window-less south wall of the existing house has been removed to accommodate a new kitchen/pantry area and a south wall with large windows that bring light to the kitchen and living area throughout the day. More windows on the west (shaded by trees from a beautiful wooded landscape) and east elevations balance the south light and connect the room to the outdoor area. The light and views create the illusion of a wider, larger space and enhance the drama of the existing soaring ceiling. A bedroom on each floor is designed with spacious closets and bathrooms so that either one could be used as a master bedroom.

The owner wanted to update the existing home, improve the kitchen and bathrooms, gain more storage and create a greater sense of openness. After a few months of living in what feels like a new house the owner reports, “I love my new house … it is everything I hoped for.”