How do you turn a summer getaway into a year-round home? For Astrid Insieme, an interior decorator, and her husband, Brian, it meant adding more space — over two-and-a-half times more to be exact. The A-frame home in rural New Hampshire that they share with 15-year-old daughter started out as a tiny, ramshackle cottage measuring 800-square feet. Its transformation has happened over time, starting with major interior and exterior renovations — it was previously uninsulated and the grounds had a tendency to flood — and more recently, an new extension, which is nearly complete. When the couple puts the finishing touches on the addition, the home will be a comfortable (and insulated) 2,100 square feet.
But even though they've increased the square footage, the charming coziness of the original A-frame home remains intact. The compact kitchen packs plenty of storage into a small space and bright white paint and colorful textiles make the living room, with its sloped walls, feel open and airy. "I really wanted our home to feel like a worldly retreat, especially because we live in such a quiet and remote area," says Astrid. "It was my (intentional) way of feeling connected to the vastness of the outside world." Thanks to their thoughtful renovations, the couple has created a year-round home that still feels like an escape.
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