Cape Remodel: Small Fixes, Lots More Function

The Blaneys were lucky to find just the right partner for their project in architect Darren Helgesen, who knew and appreciated Scheffer's work. "It was as important to me as it was to the clients to maintain the spirit of the house," says Helgesen.

The renovation seemed straightforward enough. The Blaneys wanted to open up and expand the first floor by taking down walls and adding on to each side, one with a dining room and a breakfast area and the other with a master suite—both opening onto the refurbished back patio. They also asked Helgesen to open up the downstairs and to add a mudroom where kids could shed their dirty boots. Two patio upgrades were on their list as well: a new pool house with an outdoor shower, and a renovated shed where they could store barbecue equipment and outdoor tableware as well as garden tools.

Shown: The brick-floored mudroom, an addition, serves as a buffer between the house and garden, with a boot bench that doubles as storage for flip-flops.