The Washington House Inn, a Historic National Register building dating to the 1880’s, had long fallen into decay and disuse when we were commissioned to restore the building to its original role of hostelry, this time as a contemporary bed-and-breakfast inn. Additionally, a second phase of the project involved creating a connection to an adjacent stone building and creating additional guest rooms, and a third phase involved a new addition that would comply with National Register historic guidelines.

The essential design problem was one of bringing harmony to a project filled with potential contradictions. How do antiques fit in with jacuzzis? Tin ceilings and stenciled walls with a health club and handicapped access? How do you resurrect a feeling of old-fashioned charm while complying with current exiting and fire protection requirements? The restored Washington House is an example of our approach to commercial historic preservation: preserve where possible, and rebuild in the historic manner where practical, but do not deny the potential advantages of contemporary materials and techniques.