Sheffield Street Expansion
Location
WINDHAM, NH
Size
TBD
The Sheffield Street Residence represents a transformative renovation and expansion that reimagines a traditional Colonial home to support modern family life, elevated recreation, and long-term flexibility. Located on a 5.2-acre property in Windham, New Hampshire, the existing 4,544-square-foot, two-story home provided a strong foundation but required significant reconfiguration to meet the evolving needs of the client and reflect contemporary living standards.
Originally designed in the early 2000s, the home included four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, an attached three-stall garage, and a rear deck overlooking an inground pool. While generous in size, the layout no longer supported the client’s daily routines or lifestyle priorities. RWH Architect was engaged to modernize the home’s circulation, enhance functionality, and introduce purpose-built spaces that balance family life, recreation, and entertaining.
One of the most ambitious components of the project is the removal and infill of the existing inground pool to allow for a major basement expansion. This newly expanded lower level is designed to accommodate a half-size NCAA-standard indoor basketball court with up to 25 feet of clear height, along with a dedicated movie theater. Integrating a recreational program of this scale beneath an existing residence presented significant structural and logistical challenges. RWH addressed this by carefully coordinating excavation, foundation expansion, and structural systems to safely support the home above while creating the vertical clearance required for the court without compromising the integrity of the original structure.
On the main level, the renovation focuses on improving flow and day-to-day usability. The kitchen is expanded into a highly functional, modern workspace featuring two islands and a walk-in pantry, designed to support both family use and entertaining. A new mudroom—identified by the client as an essential component—anchors the home’s entry sequence and improves organization and circulation. The laundry room is enlarged and evaluated for optimal placement, with flexibility built into the design to allow it to function on either the first or second floor. A new first-floor guest suite is introduced by repurposing existing living or office space and removing an unused fireplace, allowing the home to better accommodate visitors or extended family. The formal dining room, previously underutilized, is reconsidered as part of the overall reconfiguration, while the family room retains its corner fireplace to preserve a sense of familiarity and warmth. A dedicated children’s playroom remains an integral part of the design, reinforcing the home’s family-centered approach.
The second floor is expanded to improve bedroom adjacencies and create a more cohesive private living zone. The revised layout accommodates three children’s bedrooms and a primary bedroom, with flexibility to adapt as the family grows. Additional square footage allows for a reimagined primary bathroom and the potential addition of a shared or Jack-and-Jill bathroom for the children’s rooms. Laundry facilities may also be relocated to this level to further enhance convenience and daily efficiency.
Exterior improvements are carefully shaped by zoning and setback requirements, particularly with respect to future detached structures. The design also explores the integration of a breezeway and the potential to reclaim square footage from the existing front porch, allowing the home to expand thoughtfully while maintaining its relationship to the site.
A key challenge throughout the project has been balancing the scale of expansion with the character of the existing Colonial home. RWH addressed this by carefully layering new construction with the original structure, ensuring that additions feel intentional and cohesive rather than oversized or disconnected. Another challenge involved coordinating new mechanical, structural, and life-safety systems within an existing home while dramatically increasing programmatic demands. Through detailed planning, documentation, and coordination with consultants, RWH developed solutions that support both performance and comfort without sacrificing design clarity.
The Sheffield Street Residence exemplifies RWH Architect’s approach to residential renovation—thoughtful, forward-looking, and deeply responsive to how families live today. By transforming underutilized spaces, introducing high-impact recreational amenities, and modernizing circulation and layout, the project redefines the home as a flexible, efficient, and engaging environment designed to evolve with its occupants.