MCKINLEY PLACE
RIDGEWOOD, NJ / / 2025
The scope of this project centered on a rear addition designed to introduce a new breakfast nook and covered porch, while seamlessly integrating a full interior renovation of the adjacent family room and kitchen. The design balanced modern functionality with the architectural integrity of the home, creating a cohesive expansion that feels original to the structure.
COLLABORATION
ARCHITECHT: MNM Architecture
INTERIOR DESIGN: Laliberte Interiors
PHOTOGRAPHY: Linda Pordon
STYLING: JBT Designs
Separately, we completed a full gut renovation of the formal living room, which required the careful demolition of the original masonry fireplace and chimney from the first floor through the second floor, while preserving the historic brick chimney from the second floor through the roof. This complex structural modification required the coordinated installation of structural steel framing and new concrete footings to safely redistribute loads while maintaining the home’s exterior historic character.
Within the footprint of the original fireplace, we installed a dramatic 6-foot-tall glass fireplace, vented through the preserved chimney system. The result is a striking focal point that honors the home’s historic envelope while delivering a modern architectural statement inside.
Additional historic upgrades included raising the original staircase handrail between the first and second floors to meet current code requirements. This required the fabrication of taller custom spindles and the careful stain refinishing of the existing handrail to ensure a seamless visual match with the original millwork.
The project was completed with the addition of a refined home office featuring fully custom rift-sawn white oak millwork, designed and fabricated in-house to deliver both function and timeless craftsmanship.