Ushering in the New Year
Janice Randall Rohlf
Editor
As I write this, Thanksgiving is over and we’re looking forward to all of December’s holiday festivities. For many, it is a precious time, when far-flung family and friends gather to share what’s going on with themselves, break bread together, and sometimes even introduce a new little person just starting their journey in life.
Accordingly, the three feature houses in this issue are different in style and substance but they all have something in common — each one was remodeled to accommodate a growing family and/or an expanding circle of friends.
Architects and interior designers are often called upon to tap into their creativity for this specific purpose. It’s not unusual for a house that was perfectly fine years or even decades ago, to no longer be suited for how we live today. When this happens, walls between rooms come down, larger windows replace small ones, and myriad materials and finishes are rethought and refreshed. Whether the changes are sweeping or minimal, giving your home an update never goes out of style, and you’ll be glad you made the effort.
As a counterpoint to these family-sized homes, we’ve been running our “Living Small” department for a year now. These reminders of how to make the most out of a pint-sized abode now include this issue’s 340-square-foot Seacoast cottage, which is a shining example of using every inch of a home as efficiently as possible.
If you’re looking to start the new year with new activities, your first step might be to visit the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester. There’s still time to catch a fantastic exhibition of New Hampshire artist Dan Dailey’s glass creations before the show ends on February 2. Read writer Lisa Cavanaugh’s interview with Dailey before you head to the show. Or explore a new cuisine, like the authentic Korean fare on the menu at Sue’s Korean Kitchen in Stratham.
Lastly, I have to eat humble pie. A story I wrote for the Nov./Dec. 2024 issue of this magazine, “Preserving the Past,” failed to give credit to the building team behind a remarkable historic home restoration on Lake Sunapee. To set the record straight, the general contractor was Bill Ostrom, owner of C.W. Ostrom, LLC, in Sunapee, and Ed Hermann was the foreman on the project. Both of these men made pivotal contributions to the major renovation of this house.
Wishing you happiness and good health in 2025!
