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Collection by Emily Shapiro

A Bright Office Addition in Cape Cod

An East Falmouth couple reached out to New York-based firm Present Architecture to create a bright home office in tune with their existing home and garden.

When Ann and Geoff Woolford decided to build an addition to their home in East Falmouth, Massachusetts, natural light and a modern architectural style were first and foremost in their minds. The couple’s existing home, a traditional Cape house built in 1996, lacked a home office space for Mr. Woolford, a Food Scientist at Ocean Spray. As a scientist and an avid gardener, he, along with his wife, longed for a space that felt uncluttered, light-filled, and connected to their garden outside. Enter Present Architecture, a New York City-based firm known for its innovative approach to connecting people to the built environment around them. Present helped the couple realize their dream home office: a modern interior space that referenced the rest of their home.

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The pixelated shelving system, made of birch and acid-etched mirrored glass, as well as the cantilevered desk, were customized for the Woolford’s space. A large glass sliding door framed in white oak separates the addition from the rest of the home. The chairs are from Ikea.
The pixelated shelving system, made of birch and acid-etched mirrored glass, as well as the cantilevered desk, were customized for the Woolford’s space. A large glass sliding door framed in white oak separates the addition from the rest of the home. The chairs are from Ikea.
As a scientist with a manufacturing background, Mr. Woolford had precise requirements for the office built-ins. Transferring the contents of two existing bookshelves, as well as adding space for objects for display and six vertical filing cabinets, was no easy feat, nor was integrating electrical outlets and telephone and data connections. However, the architects at Present found an approach that served the Woolfords’ needs and remained visually appealing.
As a scientist with a manufacturing background, Mr. Woolford had precise requirements for the office built-ins. Transferring the contents of two existing bookshelves, as well as adding space for objects for display and six vertical filing cabinets, was no easy feat, nor was integrating electrical outlets and telephone and data connections. However, the architects at Present found an approach that served the Woolfords’ needs and remained visually appealing.
Present Architects relied on warm-toned materials for the addition, using white birch for the cantilevered desk and white stained oak for the floors. The warm palette not only makes for a calm, open interior space, but provides context for the rest of the house.
Present Architects relied on warm-toned materials for the addition, using white birch for the cantilevered desk and white stained oak for the floors. The warm palette not only makes for a calm, open interior space, but provides context for the rest of the house.
The couple chose soft green and cream to complement the warm material palette of their new space. The colors serve as a calming counterpoint to the sleek forms of the built-ins and the geometricity of the rectangular space and gabled roof.
The couple chose soft green and cream to complement the warm material palette of their new space. The colors serve as a calming counterpoint to the sleek forms of the built-ins and the geometricity of the rectangular space and gabled roof.
The architects chose standard Marvin units for the windows, which was essential to remaining within a small budget. The wide windows and skylight span almost the entire length of two walls in the office, allowing for ample natural light during daytime hours and open garden views.
The architects chose standard Marvin units for the windows, which was essential to remaining within a small budget. The wide windows and skylight span almost the entire length of two walls in the office, allowing for ample natural light during daytime hours and open garden views.