Make Your House a Home With Julia Chuslo Architects
Life on the Bay | June 2018
[Written by Allison Berry, Berry Creative LLC]
Each spring as the weather warms, buds appear on the trees, and crocuses peek through last summer’s mulch, we’re eager to hit the back roads with pets and friends taking longer treks through the nooks and crannies of Duxbury.
I’m always amazed at how a new home, an addition, or eye-popping renovation has suddenly appeared on my path, seemingly in a blink of an eye. “How could that have gone up so quickly?”
The landscape and architecture of Duxbury is ever-changing. We’re fortunate to have neighbors who invest deeply in their properties both financially and emotionally, taking pride in manicured lawns and curated landscapes. We lovingly care for the structures too; from the simple elbow-greased do-it-yourself home improvement project to the large-scale new home construction.
We can all appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to make a house a home.
If you’re anything like me you spend a lot of time thinking about the next project.
There’s nothing better than wiping the sweat off my brow and collapsing into the Adirondack chair with a cold beverage while admiring Saturday’s accomplishment. But this next project I’ve been tossing around in my head requires some planning and scheming. It’s time to call on an architect.
Having seen her work around town as well as showcased in Life on the Bay, I turned to Julia Chuslo Architects. Owner Julia Chuslo Quinzani brings over 30 years’ experience managing her own firm and a reputation for creating unique, client-inspired living spaces. Although her portfolio includes a number of high-end homes across Duxbury and the South Shore, Julia has a passion for the smaller projects too with a knack for thoughtful additions and renovation challenges.
I recently sat with Julia seeking counsel on ways to transform my new (to me) Duxbury home. The ranch-style structure desperately needs a little curb appeal to match the charming interior and inviting backyard. Evidently there are endless options: covered porches and pergolas, columns, cupolas, dormers, and architectural trim can help to transform any structure from bland to beautiful. Julia has an arsenal of strategies and a keen eye for design elements to add character and detail to existing structures, magically transforming the overall appeal.
Inevitably our conversation veered off to some of Julia’s more memorable projects. Over the years she’s been asked to incorporate some truly unique features into her projects. Clients often seek to add that one standout element that without careful planning and consideration, a dash of marital compromise here, and a pinch of heroism there, might end in mistake or even disaster. It’s all about tailoring the design to the needs of the homeowner. From adding a tower to a cottage to raising the ceiling in the basement to accommodate a full golf swing, or framing a picturesque view, people want what they want, and Julia makes it happen.
As we were wrapping up I had to ask: “So what was the most unique thing about that project you were working on this morning?” Julia quickly replied “The people.”
So perhaps that’s what it’s all about – the people.
Designing a home or renovation isn’t just about measurements, materials, and scale, it’s a collaborative and intimate process, requiring artful consideration of the homeowner’s lifestyle and personality.
Magic happens when Julia makes a personal connection and can bring the client’s vision alive by combining architectural details that make the new look like it has always been there. I left the meeting excited to get my project underway and confident that no matter what direction we go in, I can look forward to one day sinking back into that same Adirondack chair admiring the transformation.
If you’re considering a design project, contact Julia Chuslo Architects at (781) 934 – 5592 or visit juliachusloarchitects.com for more information.
