A beautiful room that does not suit the people using it is only half a success. That is why SM+P’s projects start with questions rather than drawings. Who lives here? How do they cook, work, entertain and rest? What frustrates them about the space they have now?
The answers shape everything that follows. Three Baltimore homes show how.
Making a small house work harder
The Otterbein Rowhome was built in 1852, plainly and without ornament, in what was then a working neighborhood. Its history set the tone for the renovation: simplicity and restraint. Its small footprint called for inventive solutions. A hinged marble countertop, lifted with the help of gas pistons, opens to storage in the basement without giving up any counter space. The kitchen island has movable cabinetry, so it can seat four when needed.
Turning a dark room into the heart of the home
In a Bolton Hill rowhome, the kitchen was a dark, underused space. For a family of four, and their dog, SM+P made it the bright center of the house. A wall of concealed cabinetry with integrated doorways keeps everyday clutter out of sight, and the rear porch was reworked so the kitchen opens naturally to the outdoors. The design even made room for the owners’ decades-old lemon tree.
Making room for three generations
Another Bolton Hill townhome needed to work for two households: the owners, and the wife’s parents, who had moved from California to live with them. SM+P designed floating wardrobe cabinets to divide each suite and built flush cabinetry into the fireplace recesses for extra storage. The work won the Custom Cabinetry category in the 2024 Baltimore Magazine Home & Design Awards.
The same approach at any scale
Listening first is not only for homes. When the Maryland Club planned its new squash and fitness center, SM+P began with several programming sessions to understand the needs of the club and its members before a single plan was drawn.
What good design feels like
When a space is designed around the people who use it, they rarely notice the design at all. The storage is where they need it, the light falls where they spend their time, and the house simply works. That is the goal on every project.
Thinking about renovating your home? Contact SM+P Architects and tell us how you live.