With four levels of living, this modern townhome renovation of a Lincoln Park home was defined by its verticality. Our design challenge was to transform a dated structure with a fragmented layout into a cohesive, continuous home. One where each level connects to the next, physically and visually. A home where the architecture doesn’t just respond to the stairs, it’s organized around them.
Custom Staircase in a Modern Townhome Renovation
From the outset, the stair was conceived as the architectural spine. The original stair, both ornamental in the wrong ways and structurally inadequate for a young family, was removed. In its place, we designed a custom steel-and-wood stair that anchors the home, extending from the ground floor to a newly constructed penthouse and roof deck.
Light was designed as an integral companion to circulation. Cove lighting, integrated into ceilings, risers, and railings, creates a dynamic interplay of shadow and glow throughout the day. A custom perforated steel guardrail enhances both safety and spatial transparency, allowing light to filter through the stair core.
Entry Sequence and Family Spaces in a Townhome Renovation
The ground floor sets the tone for the townhome makeover. We installed a new steel and glass door system at the entry—solid yet light—framing views into the home and hinting at the interplay of warmth and structure that unfolds inside. A fixed glass panel and sliding door separate the front vestibule from the playroom and gym, providing the family with a dedicated space that’s connected yet contained.
The office is located just beyond, featuring a custom millwork desk and a full-height bookcase. The layout here, like elsewhere in the house, avoids drywall partitions in favor of millwork. These built-ins divide space, conceal storage, and introduce tactile warmth, making the house feel tailored rather than compartmentalized.
A Unified Approach: Architecture, Construction, and Interior
Kitchen + Dining in a Townhome Remodel
The second floor organizes the home’s primary social areas: the kitchen, living room, and lounge. The stair opens directly into this space, establishing a visual and spatial connection between levels. We designed a wood-slatted ceiling with concealed integrated LED lighting, providing even illumination without visible fixtures.
The kitchen features custom cabinetry and a large island that doubles as both a food prep area and a workspace. A pop-up TV is integrated into the island countertop, maintaining the design’s clean lines while accommodating modern use. Along the perforated wood wall (which is the divider between the stairs, kitchen, and living area), we installed a custom dining bench and table. Adjacent to the kitchen, we created a mini-lounge space with swivel chairs – a perfect spot to enjoy an Aperol aperitif.
This floor is a study in how spaces can overlap, from the kitchen to the living room to the lounge, with soft separations created by the use of cabinetry materials and rhythm, rather than walls.
What was once a dining space off the kitchen is now a comfortable lounge.
Living Room + Reading Nook For Everyday Life
The living area is defined by a vibrant, blue-tiled fireplace with built-in firewood storage, paired with a plaster media wall that introduces texture and contrast. Having a published children’s book author in the family dictated the need for multiple reading spaces, so we designed a built-in reading lounge with cushions on the other side of the kitchen.
Pocket wood-and-glass doors separate the reading nook, which opens to a lower rear patio through oversized sliding doors. Spatial definition on this floor of the townhouse renovation relies on built-in millwork, ceiling planes, and material transitions rather than conventional walls. The millwork creates clear functional zones while maintaining visual continuity and sightlines across the floor.
Third Floor: Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and Private Spaces
The third floor features the primary bedrooms and bathrooms, arranged around the central stair that continues as a perforated steel-and-wood screen wall with integrated LED lighting. The main suite includes a custom walnut platform bed complemented by matching wall panels and built-in millwork for closets and storage. Lighting is incorporated into niches and reveals, providing illumination without visible fixtures.
The master bathroom has a eucalyptus onsen-style sauna paired with updated tile finishes, custom cabinetry, and counters. The Jack & Jill bathroom and children’s bedrooms integrate built-in desks, window benches, and storage, allowing each space to balance work, rest, and play.
Millwork and built-in furniture continue to define the rooms, providing both spatial separation and storage without the need for conventional partitions. The perforated stair railing extends upward, visually and physically connecting the third floor to the new penthouse addition.
Fourth Floor: Penthouse and Roof Deck
The fourth floor introduces a new penthouse volume and roof deck, transforming what was once an underutilized rooftop into an extension of the home. We removed the aging wood decking and replaced the rudimentary hatch with a properly engineered stair and structural volume that continues seamlessly from the third floor.
The new penthouse addition, framed in modern steel with clean lines and generous openings, serves as a small, flexible space that terminates the home’s vertical circulation. Materials such as steel, wood, and custom finishes maintain visual and tactile continuity with the lower levels. Beyond, the roof deck provides durable, open-air living with city views, an elevated retreat designed for everyday use and connection to the outdoors.
Integrated Interiors
We provided complete interior design services for this project, selecting furniture, lighting, rugs, and artwork that complemented the architectural framework. Finishes such as white oak doors with frameless reveal jambs, walnut millwork, steel detailing, and plaster surfaces repeat across rooms to create a consistent visual and tactile experience. Cove and integrated lighting reinforce the architecture without distraction. By managing both design and construction, we ensured that the architectural details, furnishings, and material connections were executed precisely as intended.
FAQs About Process and Design
What made this project particularly challenging?
Working within a four-level masonry structure required the careful integration of new systems, stairs, and lighting within highly constrained conditions. Structural, mechanical, and architectural interventions had to be carefully coordinated to preserve the building’s integrity while maintaining the family’s livability throughout the construction period.
Why was the stair such a central element?
The stairs were a necessity due to the home’s vertical layout, but we treated them as a design opportunity. Rather than hiding it, we celebrated it, allowing it to become the project’s organizing element, both materially and spatially.
Did moss handle both architecture and construction?
Yes. By working as both architect and general contractor, we were able to preserve the design intent throughout the entire project, from concept to completion. We also handled the interior design, thoughtfully choosing furniture, rugs, art, and lighting.
Why replace walls with millwork?
Millwork offers spatial separation, integrated storage, and a higher level of craft than conventional partitions. It also introduces texture and warmth, which is key in a multi-level home where continuity is critical.
What materials define the interior?
White oak, walnut, steel, plaster, and stone establish a restrained yet expressive palette. Each material was chosen for its performance, tactile qualities, and the way it will evolve, accruing character as the project ages.
Is the roof deck penthouse original to the house?
No. Originally accessible only by a hatch and occupied by an outdated gazebo, the roof offered little functional value. Our design introduced a carefully integrated penthouse volume and stair, reimagining the space as a natural continuation of the home’s living areas.
Before Renovation Photos
