Front elevation of a stone and shingle home with black shutters and a center entry in Westfield, NJ

Shadowlawn West

Westfield, NJ · Whole-Home Renovation + Addition

Rear elevation with a stone chimney, a patio with a dining umbrella and lawn beyond, in Westfield, NJ

Side porch of a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with a gabled roof on columns, cedar louvered shutters and wicker seating above the planted border

Stair of a Westfield, NJ whole-home addition and renovation, with oak treads, a wood handrail over thin metal balusters and an arched opening at the foot

Arched opening to the stair hall, looking through to the dining room in Westfield, NJ

Dining room with arched glass-front cabinets, a round table, upholstered chairs and paired pendants in Westfield, NJ

Bar behind a steel-and-glass partition, with open shelving, a beverage refrigerator and counter stools

Woven lanterns hung at three heights in the double-height window wall of a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, seen from the landing

Double-height breakfast nook in a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with two storeys of glass, woven pendants and a round table in the corner

Custom kitchen in a Westfield, NJ home addition and renovation, seen the length of the room past the plaster hood to the island and the windows beyond, built by Michael Robert Construction

Plaster hood in an oak surround over the range, facing a long quartzite island with black stools, in a Westfield, NJ addition and renovation

Range wall of a Westfield, NJ kitchen, with the quartzite slab run up behind the cooktop, an oak shelf across it and the hood framed in oak

Arched openings at either end of a galley run in a Westfield, NJ home addition and renovation, with a runner between the counters

Butler's pantry with a built-in office station in a Westfield, NJ addition and whole-home renovation, under a herringbone-tiled wall and a glass pendant

Mudroom with navy cabinetry, a bench with basket storage, a slate floor and a dog lying on it in Westfield, NJ

Mudroom sink run with navy cabinetry, a black farmhouse sink, a stone counter and a lantern sconce in Westfield, NJ

Butler's pantry in a Westfield, NJ addition and whole-home renovation, with glass-front upper cabinetry, open shelving and a soapstone counter

Family room with a planked ceiling, an exposed beam and a television above a dark stone fireplace in Westfield, NJ

Guest bathroom in a Westfield, NJ addition and renovation, with black shiplap walls, a wood washstand under a marble top and a pebble mosaic floor

Stair landing of a Westfield, NJ addition and renovation, with a round-headed window over a window seat between two sconces

Home office in a Westfield, NJ addition and renovation, with custom built-ins down both walls, a window seat and a desk under the window

Laundry room in a Westfield, NJ addition and renovation, papered in a pink and navy palm print, with white cabinetry and a drying rail across the window wall

Primary bedroom under a vaulted planked ceiling, with a woven pendant and a bench at the foot of the bed in Westfield, NJ

Primary bathroom with a white oak floating double vanity, a full-width mirror and a freestanding tub in Westfield, NJ

Fitted walk-in closet in a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with open shelving and drawers down both sides to a window at the end

Bathroom in a Westfield, NJ addition and whole-home renovation, with a white oak vanity on a black metal frame, a round mirror and a herringbone slate floor

Before

A Classic Modern Whole Home Renovation in Westfield NJ

Shadowlawn West | Whole-home renovation and additions | MRCxEMD

A distinctive stone home in Westfield offered a strong architectural starting point. Our work centered on a clear goal: preserve the character of the house while giving a modern family brighter rooms, more useful space and better connections throughout.

The challenge

The home’s formal exterior had a clarity that the interior plan lacked. Large rooms felt disconnected, the staircase sat toward the back, and the family needed additional space without overwhelming the original house. The renovation called for a coordinated approach to architecture, construction and interiors.

Stone home in Westfield NJ before renovation, with white shutters and foundation planting. — Before renovation — the existing stone home and its original front elevation.

Additions shaped around the original home

We retained the natural stone facade and its symmetry, enlarged the windows to bring in more light, and used white and black accents to sharpen the existing architecture. Cream plaster on the additions introduced a quieter, more streamlined finish that sits comfortably alongside the older stone.

Approximately 1,000 square feet was added across several parts of the home. A second floor above the left wing created space for a guest bedroom and bathroom. At the rear, the family room and primary suite were extended, and the garage was lengthened. Distributing the additions allowed the front elevation to retain its familiar proportions while the home gained the space the family needed.

Concept rendering of the proposed front elevation for a classic modern renovation in Westfield NJ. — Architectural concept renderings — design intent before construction.

Concept rendering of a side addition and covered entry at a Westfield NJ home. — Architectural concept renderings — design intent before construction.

Architectural concept animation

A staircase that reorganizes the house

Moving the staircase from the back of the house to the center changed the way the interior works. Its new position echoes the symmetry of the exterior and creates a sculptural focal point. Views toward the two-story breakfast-nook windows connect the center of the home with the outdoors.

Central staircase of a Westfield, NJ whole-home renovation and addition, with wood treads, slender metal balusters and an arched opening at its foot — The relocated staircase establishes a central focal point.

Two-storey breakfast nook in a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with woven lanterns hung the full height of the window tower above a concrete-topped table and rattan chairs — The two-storey breakfast nook: glass on two walls, woven lanterns hung the full height of the tower, and a table that reads from the kitchen, from the garden and from the stair above it.

Glazed corner of a two-storey breakfast nook in a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with windows on two walls, woven lanterns overhead and rattan chairs at the table — The two-storey breakfast nook: glass on two walls, woven lanterns hung the full height of the tower, and a table that reads from the kitchen, from the garden and from the stair above it.

Rooms designed around daily life

We reworked the existing rooms as carefully as the additions. A new wall behind the refrigerator created a butler’s pantry with a family workstation. In the long, narrow living room, a steel-and-glass screen defines a sitting area and bar while maintaining a visual connection between the spaces.

The completed plan accommodates family gathering spaces, a lounge and bar, two offices, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a finished basement, along with multiple places to move between indoors and out.

Built-in family workstation beside the butler's pantry cabinetry in a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, under a tiled wall and a glass pendant — A family workstation is integrated into the reconfigured pantry area, and a steel-and-glass screen defines the bar while preserving visual connection.

Lounge and bar behind a steel-and-glass partition in a Westfield, NJ whole-home renovation, with open shelving and counter seating — A family workstation is integrated into the reconfigured pantry area, and a steel-and-glass screen defines the bar while preserving visual connection.

One coordinated vision

Michael Robert Construction and Ellie Mroz Design brought construction, interiors and furnishings into a cohesive project. The architecture establishes the framework; the interior details and furnishings carry that vision through the spaces the family uses every day.

Custom kitchen in a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with a plaster range hood in an oak surround over a long quartzite island

Mudroom of a Westfield, NJ renovation and addition, with navy cabinetry, a bench over basket storage and a slate floor

The result

Shadowlawn West shows how a substantial renovation can respect an older home while changing how it lives. Carefully placed additions provide room to grow, and the reconfigured interior brings a clearer sense of connection to family life.

Rear of the completed Westfield, NJ home after renovation and addition, with a stone chimney, a patio and lawn beyond, built by Michael Robert Construction — The completed rear exterior connects the home with its outdoor spaces.

Planning a significant renovation or addition? Tell us what you value about your home and what you need it to do better. MRC serves Westfield, Summit and surrounding New Jersey communities, working through our design-build process or alongside your architect.

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Your project

Planning a significant renovation of your own? Start with MRC Design-Build or bring your architect’s plans. Tell us about your home, your priorities and the investment you have in mind.

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Additions Building in Westfield