205 Park Avenue · Raleigh, NC 27605

Great design is the bridge between affection for the old and appetite for the new. And in a historic enclave, the bar is higher. Fit in without fading in. A new house defers to its elders. Taking cues from the early 1900s homes nearby, Dixon/Kirby built one that keeps the family resemblance. You see it in the unassuming scale. The deep front porch. The carved brackets. The tall, divided-light windows.

Inside, the old sets the tone and the new does the work. The rooms are generous and bright, open to one another but never one big blur, and as cozy as any old house on the street. Dixon/Kirby skipped the suburban bonus room and put that space where it gets used: a second living area on the first floor, wrapped in windows and made for easy company.

Inset cabinetry runs throughout, every door sitting flush in its frame. The Scullery earns a capital S. It's as elevated as the kitchen. Around the next corner, a small office hides in plain sight. You almost miss it. Off the primary suite, a sunroom looks out over the downtown skyline. It will become the room you never want to leave.

If you'd rather lace up than start the car, you're home. The downtown YMCA is across the street. Pop in. They even have towels. Pullen Park is a quarter-mile stroll down Ashe Avenue. Open since 1887, it's North Carolina's first public park. Ride the 1900 Dentzel carousel. Squeeze onto the miniature train. Get lost in the playground.

Better yet, the greenway picks up right at the park. Hop on and go. To Lake Johnson. To the Neuse River. To Umstead State Park. As far as your legs will carry you.

After you've burned all those calories, take your pick. Trophy. Alpaca. Player's Retreat. Jubala. Irregardless. (Yes, that's the spelling.) All a mosey away.

Groceries, library, yoga, a good haircut. The Village District is a few blocks away. (Your car keys will get lonely.)

Then come home to a backyard that makes the city fade.

205 Park Avenue. A happy new old house with the city just around the corner. ©