They weren’t looking to buy, but when Jenna and Drew Reading first glimpsed the 1890 Queen Anne Victorian in Allentown more than a decade ago, they immediately pictured a future there. The wraparound porch, deep backyard, and easy walk to town and school made the idea irresistible. The house once served as the town doctor’s office, evidenced by a side entrance into a former exam room where a charming built-in entry bench still sits.
“The house had great bones, but was quite outdated and in need of some TLC,” recalls Jenna Reading, an interior designer and co‑owner of Allentown‑based South Main Design. Nine-foot ceilings and plentiful windows bathed the rooms in light, revealing the home’s potential.
Designed as a retreat, the primary bedroom features a high-vaulted ceiling and windows overlooking the backyard. “You notice the brass chandelier and wood beams as soon as you walk in,” says Reading. Photo: Meghan Balcom
Over the years, the couple gradually tackled cosmetic updates: stripping wallpaper, recoating plaster walls, refinishing original floors, and modernizing systems. But as their family grew, so did the home’s shortcomings: one upstairs bathroom for a family of five, scant closet space in four bedrooms, and no dedicated laundry room.
They briefly considered moving, but ultimately deepened their roots, keeping the house and adding a 1,300-square-foot, single-story wing. Reading sketched the layout and worked with an architect to produce construction-ready plans for a new primary bedroom, bath and laundry, with a finished basement below. The new addition tucks into the rear left of the house and links to the kitchen and home office via an oversized corridor.
Pinstriped pleated-linen curtains with brass hardware, as well as a leather chair that has been in the family for years, “really make the large space feel cozy,” Reading says of the primary bedroom. Photo: Meghan Balcom
Local builder Enzo Nini of Sebastiano Nini Inc. executed the project, carefully integrating the addition with the original brick foundation and historic fabric. From the outset, Reading and co-designer Amanda Downs of South Main Design prioritized continuity: five‑inch oak flooring closely matches existing boards; oversized baseboards and window trim mirror the original details; and picture‑frame wainscoting or beadboard echo the home’s character. Those choices, Reading says, help the addition feel as if it has always belonged.
The primary suite, designed as a serene retreat, features a vaulted ceiling and a bank of windows overlooking the backyard; exposed wood beams and a brass chandelier catch your eye when you enter. Classic, comfortable furnishings—an ivory-colored upholstered bed, oversized oak nightstands, and a black-iron dresser—are softened by pinstriped pleated-linen curtains with brass hardware and a well-worn leather chair, making the generous space feel cozy.
“I really wanted the primary bathroom to feel like it could have been there for 100 years,” says Reading. A classic white-oak vanity from RH and beadboard—the latter painted in Benjamin Moore’s Oil Cloth—create a soothing green backdrop. Photo: Meghan Balcom
For the primary bathroom, the designers aimed for a room that felt as if it had existed for a century. “We anchored the space with a Bardiglio Gray and Carrara White-marble checkerboard floor as a nod to the Victorian influence,” says Reading, pairing it with a marble basketweave shower floor. Beadboard painted in Benjamin Moore’s Oil Cloth—a muted green—lends a fresh, historically inspired tone, while vintage‑style brass sconces, mirrors and exposed plumbing complete the look.
Clean, classic 4-by-12-inch white subway tile on the shower walls lets the coordinating marble basketweave floor and exposed plumbing take center stage. Photo: Meghan Balcom
In the laundry room, reclaimed Chicago-brick floors and soapstone countertops with an integrated sink set the stage, while orchard-pattern wallpaper introduces soft greens and rust tones. “I hate doing laundry, so the laundry room had to be both functional for a family of five and beautiful,” Reading says. Greige custom cabinets hide a pull-out ironing board and provide much-needed storage; oversized hooks and brass-latch hardware feel “sturdy and historical,” paired with Hudson Valley Lighting Heirloom sconces and a Pulley Maid drying rack for an English-country touch. “The end result truly makes me happy going in there every day.”
Time-honored details define the laundry room addition: reclaimed Chicago-brick floors, a soapstone sink and countertop, and Heirloom sconces by Hudson Valley Lighting. Reading says their goldendoodle Finn “loves the cool brick in the summer.” Photo: Meghan Balcom
The six‑month renovation may have tested the family’s patience, but ultimately delivered better flow and function. The fully finished basement also feels like a natural extension of the home, serving as both a movie room and a kids’ play zone. “There will always be issues and challenges that arise with construction,” Reading says, “but have fun with the process!”
