Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a city of historic charm, with tempting shops and restaurants nestled along its waterfront streets. Overlooking the Piscataqua River and the iconic Memorial Bridge is a handsome brick and granite multi-story building in the classic Early American style. Located in the historic district, it could easily be a structure from an earlier time, except this one was built in 2008. It offers a mix of retail space on the first floor and residential space on the upper floors. The third and fourth floors are the elegant condominium residence of Peggy Lamb and her husband, Steve. Peggy also operates Botanica, the shop on the ground floor, and rents the second floor condo unit.

“We raised our four children in a large 1750 Colonial in Exeter, New Hampshire,” Peggy says. “Once they were grown, the house was too big for us. We decided to look for a small building in downtown Portsmouth, somewhere where we could live up above, and I could have my shop down below. When the previous wooden structure was torn down, and we saw the plans for the building taking its place, we knew this would be a great location. We bought the building, and it has definitely been the right move. It’s quiet but near everything. We can walk to shops and restaurants, Prescott Park—even stroll across the bridge to Kittery.”

Peggy and Steve worked with developer Stephen Kelm of Portsmouth and architect Jennifer Ramsey of Somma Studios to design the structure. Peggy also turned to Jennifer for guidance on the look of the interior. While the outside has a Colonial feel, the inside is decidedly present day, offering a mix both eclectic and sophisticated.

View The Full Article