The owner of this late 1800’s Italianate home, inspired by other Italianate homes in the neighborhood, wished to complete the cap of this home with a cupola.  A collector of historic light bulbs the client utilized his collection to light this new beacon.  Adding this cupola proved a significant challenge in that the structural capacity of the existing roof required extensive structural upgrades.  Adding to the complexity were the remnants of an earlier roof that was left in place under the roof on which the new cupola was installed.  The lower profiled roof hiding under the more steeply pitched roof was abandoned after an early 1900’s lightening strike and simply left there with the original wood shingles and charred framing members.