NARI COTY 2017 AWARDS Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration Under $250,000
OVERVIEW PROJECT STATEMENT The owner s childhood home & neighborhood called her back as an adult. She had grown up; the 1924 Italian Renaissance Revival house had not. The owner s eye for detail and her affinity for smoothed, polished edges shine throughout the entire project. The powder room wainscot; basket-weave powder room floor; ogee-edged countertops in the kitchen and bath; custom glass doors and glass inserts on the upper cabinets; and the echoing of style details throughout make the project unique. The home is now a showcase for how a house can be updated with modern amenities and technologies while still elegantly displaying the home s original character and charm and complimenting the owner s personal tastes. This project made the owner s childhood home into a true reflection of who she is as an adult, and created a snug retreat in which she can grow old - completing the cycle of her life s home and her home s life. The project goal was to improve flow in the kitchen/back entry area, add a powder room on the main level, and remodel the dated kitchen.
PROJECT STATEMENT ENTRY The entire rear entry was demolished to the framing, including the interior stairs. The existing windows were saved for relocation. A large bush had to be removed and, because the home is built of structural clay brick, and a new landing had to be freestanding, eight new pier footings were dug. A deck was built with a vertical lattice skirt. The new wrought iron handrail, with its exceptional lines and curved detail, gives visitors a first hint of the eye-pleasing details that await inside of the house and was made to match the existing front handrail. A new wall-mounted sconce was installed on the exterior to match the existing. The stucco was cut in order to install a new Arts and Crafts door with a new screen-away full-view door. Hot water in-floor heat was installed in the entry under staggered porcelain tile that appears to be oak, as well as new flush inset cabinets with soft-close drawers and hinges and small Craftsman corbels, which retain the feel of the home. Natural light pours in during the day and, to add warm light, a new ceiling light fixture with oil-rubbed bronze accents was installed.
PROJECT STATEMENT KITCHEN/PANTRY The entire kitchen was demolished down to the structural clay brick walls and the subfloor. The ceiling was removed, as well as a soffit at the west end of the kitchen. The exterior walls were furred out and insulated. To improve the kitchen s working flow, the sink was moved to the west wall, where the dishwasher is also located. A new stainless steel sink was installed as well as an elegant new pull-down faucet, filtered faucet, and soap dispenser, all reminiscent of the home s era. The owner s appliance choices blend seamlessly with her cabinets. She chose a French door refrigerator with custom-panels, a double wall oven, a new induction cooktop, and a fullyintegrated paneled dishwasher. The softened lines of the range hood make something so undeniably functional become an eye-pleasing part of the kitchen s décor. The kitchen was lighted with recessed can light fixtures, LED undercabinet lighting, and elegant pendant light fixtures typical to the period. To really make the glass panels in the upper cabinets stand out, LED lighting on a dimmer switch was installed, which adds a soft glow to the kitchen and accents the owner s antique collectibles. In keeping with the rounded edges and fluid shapes used throughout the project, as seen in the replicated crown moulding, the quartz marble-look counter was finished with an Ogee edge. The lines of the staggered handmade subway tile on the walls provide a nice visual break to the curves. The floor tile is staggered porcelain tile that looks like oak over hot water infloor heat. The microwave was installed in the pantry s new organizational system. An original closet door was converted into a pocket door for this space. Wallpaper is a lovely detail inside of an oft-neglected pantry space. Here, the use of clean lines and fluid curves form a perfect juxtaposition and offset each other beautifully.
PROJECT STATEMENT POWDER ROOM A new powder room was created on the main level, and the original door, which used to access the kitchen, remained in place. The walls were insulated for sound. It is the trim work that really stands out in this new space. The paneled Shaker wainscot is true to the home s original character, and the beveled profile echoes the fluidity seen in other areas. The cabinets here are also flush inset with soft-close drawers and hinges, but Tudor bun feet have been added for an elegant touch. The quartz marble-look counter is finished with an Ogee edge, but the cascading corner on the backsplash is what really catches the eye. The details are even carried through in the design of the new toilet. Also installed in the powder room are satin nickel accessories that echo the stacked edge design on the toilet and new wall sconces. In this room, it is the rectangular panels in the wainscot that subtly ground the eye. The salvaged front entry light fixture was reinstalled in the powder room, which also has hot water in-floor heat underneath a truly unique marble basket-weave floor that integrates both curves and pattern to truly harmonize the space. Finishing off the elegance of the powder room is a frameless oval pivoting mirror and wallpaper above the wainscot. The powder room has become a shining example of how even the smallest of spaces can reflect the original character of a home and the owner s personal tastes, yet still showcase inspiring décor. As the owner proudly states, It feels like the space that was always supposed to be here, and how my home was meant to function.
AS BUILT
PROPOSED
ELEVATIONS
ELEVATIONS & OVERVIEWS
The lines of the staggered, handmade subway tile on the walls provide a nice visual break to the curves. The floor tile is staggered porcelain tile that looks like oak, laid over hot water in-floor heat. The kitchen was lighted with recessed can and elegant pendant light fixtures typical to the period.
To improve the kitchen s working flow, the sink was moved to the west wall where the dishwasher is also located. Fixtures reminiscent of the home s era were selected and installed.
The custom glass doors and glass inserts on the upper cabinets echo the style details found throughout that make the project unique. To really make the glass panels in the upper cabinets stand out, LED lighting on a dimmer switch was installed, which adds a soft glow to the kitchen and accents the owner s antique collectibles.
In keeping with the rounded edges and fluid shapes used throughout the project, as seen in the replicated crown moulding, the quartz marblelook counter was finished with an Ogee edge.
The microwave was installed in the pantry s new organizational system. An original closet door was converted into a pocket door for this space. Wallpaper is a lovely detail inside of an oft-neglected pantry space.
The owner s appliance choices blend seamlessly with her cabinets. She chose a French door refrigerator with custom panels and a double wall oven.
A new powder room was created on the main level, and the original door, which used to access the kitchen, remained in place. The walls were insulated for sound. It is the trim work that really stands out in this new space.
The paneled Shaker wainscot is true to the home s original character, and the beveled profile echoes the fluidity seen in other areas. The cabinets here are also flush inset with soft-close drawers and hinges, but Tudor bun feet have been added for an elegant touch. The quartz marble-look counter is finished with an Ogee edge, but the cascading corner on the backsplash is what really catches the eye. The details are even carried through in the design of the new toilet. Also installed in the powder room are satin nickel accessories that echo the stacked edge design on the toilet and new wall sconces. In this room, it is the rectangular panels in the wainscot that subtly ground the eye.
Hot water in-floor heat was installed in the entry under staggered porcelain tile that appears to be oak, as well as new flush inset cabinets with soft-close drawers and hinges and small Craftsman corbels, which retain the feel of the home. Natural light pours in during the day and, to add warm light, a new ceiling light fixture with oil-rubbed bronze accents was installed.