On the Boards: Bringing a Classic Craftsman Up To Date

I started a new project this week that I think is pretty exciting. The house is on a beautiful street of classic old houses of all styles, ranging from Georgian mansions to quaint bungalows.
The existing house is a brick Craftsman style, though much of the exterior detail has been stripped away over the years. Inside, the house has been largely unmolested, which is rare! The kitchen and bath have been updated, and a bad addition housing a laundry room and a porch have been tacked onto the side, but otherwise, the interior is vintage.

The client's wishlist is a very common one: a proper master suite, a bigger, more open kitchen, and generally more open, brighter interior.

Take a look at the original floor plan:

The house is blessed with a large great room and dining room at the front of the house. Original archways and woodwork provide a lot of charm. Three good-sized bedrooms lack closet space and are forced to share a single small bathroom at the rear of the house, and the small kitchen is made even more congested with four doorways coming in from all sides. Fortunately, the house sits on a large lot, so there was plenty of room to expand.

Here's the after:

At the rear, we're adding 15' across the whole rear of the house, giving room for a comfortably sized master bedroom, dual walk-in closets, and a large bathroom. A new carport, with stepped brick columns that mirror the originals at the screened porch, gives covered parking for the family's cars, and connects back to the house with a breezeway that ends at a new mudroom. The kitchen is completely remade. The original breakfast nook, though charming, was unused and far too small. By combining the two spaces, we get a much more user friendly kitchen and a ton more counterspace. We plan to echo the original archways and open the new kitchen up to the dining room. Stairs leading upstairs are opened up to the hallway and dining room, making the space above feel like part of the house rather than just an attic. The owners had requested a small sitting area off of the new kitchen if possible. We gave them that by taking one of the original bedrooms and reusing it as a keeping room (a portion of that space also now provides closet space for one of the other original bedrooms.)

We'll be sharing photos of this project as it moves forward, so stay tuned!

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Skyridge

Here's a very unusual addition to our Pre-Designed portfolio. And an interesting story behind how it was created. Forgive me as I wander a bit...

I often take a route home that sends me over a mountain...its a fun road for driving and, as the highest point in town, gives some great views in a few different directions. There is one spot along that road That offers an absolutely breathtaking vista of the skyline of the city, and long range views to the mountain range beyond. I've always thought "That would be an amazing place to put a house." Only problem, it appeared to be a cliff face. From the road at least, there didn't seem to be a way to access the property short of doing an elevated "bridge" (as had been done on a few residences along that road.) The other bridges scream maintenance headache to me, so I didn't see that as a real option. So when I noticed a "for sale" sign on the promontory, I looked into it.

Turns out, the property was slightly wider than I imagined, and behind the overgrowth along the road there was  a roughed-in semi-circular driveway that had TWO access points off the main road. The price was high, but not totally out of the question. I was smitten. And decided I would design a house for that lot to explore whether it might be our new home.

Despite the surprise driveway, just off the edge of the it the property was a cliff. Seriously, the lot drops over 200 feet from the front property line to the back. So I needed a small footprint and knew I'd have to go vertical with the house. And here is the result:

The garage, with sky lounge above, sits toward the front of the property, and keeps the house from looking too much like a firetower.

From the back, the house shows it's height. Four stories, clad in stone and composite siding, it's a decidedly contemporary house. On one level, off the kitchen and dining area, is a wrap around porch, supported from below by huge sweeping brackets.

From the side, the house reveals itself even more. The "tower" element is at the rear, with a sweeping roof that reached out to the view. The garage wing, set far forward of the main house, has additional living space above it, accessed by a light filled "bridge" that serves as a library.

At the top of the house, offering the most spectacular view, is the penthouse level. A large great room is wrapped in glass and features a stone fireplace and an arched vaulted ceiling. Bathed in light by day, and the twinkle of the city by night, this room is a showstopper. The fireplace also opens to an elevated bridge space...with built in bookcases below the windows, it would be the perfect place to display a collection of books. It leads to the sky lounge over the garage, another large gathering space that looks out over the courtyard and past the main "tower" to the view beyond. A cantilevered corner balcony gives a one of a kind vista, and a full bath not only takes care of that floor for entertaining, but allows the sky lounge to double as overflow guest sleeping.

This is the level the house is entered on. The garage is semi-attached and forms a courtyard with a spa that sits out over the edge of the view. The house is all about the view. Floor to ceiling glass wherever possible makes the most of the stunning views the property offers. The foyer is accented by stone wrapped columns, and the island kitchen has a vaulted ceiling and joins an open dining and sitting area. These spaces open to a covered porch and would certainly be the heart of the house.

One level down from the kitchen is the master suite. Again, the view is the focus. Even the shower looks out over the mountains and city, with glass walls to the view and also inward to the bedroom itself--making light move through this floor no matter the time of day.

The very lowest level is home to the guest quarters. Two nicely sized bedrooms share access to a patio and a hall bath. A large laundry room is also off the hallway.

Unfortunately, for me anyway, the cost to build Skyridge is out of my budget right now. So we are offering it as a pre-designed plan. Please contact us at southgateresidential@gmail.com if you'd like more information.

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On the Boards: Small Space Living

Here's a quick look at something we have in the works. A small house that lives large. At  just over 1400 square feet, the house is compact, with a small footprint. A wide open first floor features a drop-zone in the foyer, built-in desk in the great room, and a surprisingly spacious kitchen.

Upstairs, the master suite features lots of glass, vaulted ceilings, a large glass shower, and walk-in closet. A secondary bedroom  also enjoys a private bath, while the oversized hallway has what is sure to be the favorite spot in the house: a built in bed lined with bookcases and a skylight.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new design!

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New Pre-Designed Plan: The Meadow Rose

Our latest pre-designed plan, The Meadow Rose, features a common layout and uncommon details. It may seem familiar...indeed, the basic arrangement of rooms is classic, and the exterior is an expanded "five over four and a door" look that is as American as apple pie. But what sets this plan apart are the details. A cast stone band delineates between the stories, a graceful eyebrow dormer accents the roof, and a beautifully detailed front porch and classical front door highlight the front of the house.

The rear elevation shows even more a departure from the norm. Walls of glass flood the interior with light and patios, terraces, and a screened porch expand the living space into the outdoors. Again, the details make the difference. Insets of herringbone brick dress up the chimneys, and brick piers bring solidity to the terraces.

The main floor has a traditional layout...formal living and dining rooms flank the foyer. A gracefully sweeping staircase climbs from the foyer and joins a back stair at the landing. At the rear of the house, the floor plan opens up, a two story great room, large chef's kitchen, and vaulted morning room combine to form a generous space for entertaining. A huge walk-in pantry, mudroom with built-ins and closet provide a place for stowing all the essentials, and a main floor suite is privately located--making it perfect for guests, as an in-law suite, or even a private spot for live-in help. An oversized two-car garage has room for not only the family autos, but one corner can serve as a shop or potting area. At the opposite side of the main floor, a large sunroom expands the entertaining area and a book-lined library is a great spot for taking in the latest best-seller or working from  home. Throughout, intricate trimwork, built-ins, and special ceiling details set the house apart.

Upstairs, three more bedroom suites round out the sleeping quarters. Each bedroom has a private bathroom, one so grand it can serve as a second master suite. The true master suite rivals the finest hotel rooms. A corner fireplace, tray ceiling, and double door entry highlight the sweeping space. A morning kitchen is conveniently located--perfect for late night snacks, or a cup of coffee to get the owner's day started. The closet space is absolutely enviable. The smallest of the two walk ins features as much space as most couples need, and a room-sized second closet will satisfy the most discerning clothes horse. With walls of shelving, a center island, and convenient access to the laundry room, it's a dressing room that will have people talking for years. And the bath is no less memorable, with its barrel vaulted ceiling, glass walk-in shower, and sunken tub separated from the vanities by a pair of columns. The hallway overlooks both the foyer and great room, giving the whole house a bright and open feeling.

On the lowest level, the Meadow Rose provides more space for entertaining, with a large media room, fully outfitted wet bar, and a wine cellar. Another garage is perfect for storing the four wheeled "baby" in the family. Several thousand square feet of unfinished space provides room for storage, mechanical systems, and whatever rooms the lucky family who calls the house home may need in the future.

Including the finished portion of the lower level, The Meadow Rose is just over 6,000 square feet of bright, comfortable, beautifully detailed space. It's an heirloom house that's sure to be cherished for generations.

If you're interested in The Meadow Rose, or any of our other pre-designed plans, please contact us at southgateresidential@gmail.com.

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A Sneak Peak at A Whole House Renovation

This old gal isn't quite ready for her close up, but here's a sneak peak at a dramatic makeover of a timeworn house in a wonderful downtown neighborhood. We took the original 1100 square foot house, added a second floor, a new master suite, and replaced the original maze of small rooms with a wide open floor plan. The result is a 2700 square foot house with great curb appeal...and ready for the next sixty years!

We'll be bringing you some more photos of this house in the coming weeks. But for now, what do you think of the outside?

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New Plan: The Kirkwood

Here's the latest plan we are adding to our pre-designed portfolio: The Kirkwood. It's a 1690 square foot  cottage that has the features and feel of a much larger house.

The exterior is a mix of shake siding, metal roofing, and natural stone veneers. Accents of heavy timber and paneled shutters complete the look.

Inside, hallways have been kept to a minimum to make the most of the square footage. The core of the house is a wide open space with vaulted great room and dining space, and a kitchen with angled peninsula. A tall fireplace anchors the room, and a wall of glass overlooks a large screened in porch. The sleeping quarters are split...with two large family bedrooms sharing a large bathroom at the front, and a luxurious master suite at the rear. With a tray ceiling, corner tub, and a large walk-in closet, it's the sort of suite you might expect in a house twice this size.

As always, we would love to hear your feedback! And remember to join us on Facebook!

On The Boards, A Traditional Cottage

The second of two homes I'm currently designing for an infill lot, this house, like it's companion, has an elevation meant to blend seamlessly into a neighborhood of charming homes, most vintage to the 1920's-1940's. The steep streetside lot allows us to tuck a two car garage under the house, and a set of brick steps winds up to the swoop-roofed front porch. The mix of materials, including a half timbering effect in the steep front facing gables, gives the old-house look that the client and I were after.

The main floor is home to an open great room and kitchen area, with a wall of built ins and a corner fireplace. The lack of walls makes the relatively small square footage feel bigger than it is. The master suite fills the other side of the plan, with a large bedroom, luxurious bathroom, and a spacious walk in closet. A panel opens from the closet to the laundry, allowing the wash to be easily passed back and forth. The impressive staircase has stained glass windows at the landing, washing light down to the front door.

Upstairs, three bedrooms each enjoy ample closet space and access to a bath with double sinks. If needed, any one of the rooms could be called on to be used as a study, an exercise room, or craft area.

The house lives larger than its 2350 square feet, and will give its new owners the feeling of a much larger home, but with the benefit of less space to clean and maintain.

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