project team
maccini construction company
obelisk engineering
awards
2014 | Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Honoree
2013 | AIA Central States Region Excellence in Design – Residential Architecture Citation
photo
Constructed in 1953, this 2-story French Colonial home was in desperate need of an update from its Leave it to Beaver roots. The previously unremarkable structure featured a porch-less, unwelcoming front entry and dormer windows. The primary goal of the project was to design a home that functioned well for the clients, who were long-time residents of the neighborhood and who enjoyed entertaining both large and small groups. The clients also desired to have appropriate spaces to exhibit an extensive art and reading collection. Exceptional curb appeal and landscaping were also priorities.
The key to the design was to create inspiring spaces with minimal moves. Working within zoning restrictions, the original footprint of the home remains, yet openness and light were brought into the space previously darkened by typical hallways and closed-off rooms. The outdoor patio and balcony, with an exaggerated angled roof line directly aligning with the zoning setbacks, creates a beautiful and dramatic second indoor/outdoor living area. The library overlooking the 2-story glass of this patio connects the main house to the previously separated maid quarters and garage. Other simple strokes include the addition of a low-slung front porch floating above the glass front wall, the expansion of the garage attic into a laundry room, and a visual breezeway connecting the second-level front and back balconies and opening the stairwell to both levels.
The few positive attributes of the original house were incorporated into the design. Colonial proportions were maintained, stonework unique to the neighborhood was mostly left in place, and stone was reused to create the interior living room fireplace hearth and mantle to match the existing dining room fireplace. The original street-facing dormers were modified and exaggerated to provide an identity.
