Making a Historic Home Work for a Modern Family

Everyone loves the irresistible charm of an older home. There is much to recommend them–charming mouldings and wide-plank wood floors, abundant nooks and crannies, and a sense of history that can both transport and ground us. But it can also be challenging for modern families to live in spaces designed for a different time and a different way of life.

When issues like this arise, renovation is often the answer. Such was the case in this Project Spotlight, in which we transformed a late 19th century home to better suit the needs and wants of contemporary living.

This large-scale remodel involved the renovation and redesigning of several rooms. A first floor bathroom was completely renovated. A laundry room was moved from a closet-like space in the kitchen to its own second floor location, with much more storage and usable space. A former changing room/walk-in closet off of the master bedroom was re-divided to allow for several upgrades, namely a true walk-in closet, a dedicated master bathroom, and an additional bathroom for the client’s daughter.

These renovations solved the client’s chief problems of needing more bathrooms for their family, and much more storage. As always with a historical renovation, there were inherent challenges that called for innovative solutions.

Project Manager Jeremiah Mills led a field team of talented craftsman in meeting those challenges. There were issues of structural flooring and framing. Lots of hands had touched this more than 100 year-old home, and a solid and straight foundation was needed before any further work could commence. Because this remodel called for lots of work on bathrooms, and we did not want our clients to be overly inconvenienced while the work was taking place, we planned and installed a temporary fiberglass shower unit in the first floor bathroom for their use during the renovations. We removed it when the work was complete.

When it came time to focus on the design elements, it was important to make choices that would reflect the traditional style of the home, while incorporating modern aesthetics. Interior designer Brooke Stollery was on hand to help marry the historic with the contemporary.

“The clients wanted to create a simple ‘boutique’ feel while still suiting the character of the historic home,” says Brooke. “I think the new clawfoot tub, mosaic marble flooring, and traditional, antique style of the selected fixtures pulled that together really nicely.”

We also milled trim to replicate what was already existing in the home to create a cohesive look to all of the rooms. Custom Schrader cabinets in the new laundry room, double pocket doors, and refinished wood flooring and stairs also elevated and improved the look of the whole house.

“Our clients were wonderful to work with and we take tremendous pride in knowing that we were able to take the home they loved and make it work so much better for their family,” says Project Planner Brian Taber.

The end result is a charming example of how respectful updates to a historic home can make all the difference for the families that inhabit them, keeping them livable and well-loved for many generations to come.

 

You Don’t Need to Go Bigger to Get Better

When clients come to us with hopes to remodel their existing home, we know they are doing so because they want to remain in the house that they love while improving the functionality of their space. One might think this necessarily means making rooms larger–adding square footage or knocking down walls. But sometimes all that is needed is imagination, innovation, and thoughtful design.

In this Project Spotlight, a kitchen is remodeled to improve the function and design for two avid home cooks. And with careful planning and some inspiring design elements, no changes needed to be made to the kitchen’s original size and footprint.

The work began with some structural basics. The kitchen was actually part of a previous home addition, and the floors had not been perfectly leveled to the original structure. Once the Schrader team rectified that and improved insulation to exterior walls for energy efficiency, the design improvements could begin.

The kitchen already featured a lovely hexagonal, windowed eating area and a kitchen island with seating. The island was completely reconstructed with new countertops and a wider work surface area, and by re-orienting the seating at the island, the flow of the room was improved and more space for cooking was created.

This project also posed a unique venting challenge. These skilled home cooks have an induction stove top, but a skylight was positioned directly above it. To work around this venting issue, a pop-up vent was installed, which rises out of the counter and then slides back down at the bush of a button–an exciting technological innovation that also works with the room’s streamlined aesthetic.

For added storage and functionality, Aventos by Blum soft-function lift-systems were added, to house small appliances and whatever else the homeowners might need.

The final look of the complete kitchen is light, bright, and modern. The clients were enthusiastic participants throughout the renovation, researching ideas and products and collaborating with Project Planner Brian Taber and Schrader cabinet craftsman Robert Page closely on all aspects of the work. Project Manager Val DeCesare oversaw the work to its successful and beautiful completion.

“This particular project is a perfect example of how to increase functionality without increasing space,” says Brian. “The homeowners love cooking and entertaining in their new kitchen and that’s the most rewarding thing for us.”