Kitchen

The kitchen was redesigned with three main goals: strengthen the connection both visually and physically to the deck and the rear yard garden, organize the cabinet layout for optimum use and performance, and upgrade the systems of envelope, heating and cooling, ventilating, lighting and electricity.

The kitchen is organized to create three distinct areas: food preparation, cooking, and storage. The food preparation area has the kitchen sink overlooking the deck and the garden through three large windows– emphasized by a custom cherry trim at the windows which provides a storage and display shelf for the owner’s collection of antique arts and crafts vases. The cooking area has drawers for pots and pans, baking dishes, cookie sheets and utensils. Flanking the stove are two tiered spice racks for easy access while cooking. The third counter area is organized for storage of clean table ware and the cleaning of soiled dishes placing a rinse-off sink adjacent to the undercounted dish washer.

New systems include dimmable LED task lighting located above each work surface along with new code compliant electrical service. The exterior walls have R 28 closed cell spray foam insulation with new thermal break windows and French doors overlooking the deck. All plumbing fixtures and piping is new including water efficient faucets. The existing white oak floor was repaired and refurbished. A mini-split HVAC unit provides heating and cooling to the room.

Rear Deck

The existing rear deck off the kitchen overlooks is the rear yard garden, a full story below. The original deck plan was arranged to reflect the shape of the bays at the front of the house. The existing painted railings were designed with the balusters close together offering a strong sense of protection but offering blocked views to the garden below. Underneath the deck, the storage area had only one access door. The original deck was framed with pressure treated lumber and clad with painted clear cedar. Though the painted cedar rails and deck matched the house, the coating increased the deterioration of the connectors and contributed to the rotting of the wood.

The design approach to the renovations of the deck was to provide simple natural materials offering some privacy while increasing the view of the garden’s beauty from the deck and kitchen.

The rotting decking was replaced with natural tropical hardwood, treated with preservative. New stained cedar panel guards where installed to provide privacy panels on the sides and “view-rail” cable gaurds installed for optimal garden views.

Under the deck, the storage shed was clad with matching cedar privacy panels and cypress planks over the existing framing allowing privacy and ventilation. Convertible alum screen doors were added on two sides of the storage area for access from both the front and the rear yards.

Bath

The house was designed with just one toilet in the house, in the second-floor bathroom. When that bathroom was remodeled, the materials installed were chosen for economy, rather than extended life cycle. Especially concerning was the 12×12 ceramic tile that was surprisingly slick when wet, posing an everyday slipping risk. The floor replaced with 4×4 slate tile which provides a slip free flooring while being aesthetically pleasing. The tub and tile surround were reused in place. The toilet and sink were replaced in the same locations with modern water efficient fixtures. The failing fiberboard wainscot was replaced with plaster.

Plain Sliced American cherry was used for the trim and cabinetry. The trim profiles were designed to be fabricated using only a table saw to form the shapes for a unique custom product. The wood remains natural with several very thin coats of polyurethane for lasting protection. The medicine chest was designed with the mirrored door centered on the sink and two of the overhead lights to cast light evenly on one’s face. Other shelves and compartments were installed to provide a variety of storage options.

The dark maroon/purple variegated stone was salvaged from the walls of a 19th century sanitarium lobby in Boston, repurposed for use as shelves in the renovated the bath.

Half Bath

One toilet in the house with 4 stories of usable space is not enough. A half bath was designed tucked into the existing house under the central stair in the court between two first floor wings. Space for the 5’x5’ lavatory was found by stepping down three steps and adding 10 SF to the first floor. The only closet on the first floor was added for cleaning supplies, storage and equipment. New water conservation fixtures were used. The 1×1 floor tile is a combination of cut natural stones and recycled glass bottles.

During construction it was observed that during the winter months, the low sun cast directly through the studs illuminating the bottom of the basement stair. A sash from an original double hung window with obscured glass was repurposed and installed (fixed) in the wall between the lavatory and the stair way to preserve the effect every winter. The monochrome paint was used to emphasize the color quality changes created by light and shadow.

Front Porch

The aging front porch had a lot of fundamental problems with insufficient framing, rotting wood members, insect and vermin infestation and the leaking roof, flashings and gutters. In the winter months, water leaked from the flat roof and gutter, freezing on the front steps.

Correction of the inherent safety issues became a priority to replace the porch with a design that incorporates an aesthetic more fitting the arts and crafts aspect of the house. The gable ended roof sheds rainwater away from the stairs and front walk. The long overhangs at the roof rake protect the sides of the porch from rain and add shade to the sitting area. The framing was bolstered and more robust decking installed.

The exposed roof framing is built from custom milled clear Douglas fir and red cedar. The half-height piers that flank the stair and provide column bases are clad in painted cedar shingles matching the main house, with solid granite tops to protect the interior from water damage. There is a mail slot in the west base that deposits the mail into a drawer for access from the sitting side. The painted column covers are adorned with arts and crafts tiles set into the faces. The concrete bottom landing of the stair has inlaid tile with a hand-crafted dragon fly center tile. The side rails have abstract motifs of garden flowers applied to and cut into the members. The existing lighting was replaced with patinaed arts and crafts lighting fixtures, placed to shine light through the various framing members for nighttime brilliance.

Photos by John Moore