Remodel, ADU
An architect’s job is to reimagine and reshape space–often within the constraints of an existing structure, limited square footage and code compliance. The major remodel of this Colonial Revival challenged us to make the most out of what landscape and law allowed, transforming a tumbledown, water-damaged fixer with sinking corners and sloping floors into a family-friendly compound with 800 square feet of reclaimed indoor/outdoor space adjoining a now-welcoming backyard. Creativity and a fresh perspective inspired us to convert the garage into a junior ADU, which we used to add entertaining space and outdoor access without changing the footprint of the structures. The challenge: the garage was 30 inches higher than the floor of the house. We lowered the garage floor and attic above to align with the home’s main floor and second story. On the first floor, connecting the two structures created flow from a now much larger, remodeled kitchen into the new adjacent family and dining room, located in the former garage. A three-panel, bifold door and a patio off these rooms affected a reorientation of the entire landscape, with the formerly inaccessible “side” yard now a beautiful “backyard” that is central to the family’s life. The remodeled basement – a new bedroom and entertainment/living room/playroom/home office with a beverage barat grade-level also opens directly onto the yard. A new foundation, retaining walls and drainage ensure happy indoor/outdoor living for years to come.
On the second story, the private areas of the home also got a major upgrade when the garage’s former attic added square footage to the bedrooms and bathrooms, including a new third bedroom and upstairs laundry. Clients commonly request putting the primary suite on the same floor as the children’s rooms, but also desire privacy for the parents. The floorplan coming up the reconfigured stairs now sends family members one way to the parents’ suite, the other direction to the kids’ bedrooms and bathroom. With extra space and a more functional flow, this former fixer is now serene, beautiful and adaptable to a growing family – all within the original footprint. Sometimes, everything you need is already on hand; it’s just a matter of seeing the potential.
Contractor: Assembly Builders
Cabinetry: Xylo Interiors
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
Interior Designer: Julie Mitchiner, JAM Interior Design
