At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design

I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from readers about seeing different ways to open up old houses.  This article shows one approach to opening up a 1930’s Brick Cape.

The clients – now empty nesters in Washington, DC – want to take advantage of wonderful park-like views – opening their home to the back-yard.   Also on their wish-list is opening the kitchen to the rest of the house and creating a study for him for when he retires in a few years.

Rendering of View From Foyer thru New Addition

The concept calls for replacing an existing deck with a new family room addition and removing the wall between the kitchen and existing dining room.  We’ll leave all the appliances in the existing locations.  It’s a big cost reduction and the work triangle is efficient.  The homeowners – while cooking often – don’t feel the need to put money into fancy appliances or a multiple ovens.  They do want more counter space and mor display storage.  Replacing the dividing wall with an island provides additional work area, storage and a place for guests and family to gather.  Across the extended hallway/gathering space, a large custom hutch provides storage and display space.

Rendering of Newly Opened Kitchen Using Exposed Beams

By using exposed timber beams we create a very appealing effect as well as save money.  The stone veneer – inside and out – on the addition helps tie the home to it’s beautiful park-like setting.  Refacing the fireplace with the same ledgerstone helps tie the old portions of the home with the new.  The wall between the kitchen and living room will be turned into a partial height wall just high enough to hang the upper cabinets.  This change will help bring light into the living room and creates a surface to rest an additional decorative beam.

Rendered Back View of Cape Remodel

You can see from both the interior views and the exterior view that the remodeled home will be now fully integrated with its wooded site with abundant daylight and views.  Because we’re limiting the addition to the area covered by the existing deck, the mature woodland landscape need not be disturbed.  We are extending to the right of the deck only enough to convert the study’s window into a glass door into the new addition.  This space will become the husband’s study with views to the back.

"After" Floor Plan

Existing Floor Plan

Here are the before pictures:

"Before" - Back of House

View from Foyer - Before Remodel

All images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build

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