The purpose of this project was to finish the 3rd level of the home as a large multi-purpose recreational room, a separate bedroom with closet (or office), and install a pristine ¾ bathroom to serve these areas, thereby creating a private level of the home for use as master or guest suite. At the same time we changed the layout of several rooms on the 2nd floor to create a luxurious master suite with large walk-in closet, master bedroom, master bathroom and private office. Working with existing site conditions and creating efficiency in the proposed layout involved being dutiful in restoring the rooms while incorporating modern amenities. Our clients’ instructions were to reuse as many original materials as possible and, only where necessary, use new or re-purposed materials and fixtures that would complement the historical details and architectural features of the balloon-framed home.
The purpose of this project was to finish the 3rd level of the home as a large multi-purpose recreational room, a separate bedroom with closet (or office), and install this pristine ¾ bathroom to serve these areas, thereby creating a private level of the home for use as master or guest suite. Working with existing site conditions and creating efficiency in the proposed layout involved being dutiful in restoring the rooms while incorporating modern amenities. Our clients’ instructions were to reuse as many original materials as possible and, only where necessary, use new or re-purposed materials and fixtures that would complement the historical details and architectural features of the balloon-framed home.
The owner purchased their light fixtures from antique stores and had them re-wired for use with our modern electrical. Knob-and-tube wiring, conduit, and surface pull chain wiring was overhauled in conjunction with a major panel upgrade from fuses to circuits.
In the hallway, large room and office, wide plank hardwood flooring was stripped of its lead paint, patched and refinished with a natural stain and water based finish. The original interior doors, door handle and hinge hardware and millwork such as the tall three-piece base and mitered door and window casing was saved and reused where possible, and any new or missing materials were hand-milled to match. Leaded and stained glass panes were brought to us and we made frames, jambs and trim to install these in exterior and interior walls, or over doors as transoms. This layout now works spatially and functionally, gives the clients what they each desire, and includes personal effects and modern amenities while being attentive to the character of the aged home.
