DESIGN CONCEPT
The owners of this 1980’s-vintage colonial-style home are avid fans of Craftsman-style architecture.  The interior of the home had already been remodeled and decorated to reflect that style, and they decided to remodel the exterior of the house to match.  In addition, they wanted to take the opportunity to improve both the floor plan as well as the automobile approach to the house, which sits far back on its 5-acre wooded lot. 

MAKEOVER OF EXISTING HOUSE
The front porch would be rebuilt using double columns on tapered stone bases and a low-sloped roof.  The exterior finishes of the house would be replaced with more appropriate materials such as stone veneer and shingle siding and the gutters and downspouts would be replaced with copper. The windows would remain the same but the detachable lower mullions would be removed allowing them to take on a more appropriate look.  An octagonal window upstairs would be replaced by a stained-glass window.  Additional touches such as a Craftsman-style front door, a shed roof attic vent, brackets and detailed roof fascia boards complete the picture.

ADDITION OF MASTER SUITE
A new master bedroom would extend the house on the uphill side. This would be complimented by a bathroom, closet and reading alcove and would look out over a new trellised terrace extending into the back yard.

ADDITION OF GARAGE
The original garage was closed in by the previous owners.  The terrain dropping from the house on the garage side necessitates the new garage level to be lower
than the main floor and the link connecting them would contain steps both down to the garage, as well as up to a studio room over the garage.  A trellis over the carriage-style garage doors softens the scale of this element and the low gable over the windows above echoes the low gable on the new front porch.

IMPROVEMENT OF DRIVEWAY
A new driveway would replace a thin gravel path currently leading cars through the trees to the side of the house where the original garage was closed in.  A lack of guest parking has always forced guests to park in the cul-de-sac and to walk through the (often dark) woods.  The driveway was redesigned to end up at a large turnaround, surrounded by low stone retaining walls with room for several cars to park without blocking others from passing through.  The drop-off area is made more inviting by a small sitting area and low planters.