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Chances were likely this 1957 architectural home would have been another victim of Mcmansion Frenzy had I not bought and restored it. I competed against 6 other offers, all from builders looking to tear it down for the land value.
I immediately recognized its renovation potential, even before the owners told me it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé Robert Green. It had 10-foot ceilings in every room and walls of sliding glass that opened onto courtyards, decks and serene views of dogwood trees and Japanese Maples. I could see what those builders couldn’t-an architectural classic that would outlast all their building trends!
The first order of business was to restore the failing carport. Improper installation of the roof flashing had caused extensive wood rot, and the structure was almost beyond repair. We had to rebuild75% of it, but were able to replicate the original structure to a tee! We opted for one update: a light corrugated metal roof that was more efficient than the standard tar and gravel style and complemented the home’s aluminum windows.
Inside, we did a complete overhaul of the kitchen and baths. As much as it pained me to demo the original tile, fixtures and cabinetry, I felt the rooms were begging for an update. For the bathrooms, I chose an elegant “W Hotel” approach, using marble on the walls, Toto toilets, and Hansgroehe fixtures. The kitchen received a sleek modern treatment with high-gloss white Ikea cabinets, charcoal slate floors and stainless steel appliances.
In the living room, we took up the old carpet and refinished the hardwood floors in a black stain with mirror finish. One set of giant aluminum doors opened onto a new deck with steel cable railing, the other a new Japanese meditation garden.
To achieve a Zen-like simplicity, I chose a limited color and material palette that was repeated throughout the home. Design studio white walls were paired with dark grey carpet, slate, and black hardwood. Outdoor spaces continued the flow, with grey-stained decks and a courtyard with slate chip underfoot.
