I've always loved the saying, “Bloom where you're planted.” It rings just as true in design as in cross-country moves. I love an integrated space, where the new blends seamlessly into the old.
In 2009, we transformed a small 1958 tri-level into a home that could accommodate a growing family, work-from-home adults, and frequent out-of-town guests.
Identifying Needs
We started by identifying key needs.:
Welcoming entryway
Main floor primary bedroom with en suite bath
Mudroom with laundry and half-bath
We kept the Integrity Modern philosophy in the front of our minds. We didn't want a boxy addition stuck on the side of the house. We wanted the addition and the remodeled areas to blend in seamlessly with the old.
Salvage
The best way to make the new look like it's always been there? Use salvage materials. From nearby midcentury homes that were being gutted or torn down, we found (on Craigslist):
3 vanities
4 sinks
2 bathroom lights
4 medicine cabinets
A bathtub
13 solid wood interior doors
A mail slot (no, really!)
The result? A modest addition - 400 SF - creating a house with smart space, not wasted space. This makes for a home the family will enjoy for many years to come.
A great big hole where the addition will go.
New primary bathroom, circa 2010...with vanity, sinks, medicine cabinets, and tub circa 1948.