modern renovation
Emily Oster
Yesterday, I had a meeting with a homeowner to discuss the renovation of a previous addition to their 1950s (I am guessing) home. The addition was probably added in the 60s or 70s and was a solarium/swanky hang out room. Its roughly 900 square feet and the homeowners would like to convert it to include a master suite, powder room and seating area. From the exterior, the addition is quite noticeable and not necessarily in a good way. The main challenge of this project will be how to make the addition flow with the rest of the house both on the exterior and interior. We discussed two strategies for the exterior. The first is to change the roofline of the addition to mimic the gables that appear on the other side of the house. In doing this, as well as changing out the windows to match the rest of the house the facade will work as a cohesive whole. The second option is to "modernize" the addition so that it stands out in a distinct and new way while still complimenting the traditional existing facade. With any addition or renovation of an existing facade, proportion, scale and material selection are key. As part of the initial design process, I have started looking at examples of modern additions to traditional homes. See below for a few well done examples and head to their respective websites for a closer look at the designs.