A Home Facelift

Step 1: Evaluate

For this residence, Shapiro & Company Architects was hired to redo the front façade. Overall, the homeowner was not pleased with the way their house looked. In addition to remedying the owner's dissatisfaction, the achitect's wanted to address some of the poorly designed architectural elements: the out-of-proportion windows and front entryway gave the house a bulky appearance and the two-story entry was 1980's trendy. The house lacked charm and was not very welcoming.

Step 2: Design

After meeting with the client, Shapiro gained an insight into their likes and dislikes. The two design options as shown above reflected the owner's tastes while addressing the architectural problems mentioned above.

Step 3: Construction

The Side Windows:

One of the architect's major qualms with the original house design was the window proportion. In these pictures, the large first story windows have been removed completely to be replaced with tall, more elegant, french doors.

Front and Center:

First, the overhang was removed. The large area window was disassembled piece by piece and filled with brick. A subtle, yet important aspect to the new design was to create a larger more classical cornice line. So the builder, Lowell Hays, removed the existing and began to replace it with the new cornice design.

Unlike the former façade, the new entryway relays a sense of grandeur without being overwhelming or misproportioned.  The new front door unifies the french doors and windows.  Everything is a grounding focal point in the light, circular window.   

Curious as to how a circular window is installed?  Check out this clip from the Discovery Channel's "How Stuff Works." Lowell Hays was very careful and attentive to ensuring that the project remained in budget while also helping achieve the architect's vision.

The Exterior Finish:

  

A parge coat, (a thin coat of mortar) was added to the exterior to give the brick an authentic aged look.

The Details:

The owner wanted the exterior colors to be classic yet fresh and bright. Working with the owner, the architect selected several color options and the builder made large samples for the owners' review.

  

To create a welcome front the grade was slightly lowered and a blue-stone terrace was added along with wide steps and iron railing. To complete the look, beautiful shutters were installed.

The Garage:

  

A completely new feature for this home was an extension on the garage. The sequence above shows the progression from bare bones to structure. The same design elements from the entryway have been employed so the extension feels natural and looks seamless.

Step 4: Completion!

This home "face-lift" was a very successful collaboration between client, architect (Shapiro & Company Architects), and builder (Lowell Hays), resulting in a beautiful home that the owner can truly enjoy and be proud to own.