Farm house Rebirth

Project Details

Project Description

The Owner bought this property as an investment with the intent of tearing down the abandoned and dilapidated house and outbuildings to create a subdivision in the future. After calling in the Architect to discuss possibilities, the decision was made to restore the late 1800's structure and add new space to make the home a suitable weekend retreat for their personal use. While the house was in need structural repairs and a new roof, there were some interesting and unique features that caused the project to become a labor of love. The original stone fireplace is one of (if not the) largest historic stone fireplace in the area left intact. The original dog trot had been enclosed during past renovations and the narrow winding staircase in the Family room remained intact as a rare surviving example of a once common feature in the area. The new design called for the restoration of the existing interior wood walls floors, ceilings, fireplaces and windows. The original Kitchen got an over haul bringing it up to modern standards while keeping the stone fireplace and windows. The dog trot is now a formal Dining room and the front porch is now a Living room that connects the new Entry to the Family room that shares the stone fireplace with the Kitchen. A new front that faces the street, master suite, screen porch, bunk room and baths, laundry and closets complete the project checklist of desired spaces and features. The new exterior replaced multiple layers of siding with new lap siding and reworked the existing stone to make the chimneys and foundations structurally sound again. The interior materials and colors were selected to compliment the original wood finishes and create a seamless flow inside between old and new spaces. The finished project has been such a huge hit with the family and their friends that it has someone it in almost every weekend, bringing life back to an older home that was missing for years. This project is not only a beautiful example of sensitive historic restoration and renovations, it has proven that proper vision and good design can bring life back to otherwise overlooked historic properties.