Period Piece: Remodel and Addition Modernize While Preserving a Century of Character

Project Details

Project Description

Just shy of 100 years old and sorely neglected, this classic foursquare gained a dramatic restoration and expansion that impressed the judges as “absolutely amazing … an extremely skilled period piece.”

The owners’ program included an entry foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen with adjoining breakfast room, three bedrooms, two baths, an office/guest room on the third floor, and the possibility of building out the basement.

To architect Greg Wiedemann, the result “demonstrates that one can substantially increase the useful area of a historic home without major changes to its character.” For instance, he and his team nearly doubled the home’s living space by finishing the attic and excavating the basement (then a crawlspace) for an additional bedroom, bathroom, mudroom, and recreation room.

The project addressed structural problems while also restoring the original details where possible. Sagging joists and beams were sistered to new timbers; the plumbing and wiring were replaced; the windows, exterior trim, and shingles were restored; and period interior natural oak trim was custom-milled to complete the seamless transition.