This older residence was packed with character everywhere except the kitchen. The areas without character provided endless amounts of potential: The kitchen was expanded and updated with modern finishes; the large and comfortable family room and deck were added onto the back of the house; the addition of a powder room to the home’s main floor (a very welcome necessity!)… and that was just the first floor. On the second floor a tiny bedroom was converted into the master bath while the addition’s whole second floor space was dedicated to the master bedroom and closet. In the basement, a two-car garage space now receives the home’s owners after each day’s work.
Knowing the condition of the home’s foundation, the whole addition was designed with beams and structural principles that prohibited more weight on to the existing foundation.
The house presented different floor levels from the existing kitchen to the adjoining dining room: A portion of the 1st floor’s sub-floor is concrete (with the other portion being wood) and settling had resulted in an uneven floor with nearly 2” of slope! This became a real challenge when we opened up the back of the house and matched new floors for both levels. We overcame the situation by installing strips of framing material, cut to size, that is glued and fastened to the floor with a new wood sub-floor applied on top.
The home’s original heating system utilized radiators. We removed them and added two (2) forced air HVAC systems zoned for each floor.
This home and the home next door share a narrow driveway leading to their respective garages. Mobilizing materials and equipment had to be carefully coordinated with respect to the neighbors to minimize and negate disruptions for them.
The homeowners wanted wall space to display some extremely large pieces of artwork which needed to be considered in the design from Day One.
Upon completion the home owners were ecstatic and very pleased with their residence. Access to the new spaces weld seamlessly with the original structure, the varying floor heights is a past issue, the new mechanical systems operate efficiently and the house was large enough to welcome over 150 guests for a holiday party upon completion.
Taking part in the planning and spatial considerations allowed the homeowners to maximize their return. They have large rooms with beautifully coordinated finishes; new functional (and pretty) appliances; and walls sized to adequately display some very large framed prints.
Before purchasing this home, the homeowners had watched it on the real-estate market for over six months – knowing it had issues. Finally the time was right to make an offer. While waiting to close on the contract the design/build process began planning that would update the systems and make it comfortable for their lifestyle. After overcoming obstacles, the result is a three story addition on the backside of the home: a 2-car garage; a new relaxing family room, a welcoming kitchen with plenty of counter space, a new powder room; and a master suite fit for a busy lifestyle.
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314.962.7073 | 8045 Big Bend, Suite 104 | Webster Groves, MO 63119 | info@scheipeter.com
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