Tour of Homes: Tasteful Transformation
TOPS caught up with the owners of this beautiful home during the holiday season to learn more about how they renovated and renewed their gorgeous home while still maintaining its historic charm.
When the now-owners of this cozy home near Tates Creek Road toured this house, they were drawn to how little had changed inside. The original hardwood floors ran throughout, the original shutters were intact and in good shape... even crystal doorknobs remained untouched by time. The house did require updating in order to make it comfortable for a busy family with young children. So the homeowners purchased the house with the intention of totally renovating its spaces and planned to move in when it was complete.
The living room was a special project for the homeowners. They worked diligently to ensure that the built-in shelving looked original to the home. In fact, the space they occupy was originally a pair of doorways to the side porch!
The shelves' niche caps and surrounding molding were custom made by Felber Ornamental Plastering Corporation, and were specially made to suit the home's time period. The family room features decorative trim molding, as well, which adds dimension and a historic touch.
The home's original kitchen windows were raised to accomodate new countertops. The homeowners added handmade Morningside glass cabinetry around the windows, creating beautiful storage that hearkened to the home's original time period. An island was added, as well as additional seating, for the family to more easily entertain and enjoy the space.
Split frosted glass doors were added to the pantry as an elegant solution for hiding what lies within. Architectural Kitchen and Bath installed beautiful new cabinetry in the kitchen and throughout the home. Clay Ingels did the home's windows and doors.
The homeowners focused on reworking the footprint of the home. They expanded the living space by integrating the original garage to the house. Their biggest priority was a seamless addition and renovation that was appropriate to the age of the house. They admit to sacrificing when necessary to achieve this, such as losing the home's original concrete tile roofing because it would be difficult to find new tiles.
For the homeowners and builders, the biggest challenge this house near Tates Creek Road presented was keeping the original structure standing while so many changes were going on, inside and out. While the builders removed the back of the house and dug a new basement, much of the home's structure was exposed. Atchison Heller handled the home's renovation and discovered that one of the home's supports had rotted, requiring emergency replacement. The discovery of such a fatal structural compromise saved the homeowners a lot of heartache down the road. By taking care of the issue, the homeowners can rest assured knowing that the home is ready to stand through many more years of life in Lexington.
An attic room was converted into a playroom for the children while this quaint space serves as a bedroom. Bright colors and playful ginghams make the space sweet, but the fireplace and closet doors help maintain the home's historic integrity. A cute chandelier offers a fun touch.
The patio area features a fireplace, flat screen television, dining nook and working fan for when the weather turns warmer. The French doors offer a bright view of the home's interior and ease of access to the sitting space outside.
Lynn Pedigo, the homeowners' planning consultant, suggested the couple use the space former occupied by the side porch as a master suite. The wife added a sitting room with a fireplace while the husband worked in a lot of televisions!
The bathroom features beautiful stone tile around the mirrors for a high impact pop of texture. The white cabietry and light flooring ensure that the space is bright and airy.
