STRAUSS
This lovely period living room is the result of extensive collaboration between the architect, Dirk Stennick, and Alward Construction. The project entailed a major addition to and renovation of an 19th century YWCA single room cabin. Complete new structural walls encase the original single wall construction, yet the finished result beautifully reflects the wishes of the owners to have a restored historic residence.
STRAUSS: KITCHEN
2001 NARI Grand and Region 7 CoTY Award, Entire HouseOur clients fell in love with this rustic little house on a bucolic hillside above a wooded valley. However the house was too small. What had started over a hundred years ago as a one-room YWCA cabin had, over many years, been modified into an assortment of interior spaces using different period materials and styles. Some of the work was carried out by competent carpenters while other was obviously not. However, it was the overall charm of the quilt-like patterning of the dwelling that attracted our clients.
They wanted ALWARD CONSTRUCTION to double the size of the house, adding a larger kitchen, a home office, guest and master bedroom suites. They wanted the new rooms to open to an outside living area where they could enjoy morning sun. They wanted a mud room where rain coats, muddy boots and the like could be kept. The rest of the house had to be completely remodeled to bring the total home into a harmonious whole.
The project was complicated by the fact that the original walls were single wall board and bat assemblies resting on a loose stone foundation. There was no framing. The entire envelope of the old house had to be rebuilt without losing the original charm of the dwelling.
Shown here is the kitchen which was a new addition. A steel frame system allowed the open ceiling with gabbled ends. Alward installed used flooring and period designed cabinets to retain the rustic feel of the house.
STRAUSS: BATHROOM
2001 NARI Grand and Region 7 CoTY, Entire HouseThis bathroom is part of the remodel and addition to what started as a YWCA cabin over a hundred years ago. The bathroom itself is an addition but built by Alward in a style that matches the remainder of the house in terms of fixtures and finishes, as well as the high ceiling and use of period materials. Careful selection of tiles for the floor, tub surround, shower and counter top, along with custom windows and period trim details, all contribute to the antique and warm feel of the room. Not featured here is the twin sink vanity for this husband-wife bathroom.
STRAUSS: HISTORIC RESTORATION
This dwelling started over a hundred years ago as a single open-room YWCA camp with a fireplace in the middle and two outside sleeping decks. Over time, additional decks were added. Indoors, plumbing led to the addition of a bathroom and kitchen. Eventually, the sleeping porches were turned into bedrooms with a hallway connecting them to the bathroom. A porch off the living room was converted to interior space. This patch work of spaces, interior volumes, varying floor levels and additions provided the charm which the owners wanted ALWARD CONSTRUCTION to preserve as we doubled the size of the project and completely rebuilt the original structures.
STRAUSS PROJECT CREDITS
Photographs: David Livingston
Design: Dirk Stennick
Builder: Neil Burmester of Alward Construction