|
|
|
|
| Reviving Timberlane |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
BEFORE: Good and designer Mona Hajj transformed 1,800 square feet of raw and unused attic space into two guest rooms and baths.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
AFTER: Good gave the compact rooms knee walls, which created 30-inch-tall ledges with valuable storage space below.
|
|
|
Good also succeeded in carving out two guest bedrooms and two baths from 1,800
square feet of unused attic space. Initially, a closet with a 2-by-2-foot hatch
to the attic short-circuited his creativity. "One day, I stood on the first
floor and realized the closet ought to be replaced with a staircase to solve
the need for guest rooms," he says.
Thirty-inch-high knee walls constructed
and plastered 2 feet from the attic's sloping perimeters serve as storage space
and flank the bed attractively like bedside tables. In one bedroom, Hajj introduced
a sunny yellow toile de Jouy as an appropriately country wallpaper finish. Throughout the remodeling, Good and Hajj reached for subtleties to infuse
the stuffy Georgian Revival of yesteryear with a fresh sense of style. "Country
houses usually have durable wood furniture, some bright primary colors on the
walls, and good rugs," says Hajj, who dovetailed her work with Good's to finesse
a cohesive look. "Our whole idea was to update the feel of the house, whether
it's through color, furniture, or fabrics, while preserving the classical elements
of the interior architecture."
| GOOD'S ADVICE |
| · Find a classically trained architect
who is experienced and demonstrably talented in renovating the period and
style of your house. The Institute of Classical Architecture in New York
(www.classicist.org) is a good resource for architects practicing in the
traditional manner. |
| · Craftsmanship of the '20s and '30s,
especially of interior woodwork and detailing, was exceptional. Don't lose
what is superior through careless obliteration. Remodeling to meet this
standard will cost more in terms of time and money but will be worth it
in terms of quality. |
| · As a rule of thumb for reallocating
spaces in fine, period-style houses, realize there's a sense of propriety
about how far to go. Be sure to stay in character and to borrow the style
of elements, such as paneling, window sizes, and molding profiles, from
the original design of the house to make any changes look seamless and sympathetic. |
| · Determine whether your house's mechanical
systems need to be updated. This may add to the costs of remodeling but
is much easier to correct while the house is still under construction. |
RESOURCES: Architecture by Wayne L. Good, Good Architecture, 410/268-7414,
goodarchitecture.com; interior design by Mona Hajj Interiors, 410/234-0091,
monahajj.com; landscape architecture by Graham Landscape Architecture,
410/269-5886, grahamlandarch.com; contractor, Winchester Construction Company,
Inc., 410/987-5905; The Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical
America, 212/730-9646, classicist.org.
| RELATED READING: Wayne L. Good, Architect:
Tradition, Elegance, Repose (Images Publishing Group, 2004) is available
through amazon.com. |
|
|
|
| PREVIOUS 1 | 2 | 3 |
BACK TO TOP |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
