Staying true to the spirit

This Tampa bungalow exemplifies one of the South's most popular architectural styles.

Ever heard the expression, "If these walls could talk"? Interior designer Cynthia Alander certainly has. When the walls of her Hyde Park home in Tampa struck up a conversation, she listened intensely. "I'm a firm believer that a person should live in an existing house for some time before doing anything to it," Cynthia says. "A house will tell you what it needs; then you should take action."

Responding in a MajorWay

She followed her own advice by taking on the entire house, backyard, and garage. After living in their bungalow for more than 15 years, Cynthia, her husband, and their teenage son were in dire need of more space. Securing the help of architect Don Cooper, the Alanders set about enlarging their modest 1,500-square-foot home. Cynthia also turned to Karim Tahiri, of Soleil Design Build, for building the addition.

Because the bungalow had been modified numerous times since the 1940s, it was now an awkward hodgepodge of its former self that did not complement its historic neighborhood.

Undaunted, Cynthia saw a design opportunity that, up until then, hadn't been explored. "By the time we realized that a major renovation was not feasible," she explains, "we decided to tear down the whole house and rebuild from scratch. Our intentions centered on re-creating the original character of the house, while incorporating the additions that we had initially planned."

Both Cynthia and the architect committed themselves to these goals by paying close attention to the exterior details of the new structure. All the elements that characterize a Hyde Park residence, such as siding and trim features, exposed rafter shapes, and even the scale, were crucial in creating a house that fit in its setting. For Cynthia, keeping the front porch columns of the original house was especially important. "I insisted on salvaging the old columns and reusing them on the new bungalow," she explains, "because they embodied the spirit of the place."

A Garage Worthy of Attention

Behind the new home, Don planned for a new detached garage that contains an upstairs office space for Cynthia's business. "Don created a design that was not just a mini version of the main house. Instead, the garage has its own sense of place, and it doesn't loom over the entire backyard," Cynthia says. Resembling a carriage house, the structure is constructed as a pass-through, in which doors open on both the front and back sides, providing access from the front drive to a rear alley. The architect also devised a covered breezeway that serves as an attractive, functional connector between the garage and the main house. Above, Cynthia's office loft overlooks a backyard pool.

Small Things Make a Difference

Along with the details, the choice of materials became equally critical in the redesign. "The Alanders' bungalow and garage are built in the old-fashioned way, but with new products," Karim says. Responding to the Florida climate, Cynthia selected low-maintenance materials such as fiber-cement board, wood-and-plastic composite decking, concrete and brick paving, and vinyl-- clad windows. "What's particularly special about this house," Karim continues, "is that its durability and easy upkeep do not compromise the detailing and character of its design."

Cynthia devoted a lot of time and energy to the project's paint colors as well. Choosing cool tones of blue for the siding, along with creams and whites for the trim, she strove to give the house an even greater connection to its balmy surroundings. "I've even had people knock on the front door just to ask me where I got my paint colors," she adds with a laugh. "When that type of thing happens, I know we did something right." ROBERT MARTIN

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Spring 2002
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