Adding space and style

A two-story backyard addition brings much needed room and light while respecting the home's character.

Many older homes possess great character, but their formal living spaces and small kitchens aren't exactly geared for today's lifestyles. So if you fall in love with an older home, think about a backyard addition. You'll keep the integrity of the front facade while gaining the space you need.

"We knew we wanted an established older home, and we like the settled-in feeling of older neighborhoods," says Lynn Purdy of Richmond. "We also knew that a house with that attitude would more than likely need some renovation." After purchasing their home, the Purdys found architect Charles Aquino while going through old issues of Southern Living. "We liked this architect's designs, and then we realized he was in Richmond," Lynn remembers.

According to Charles, the goal was to open up the whole house to the backyard and fill it with light. "Our lot looks out on some woods, so privacy wasn't an issue," Lynn notes. The project involved a two-story addition featuring French doors and abundant windows along with a larger kitchen and a glassed-in breakfast room. Some challenges included connecting the new kitchen to the existing mudroom, reconfiguring the hall, and regrading and reshaping the yard to add a terrace.

Brick, used for the exterior, gives the addition a seamless flow from the original house. Matching the brick posed another challenge, but builder Chip Spitzer's diligence paid off. "When coordinating materials, you need to think like a detective," Chip says. "Often the brick is no longer manufactured, so you have to search brickyards for pieces that are left over to create an almost identical look."

The open kitchen is a modified galley style with the appliances on one wall. The adjacent island contains a cooktop; a seating area occupies the other side. "With this design, you don't have to walk through the working part of the kitchen to go through the room," Charles says. "And the island is situated so the cook has a full view outside." The attractive column built into one end is actually structural-- it's where the original house ended.

Initially the Purdys wanted an all-- white kitchen, but Charles persuaded them to consider natural maple. "I'm so pleased with the wood because it introduces more warmth into the room," Lynn says. Hardwood floors are softened by cream-colored carpet. Lynn, assisted by her friend Pat Campbell, chose a lively green for the walls. "Green is a favorite shade, and I didn't want the interiors to feel closed off," Lynn explains. That open-to-the-outside feeling is what the family enjoys. "We love to look out and see the changing seasons and everything in bloom."

ALICE WELSH DOYLE

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2002
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