Zimmerman Architects Denville NJ
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Archive for Exterior Improvements

Expanded Bungalow

From Seasonal Bungalow to Forever Home

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 February 27, 2025

Building With Hope and Faith

A Little Bungalow Grows Up

Street view of expanded bungalow

This month we’re pleased to feature a project that was joyful all around. To give it the attention it deserves, we’re splitting this into two parts. This month we’ll highlight the exterior transformation. Stay tuned next month, when we showcase the interior.

This month we’re pleased to feature a project that was joyful all around. To give it the attention it deserves, we’re splitting this into two parts. This month we’ll highlight the exterior transformation. Stay tuned next month, when we showcase the interior.

We start with a little bungalow from the 1930’s that was likely intended as a seasonal getaway in this lovely lake community.

The homeowners loved it from the start – and fell in love with the lake community, the charms of the house, their neighbors and the neighborhood. So, rather than sell and move to a larger home as their family grew, the house grew with them. 

“Narrowly Challenged”

While it was a home they loved, it seemed that everything about the house was little. The stairway was so narrow you couldn’t move furniture upstairs. And the front porch only had a sliver of space that could barely fit any seating. However, they did recognize that the porch added to the charm of the house.

Front View of the house Before
Front View of the house Before
Street View of the house Before
Street View of the house Before

Then there was the tiny detached garage, and the front door that opened right into the kitchen – the house was missing any kind of entry way. The family felt as if they had a “back door but no front door”. On the opposite end of the challenges, the upstairs hallway felt like a big wasted space they couldn’t figure out what to do with at all.

We strive to retain the original history and charm of the house, if that’s what the homeowners love about it. But we always find solutions to the challenges that frustrate them, and strive to make things even better than expected. And this project was no exception!

Addition and Porch

Addition and Porch

We designed an addition which connects the house to the detached garage. In the newly created space of the addition, we now had a place for a real front entry, so we moved the front door into the newly added structure. That narrow staircase? We moved that too – and with the new staircase tower in the addition, the stairs were now wide enough to carry furniture upstairs.

Street View from New Porch

If you’ve been following our projects through the years, you know we love a gorgeous porch – one that wraps the house like a hug.  We designed their new wraparound porch to be deep enough for outdoor furniture so that it could be put to good use. Now instead of opening the front door and spilling into the kitchen, you can enter the house through the new porch and the new front door which leads to a real entry way.

Front and side wrap-around porch

The porch provides space for covered seating at the front and side of the house, and widens at the back of the house to transition into an uncovered deck. So if you want to enjoy outdoor seating in the shade you can sit on the covered porch; and if you want to get some sun, you can sit at the uncovered space on the deck. What a great space to look out at the yard and admire the property!

The Interior Stairs and New Tower

Interior stairs and Tower

We didn’t just relocate the stairs to the new addition.

We’re delighted with the outcome and to share what we designed for the new stair tower.

The old stairway was narrow and dark. The new one is an open light-filled wide stairway within a new tower that pokes out above the roofs around it.

As the top section is above the roof line, we brought in the daylight with high clerestory windows. The concept of the light-filled stair tower was not part of the original design discussions, but once we came up with the idea and showed it to the clients, they loved it!

There’s also a balcony in the stair tower that overlooks the front entry; and from the entry you can look up the tower and see the windows. We know you’re dying to see, but those photos will be featured in a future campaign when we give you a tour of the interior. We’re including it here in our tour of the exterior because you can see the stair tower from the outside.

More Bonus Space

Also as part of the new addition, we included a lovely sunroom on the first floor; that, in turn, allowed us to add new space above for the second floor. On the 2nd floor, the original small bedroom has finally been expanded into a full master suite with master bath and a roomy closet.  

And we pulled another surprise out of our sleeves for the homeowner– with the new 2nd story expanded over the little garage, we gave her the art studio that she always wished for but never thought she could have. Yet another example of “I wish I could do “this” with my house, but I don’t see how it could ever happen”. We take our client’s wish list seriously – we can’t always make everything happen, but we put our creativity to work, finding a design they will love beyond their “must-haves”.

New sunroom with master suite expansion above
New sunroom with master suite expansion above
Rear screened porch behind the new art studio above the garage
Rear screened porch behind the new art studio above the garage

Another bonus – a roof top screen porch off the new art studio, above the garage! It’s even big enough to sit and lounge in.

Overall, we made great improvements to the dynamics and usage of their space without changing the overall feel of the house, so it still fits in with the charming lake community. The “new” house looks like it could have been there – exactly like that – all along.

Updated look maintains original feel

Our mission continues to be: Transform your life by transforming your home.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!


Do you have transformational dreams for your house and

simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

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Categories : Exterior Improvements
Tags : curb appeal, master suite addition, porches

The Story of the Cabin that Grew up on a Hill

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 February 29, 2024

Building With Hope and Faith

The Story of the Cabin that Grew up on a Hill

The cabin on a hill expansion

Did you ever spot a home situated in an unusual location and wonder, “how did they do that?” This is the story of a former small hunting cabin in the woods that grew up one day to be a spacious multi-structure home for an extended family. It retained all of its personality and charm, but it is now a modern, comfortable, lovely and spacious residence for a family with kids and a separate space for the grandparents.

We were honored and excited to work on this house situated on the side of a mountain. The family had actually owned the house for years without ever moving in. It had been rented out for a few years but then remained empty. Their goal was to “fix it up” enough to comfortably live there, to be able to enjoy the stunning views of the valley.

When they contacted us, their initial goal was to make the house more spacious without actually expanding the footprint. Their idea was to demolish and rebuild parts of the house, without taking up more ground space with an addition. They feared that needing a variance for an addition would make the project too complicated.

The view from the street
The View from the Street
The view from the rear
View from the Rear

From the exterior, it had some beautiful features; it was an old house with a well-crafted stone foundation on the front that wrapped around the side of the house, and a wonderful stone fireplace and chimney. The homeowners were intent on keeping the original stonework but knew that functionally, the rest of the house was in bad shape: the roof leaked for years and the basement was a simple space with a dirt floor.

Well, no one living in that home would ever need a gym membership, because the driveway came up to a flat part of the hill and then required a climb of 40 steps up the exterior staircase. There was no garage, just the little house and a driveway.

Is this an impossible project? Not for us! We’ll let you in on what we accomplished for the exterior of this unusual property now, and let you peek inside in our next issue.

The Old Cabin
The Old Cabin
The New Second Floor
The New Second Floor

What Happens When You Change Your Plans Mid-way?

As you can imagine, once you get going on a project, you sometimes have a change of mind. In this case, the owners decided they would also build an addition for his in-laws. This shift of direction occurred while the construction was already underway, but our goal is always to make our clients’ dreams happen, so we worked with them on their revised plan. Looking back, we knew he was making the right call in creating the addition and we were happy to make it a reality. 

The dig for the garage
The Dig for the Garage
The garage under construction
The Garage Under Construction

So How Would You Build an Addition on a Side of a Mountain?

You build it in sections that step down the mountain. We designed a 2-car garage down at the driveway level. And we topped off that garage with a beautiful full-sized apartment. Then there’s the piece that connects the garage/in-law suite to the original main house. Each of these three parts of the house are distinct sections that step up from the driveway. When one generation wants to visit the other, they don’t have to climb 40 stairs outside. We’ll share interior photos next time!

The in-law suite
The In-law Suite
The Three Sections
The Three Sections

For the main house, the home owner wanted to keep the rustic look and feel of “a cabin in the woods”, so we kept the original stone and added a 2nd floor with a cantilever over the first floor. This means that level juts out a bit over the lower floor. We added large timber brackets under the cantilever. There are also timber brackets at the new front entry porch. Stone and timber detailing was also used at the garage so it all ties together. 

Of course, they did need to acquire a steep slope variance because the property was too steep. They needed to create switchbacks to allow safe travel on the driveway. This all required a lot of architectural and engineering talent and time to get all the designs approved.

Even with the additional apartment, from the street looking up at the structure, you can’t see the new garage because of the shape of the mountain, so it retains the “small cabin” look from afar. In fact, part of the charm of this home is the fact that the house reveals itself as you approach it.

A new entrance
A New Entrance

What a stunning project, if we do say so ourselves! We love working with our clients no matter where you want to live, even on the side of a mountain.

Inside and out, these updates kept the personality and charm of their preferred style, yet totally transformed the experience of living in the house for the owners.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!


Do you have transformational dreams for your house and

simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Updating a Historic Home While Keeping its Charm

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 December 21, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

Updating a Historic Home While Keeping its Charm

a historic house can be updated without loosing its charm

Imagine this – when the forecast calls for freezing temperatures, that means you run downstairs and shut off your water so that the pipes in the kitchen don’t freeze.

Are we describing a living situation decades ago? Actually, a client we just worked with had been dealing with this very challenge. As you can imagine, they were more than ready for a renovation!

They were also more than ready for us to end another (slightly less dire) predicament. In their lovely and charming craftsman style cape cod home, there was only one bathroom. It was on the main floor; and the master bedroom was upstairs. Imagine navigating a dark, enclosed staircase in the middle of the night to use the facilities!

Fortunately for them, we were able to make both those issues disappear – and give them even more reasons to love their home.

The homeowners loved the character of their cape cod home and its craftsman style architecture. They were ready for “modern conveniences” but didn’t want to give up the personality and artful design of the home. It became our mission to honor the history and style while upgrading with modern conveniences where possible.

What Is the Craftsman Style All About?

Craftsman style homes are an American architectural tradition that emerged and spread between 1900 and 1929. It railed against the mass-produced, Industrial Revolution-fueled Victorian architecture boom that celebrated manmade materials. Craftsman architecture was an ode to the beauty of natural materials and forms, and the marvels of what humans can make with their own hands. 

A Kitchen Makeover That Kept the Original Charm

The house had a small previous addition to the kitchen that was built on concrete piers rather than a standard foundation, so it was open underneath. In freezing temperatures, the kitchen sink froze, so the homeowners had a regular routine of shutting off the water to prevent the pipes from freezing, which naturally meant they had no running water in the kitchen during this time.

While the homeowners loved the beautiful woodwork in the home, plus its personality and charm, their kitchen was comprised of three small choppy spaces: there was a little porch, a small addition tacked onto the back of the house, and the original kitchen.

The kitchen before

The kitchen before the renovation
another view of the kitchen before the reno

In our design, the porch and tiny addition were removed. We designed a new addition and an entire kitchen renovation. While it used to be dark, the kitchen is now light, bright and airy, featuring craftsman details to match the rest of the house. How do you bring some craftsman detailing to your interior? The craftsman styled cabinet doors complement the existing house and the painted wood trim on the windows and doors match the stained trim found elsewhere. The stained-glass light fixtures as well as the period switch plate covers enhance the look.

Initially, the homeowners were concerned that they would end up with a standard modern, cookie cutter kitchen. Instead, they were delighted that the new design was perfectly in line with their style preferences. Oh, and the pipes don’t freeze now.

The kitchen after the renovation

kitchen view after renovation
Kitchen after renovation
a brighter more inviting Kitchen after reno

Opening The Staircase

The staircase to the second floor had been fully enclosed with walls and a door. In our design, we allowed the natural light to flow through the area by opening up the stairwell.

Removing the walls allowed the home to show off the natural beauty of the newly replaced stairs, which with our design, now end in an elegant railing with a craftsman newel post. Because the staircase is situated at the edge of the new kitchen, the whole space feels larger.

closed-in staircase made space feel small
opening the staircase made the area feel larger

How To Create a Bathroom from Existing Space

As mentioned before, the existing house had only one bathroom which was situated on the first floor. The master bedroom on the second floor really needed its own bathroom, for the convenience and safety of the homeowners.

A cape cod home has a steep roof area, so we used some of the unfinished attic space that was on the same level as the bedroom. It already had a high enough head height to be able to carve out a new master bathroom.

a bathroom created from existing space

Fortunately, that part of the attic even had a window to help make the bathroom a light and cheery space. 

Renovating the Exterior While Retaining the Charm

To complete the look, new siding and trim enhanced the curb appeal while keeping to the character of the existing neighborhood, full of older homes. The new siding and trim totally changed what it looked like without sacrificing the character or making it look out of place.

Out went the old concrete patio in the rear of the home, and in its place came a lovely new deck at the kitchen level. Even the detached garage was updated with new siding to complete the picture.

the front of the house before the reno
front of the house after renovation
side of house before renovation
side of house with new door and outside stairs
rear of house before reno
house rear after renovation

Inside and out, these updates kept the personality and charm of their preferred style, yet totally transformed the experience of living in the house for the owners.

What Our Clients Learned

If you like most of your house but there’s a few things that really need to change, you don’t have to find another home and move; you can stay there and renovate the parts that aren’t working for you. Let us help you bring those particular spaces up to the same caliber as the rest of your house and still keep the charm of the original home.

You can upgrade your kitchen or expand other parts of your home to meet your particular needs and lifestyle, while keeping the quaint character of the house.

For some of our clients, their home was built in the 1900’s but they want the conveniences of the 2000’s. How do we make it happen without your home looking disjointed? We know how to keep that look and feel of the original character of your home and design renovations that respect its history.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!


Do you have transformational dreams for your house and

simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Interior Renovations, Kitchen Renovation, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Planning a Renovation? Don’t Stop at What You NEED…

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 December 11, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

Planning a Renovation?
Don't Stop at What You NEED...

Working with our clients, one of our most important tasks is to LISTEN. But many times, our homeowners tell us all about what needs to be done and stop there. What about what you WANT?

It’s YOUR house and we want you to enjoy it for years to come. So, we’re giving you permission to go further – think about the kind of space and experience that will make you excited!

We help you think more creatively about all the aspects of your space that will make life not just more functional but also joyful!

Not Sure How To Renovate a Historic Home?

If your home was built “way back when” and could use a loving renovation, we can help you improve and modernize your home without losing historic charm and personality.

Start Here

Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube Channel, so that you don’t miss one of our upcoming Project Prep Episodes!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list.
However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.


Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Interior Renovations, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

How To Modernize Your Home While Retaining Historical Charm

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 December 8, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

How To Modernize Your Home
While Retaining Historical Charm

The Coccia house before renovation
Before
The Coccia house after renovation
After

Recently, we designed a modern upgrade for a client while being mindful of keeping to the historical personality and style of the original home. They aren’t alone – many homeowners fell in love with their home specifically for the charm of the design era in which it was built. While we live in the 2020’s there’s no reason we can’t honor the style of the 1920’s if that’s when your house was “born”.

Kitchens today are much larger and full of ample counter spaces, cabinets and electrical outlets galore. Yes we CAN design a spacious and convenient kitchen and bathroom and great room for today’s necessities and trends without looking like a clone of every other home.

If an addition or renovation is on your wish list, but you wonder how that can work with your historic home, we hope these ideas will help you get inspired.

The Conklin house before updating
Before
The Conklin house after updating
After

Take a Deep Dive into History

Knowing in what year your home was built may be a first step if you want to research design styles popular at that time. Understanding what was going on in your local area during that time in history can help you define the home’s original personality. Looking at architectural trends of the time may help you decide what to retain and what can be updated.

Take a good look at all the nooks and crannies of your house to identify the key historic features of the home, such as original moldings, trim, doors, staircase, windows, and any unique architectural details. These elements contribute significantly to the home’s character. When adding on a new room or two, we can incorporate those architectural details in our design so that visitors won’t believe your new rooms are modern additions, rather than part of the original house.

Even in the parts of the home where you’re not planning a renovation, it’s a great idea to see what needs to be fixed or restored. Trims, moldings, doors, shelving – all of these can be repaired or replaced in keeping with their original style. No sense in having spectacular new rooms that reflect the history while your original rooms show damaged, faded, warped or missing pieces.

The Loosemore house before renovation
Before
The Lossemore house after renovation
After

Update the Décor In Keeping With the Style of the Time


Here’s where you can ignore the paint colors “on trend” this year. Research what colors, drapery styles and wallpaper designs were prevalent in the era. Paint colors and wallpaper reflecting the style of the home’s decade can be found to refresh the rooms that don’t need a renovation but are looking tired and worn out. Choosing new colors or coverings throughout the whole home can be a great way to make sure that your new additions and original sections flow naturally.

Select fixtures, finishes, hardware, and cabinetry that evoke a historical vibe. Farmhouse sinks, subway tiles, and vintage-inspired faucets are prevalent today.

Keep It Modern and Vintage Above and Below

Today’s light fixtures can improve the lighting in a space, and can be found in styles that reflect historical trends. Look for vintage-style fixtures that blend seamlessly with the existing décor but can support today’s smart lighting choices. Imagine controlling the bulbs on your “vintage” chandelier with your smart phone!

Keep the floors flowing organically from room to room, in the style of your home’s decade. Refinish the hardwood floors in the rooms that remain unrenovated and match the stain, plank size and species of these floors when doing the flooring in your newly added rooms.  

The Roberts house before renovation
Before
The Roberts house after renovation
After

Beautiful and Cohesive on the Outside

Ever see a poorly planned addition where it “sticks out like a sore thumb?” We take great care that the renovation and addition projects we do improve the overall look of the entire house to ensure that the merging of old and new looks organic and cohesive. We especially enjoy maintaining (or even enhancing) the charm of your home while adding more space for you to enjoy. This may be done by incorporating historical detailing or features such as porches, columns, pergolas or other outdoor features.

The key to successfully modernizing a historic home while retaining its charm is balance and attention to detail. Zimmerman Architects specializes in residential renovations and additions that respect and honor the history and character of your home while customizing the new features to fit your family for years to come.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!


Do you have transformational dreams for your house and

simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

The Renovation Transformation

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 July 31, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

The Renovation Transformation

Renovation and transformation of Cape Cod style home

Zimmerman Architects takes on a variety of home renovation projects of every size. In this design story, we’re giving you a guided tour of a major transformation that we will reveal over the course of two emails. First, we’ll show you the exterior. Stay tuned for next time when we usher you through the doors of the interior.

In this home, the rear of the property was spacious and lovely. Their backyard was a true retreat, with swimming pool, patio and lawn area. It was the hot spot for entertaining friends and a place of relaxation for family and guests. What more could they want? Let’s walk around to the front of the property. The home was (and still is) a modest Cape Cod style house.

What is a Cape Cod Style House?

In early America, Cape Cod homes began as single story houses with a low and broad rectangular profile, a central chimney, and a pitched, side-gabled roof. As time went on, Cape Cod homes began to feature dormers and second stories. 

Front of house before transformation

While our homeowners loved their 2-story cape, they wanted to add more curb appeal to the front of the house, including new siding and new windows.  

Our design kept to the traditional look of a cape by adding 3 dormers. We also added a front porch and enlarged the garage. While new siding, windows, dormers, front porch and larger garage added up to give them the wow factor, the house did not look dramatically bigger from the exterior front view. The new addition to the house is at the rear, which we’ll describe in our next email.

house front after renovaton
House front after transformation

Expanding the Garage

Garage before expansion
Garage - Before

Their existing garage was snug for their 2 cars and provided no direct entry to the house. In addition to being able to walk into the garage from the house, their wish list also included making it large enough to easily fit 3 vehicles.

We know that a “large garage” could easily overshadow this modest house. So we designed it to comfortably fit 3 cars while maintaining the character and charm of the house.

Garage after Expansion
Garage - After
Rear of house before renovation

The Rear Before

House View after Transformation

The Rear After

Another New Entrance

From the swimming pool in the backyard, the only access to a bathroom was by walking through the house. As you can imagine, during summer pool use, wet and slippery floors leading the way to the bathroom was a safety hazard and a nuisance.

Our design included a new entry to the renovated section of the basement from the back yard. Their downstairs bathroom was already in great shape, but now they gained access to it straight from the yard. Much neater, safer and more convenient!

And while their new home addition took up some backyard space, their entertainment areas were already far enough away from the house that none of it was impacted.

It all added up to a Cape Cod house that looked lovely from the front exterior with an amazing back property.

We can’t wait to show you the inside next time!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!


Do you have transformational dreams for your house and

simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

It’s Still Summer

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 September 6, 2022
Building with Hope and Faith

It’s Still Summer

In NJ sometimes we go weeks without really seeing our yards, buried under all that snow in the deep winter. So, when spring and summer finally arrive, we relish our time outside.

Now that we’ve dipped our toes into August, we can enjoy the outside of our properties well into the coming fall. It gets you thinking…

What are your wishes and dreams for the outside of your home? A porch to read in? A patio to enjoy coffee after dinner? A deck descending to your yard or pool?

While we help families fall in love with their indoor living spaces, we enjoy building fun outdoor spaces as well.

Take a peek at some outdoor projects we love. We hope they inspire you to enjoy every inch of your home and property!

Multi-Level Deck

multi-level deck

multi-level deck

Patio

patios

Patios

Patio

Porch

Porch
Porch

It all starts with a phone call – even if you are years away from starting, it’s never too soon to have a conversation.


Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list.
However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.
Categories : Exterior Improvements, Porches, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Backyard Living

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 June 23, 2022
Building with Hope and Faith

Backyard Living

Are you getting the most out of your backyard?

While they could see that we were helping them get their dream house, when it came to their backyard, some clients believed they were “stuck” with what’s always been there because they weren’t able to visualize the full potential of their yard.

So tell us your FULL wish list. Include the deck, a cabana, a pergola, a fire pit….

From a quiet, private area to a family gathering space, we can help you and your family get more enjoyment out of your property.
After DeckFire PitTaylor Pool and Cabana
The Pergola

Screened porch

It all starts with a phone call – even if you are years away from starting, it’s never too soon to have a conversation.



Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!


Do you have transformational dreams for your house and

simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.
Categories : Exterior Improvements, Pergolas, Porches, Working with Zimmerman Architects

I Want to Love My House | A Story of Transformation

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 March 25, 2022
Building with Hope and Faith

“I Want to Love My Home”
A Story of Transformation

When we received the initial call from our client, she stated she WANTED to love her house, but “right now it is a big brown box”. She hated the exterior and had a list of what she’d like to see changed.

In fact, the collection of design images she liked was quite extensive and just as varied! Our client didn’t know how all these ideas could be sorted out and even which ones were do-able. She had pictures – but lacked one cohesive vision.

Luckily, we’ve been doing this for over 30 years so we’re well-versed in reviewing a list of disparate design concepts and finding the “string” that ties them all together.

This project was a renovation without additions, except a new front porch. The exterior renovations were done first and have been recently completed. Enjoy the before and after photos! (The interior renovation project will begin soon.)

Exterior Style

In discussing what styles she and her husband liked, we noticed that quite a few of the images she shared with us contained Craftsman style details, so we used this throughout our design.
Front - Before
Before
front - after
After

Roof Details

We added 3 new roofs: over the new front porch; over a new box bay window at the living room; and at the garage doors. For these 3 roofs, we used metal roofing to act as an accent material. Wooden brackets at the garage roof match the posts and beams of the front porch.

Siding

Our client liked different styles of siding and wondered if we could incorporate more than one and still maintain a natural flow. We used clapboard siding along the main level, shingle siding at the upstairs level and board and batten siding at the top levels under the roof overhangs and at the garage.
Garage before
Before
Garage - after
After

Windows

One of the first things you would notice on the original house were the narrow windows. Every window was less than 2 feet wide. Replacing these with large windows delighted the homeowner with an abundance of light brightening the interior.

While keeping the overall composition of the exterior balanced, we were mindful that the size of each window matched the purpose of each room. Where we placed each new window would naturally affect the furniture placement in the rooms. We also considered what future design changes we would implement when we worked on the interior.

Entry - before
Before
Entry - after
After
And speaking of windows, the master bedroom used to have a balcony, but it was too small to even fit a chair. It didn’t serve a real purpose and was never used. It was removed and replaced with large bright windows.
Before side view
Before
After side view
After

Porch

The entry to the house had just a platform and steps with no roof covering. Our clients wanted an ample porch they could use comfortably. Our 8 ft deep porch design gave them a comfy place to sit and relax, with room for a small table and chairs if they wished to use them. The porch is Craftsman style with stone piers and timber frame construction.
View from Porch

Deck

In the back of the home, they had a two-level deck with an unfortunate placement of the stairs. The stairs to the lower level were way off to the side, creating two disjointed spaces. In our design, we featured a large, centrally located stair that joins the 2 spaces and integrates them, so they work together as a cohesive whole.

Lastly, there was a room off of the deck that had been a screened in porch. We redesigned it as a four-season room they can now use however they wish, all year long.

 

Deck Before
Before
Deck after
After
The big brown box is now a memory, and our clients are excited about the upcoming interior work. It all starts with a phone call – even if you are years away from starting, it’s never too soon to have a conversation.

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your spirit, your emotional well being!


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Categories : Design Accuracy, Exterior Improvements, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Building a Forever Home – Part 2 – Touring the Exterior

Posted by Faith and Hope on
 April 7, 2021
  · No Comments

Building with Hope and Faith

Building a Forever Home – Part 2
Touring the Exterior

Forever Home Full Front ViewRecently we invited you into the forever home of a new construction project for a couple who wanted a new house in their same town. If you missed it, you can see it here.

We’re not done showing you this stunning project. Take a peek at the exterior of this lovely Craftsman style house.

As is typical with Craftsman houses, the second story is built up inside the roof area so it doesn’t feel as tall on the exterior. This also makes for more interesting rooms on the inside where all the ceilings aren’t just flat.

You’ll note all the varying and interesting elements of the exterior which pull together for a composition designed with care. At the front of the house, the varying sized gable roofs provide visual interest and keep it from being boring. And because they all have the same roof pitch, the repeating pattern gives it harmony.

Forever Home Full Rear ViewAt the rear and side of the house, shed dormers pop up to give more head height in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Rear of house with entertaining deck

Natural light pours in through the dormers and several sky lights. The long shed dormer over the living room has high clerestory windows which bring sunlight deep into the house. It lights up the second story loft and also the living room below.

 

Flying frog weathervane on roof
octagonal home office

The octagon with its fanciful flying frog weather vane is part of the home office. There is so much to love about this project, that we also featured the beautiful home office here.

Front exterior with garage
Craftsman detailing on doors doors lighting brackets stone piers

Throughout the exterior, the Craftsman style detailing is everywhere. There are brackets and big roof overhangs. The lighting, the front door and the garage doors are all characteristic of the style. The front entry porch is a very traditional Craftsman style porch with its stone piers, tapered columns and arched ceiling.

Craftsman-style entry porch

Because this home was designed to be the family gathering place, it needed a good spot for outdoor entertaining as well. And we gave it to them! There’s a very large deck which is partially covered with a pergola for shading. The firepit was a request from the beginning.

rear view with firepit
Kudos to Eaglesite Management for a great job on the construction.

What’s Your Style?

When you dream of your new home, do you love a specific architectural style? Do you have a specific preference for one type of design or color? Or would you prefer to turn over your wish-list to us? Wherever your starting point, we work with you to find the best design solutions for your forever home.


Whether it’s a completely new house, or a small renovation, you can bring your dreams to us so we can work with you to turn your vision into reality.

Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube Channel,Subscribe to Zimmerman Architect's YouTube Channel
so that you don’t miss one of our upcoming Project Prep Episodes!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list.
However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.


Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

Categories : Exterior Improvements, New Construction, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects
Tags : Craftsman style, dormers
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