Architecturally trained Marcia Lyon uses her remodeling design know-how to create CREATING SPACES. Each week's column and illustrations feature the "Problem and Solution" to various remodeling dilemmas, fitting each homeowner's needs. CREATING SPACES capitalizes on the home designing and remodeling craze consumers are wild about these days.

CREATING SPACES
by Marcia Lyon

WEARY FOUR-SQUARE BECOMES BRIGHT DREAM HOME



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Part of the charm of a four-square-style house is the boxy rooms and the symmetry. The economy of space provides an almost hall-less house, with one room leading into the next. These two-story beauties often featured massive porches. In the quest to consume space, often these porches were incorporated into the living spaces and put to various uses. As happens in many remodeling projects, the original concept gets lost, resulting in one meaningless space entering into the next, with the majority of area for circulation and limited wall space for furniture.

PROBLEM

In this particular house, the front porch (A) was spared conversion. Three-quarters of it was screened in (B), which might have been original, leaving the entry porch (C) covered -- a nice touch. However, to get into the screened porch, one must travel out the front door (D) and through the entry porch.

The rear porch (E) was not left alone. If there had been a rear entry to the house, it was missing. What had likely been the kitchen was rather unsuccessfully pushed out into former porch space, leaving a "nowhere zone" (F).

The side entry (G) on the basement stair landing was never used because the now-abandoned driveway ran along the opposite side of the house. Parking is generally confined to the street; however a garage (H) (soon to be replaced) enters off an alley. Currently, the homeowners use street parking and the front door (D) exclusively.

The house had lofty high ceilings and attractive stained woodwork. Although the architectural detail was sparse, it expressed simplicity. This house definitely had potential, even though it lacked most desired amenities.

SOLUTION

Amenities can be added, and we did so with a minimum of disruption to the structure, and without an addition.

The exterior material was a unique hand-thrown, stucco-looking concrete. The technique has long since been lost, so we made an effort to use existing openings and leave the exterior intact as much as possible.

Since the porches were one-story, we had the option of adding skylights. We maintained the entry porch (C), but converted the south-facing screened porch into a sunroom (I) directly off the living room (J) through narrow French doors.

A highly desired fireplace (K) was located in the interior corner, considering furniture arrangement and traffic. The columned entry (L) became narrower, creating a more intimate foyer (M). The addition of a coat closet (N) eliminated too-casual wall hooks.

Two existing doors were maintained to access a new half-bath (O). We consumed more of the "nowhere zone" with a laundry closet (P) and a pantry (Q). The homeowners can fold clothes on the dining table (R).

The kitchen (S) was moved to the former dining room, dominating the center of the house. The orientation is toward the dining table because of the large prep center/eat-on island. The remaining rear support wall opened up, leaving a center column (T). The flue (U) will become obsolete when the heating system is updated.

A family entry (V) was developed from the balance of the old porch area, with the addition of a coat closet, tile flooring and an open porch (W). The grill will reside here, convenient to the kitchen.

(Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and free-lance writer, producing projects in many areas across the United States and Canada. Reach her at Marcia(at)creatingspaces.net or www.creatingspaces.net, or phone 312-662-0988.)

COPYRIGHT 2005 MARCIA LYON

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