Originally built in 1889 a short walk from the old East Falls Church rail station, the vaguely reminiscent gothic Victorian was a landmark in a neighborhood of late 19th century wood frame homes. The two story house had been changed many times over its 116 year life with most of the changes diminishing the style and integrity of the original home. Beginning during the mid-twentieth century, few of the changes could be seen as improvements. The wonderfully dominate front tower was obscured by a bathroom shed roof addition. The exterior skin was covered with asbestos siding, requiring the removal of any wood detailing projecting from its surface. Poorly designed diminutive additions were added to the rear creating small, awkward, low ceiling spaces that became irrelevant to the modern user. The house was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young family purchased the house and immediately realized the inadequacies; sub-par spaces, kitchen, bathrooms and systems. The program for this project was closely linked to aesthetics, function and budget. The program called for significantly enlarging the house with a major new rear addition taking the place of the former small additions. Critically important to the program was to not only protect the integrity of the original house, but to restore and expand the house in such a way that the addition would be seamless. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house with significant living spaces, including reconfigured foyer, living room and dining room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms on the second floor. On the rear of the house a new addition created a new kitchen, family room, mud room, powder room and back stair hall. This new stair hall connected the new and existing first floor to a new basement recreation room below and a new master bedroom suite with laundry and second bathroom on the second floor. The entire exterior of the house was stripped to the original sheathing. New wood windows, wood lap siding, wall trim including roof eave and rake trim were installed. Each of the details on the exterior of the house matched the original details. This fact was confirmed by researching the house and studying turn-of-the-century photographs. The second floor addition was removed, facilitating the restoration of the four sided mansard roof tower. The final design for the house is strong but not overpowering. As a renovated house, the finished product fits the neighborhood, restoring its standing as a landmark, satisfying the owner’s needs for house and home. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Inspiration for a traditional living room in Other.

This large family home in Brockley had incredible proportions & beautiful period details, which the owners lovingly restored and which we used as the focus of the redecoration. A mix of muted colours & traditional shapes contrast with bolder deep blues, black, mid-century furniture & contemporary patterns.

This is an example of a traditional living room in Boston.

Large traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, panelled appliances, travertine floors, with island, beige floor and stone tile splashback.

....to fab!
This is an example of a traditional bathroom in Bridgeport.

Jonathan Wallen
Inspiration for a large traditional two-storey exterior in New York with wood siding and a gambrel roof.

Matching paint to architectural details such as this stained glass window Photo Credit: Helynn Ospina
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional hallway in San Francisco with blue walls and carpet.

Photo of a traditional study room in London with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a freestanding desk and beige floor.

This is an example of a traditional two-storey exterior in Jacksonville with wood siding and a gable roof.

Helman Sechrist Architecture
Traditional two-storey exterior in Chicago with wood siding and a gable roof.

Warren Jagger
Traditional exterior in Providence with wood siding.

Jay Greene Photography
Large traditional three-storey brick exterior in Philadelphia.

The architectural ornamentation, gabled roofs, new tower addition and stained glass windows on this stunning Victorian home are equally functional and decorative. Dating to the 1600’s, the original structure was significantly renovated during the Victorian era. The homeowners wanted to revive the elegance and detail from its historic heyday. The new tower addition features a modernized mansard roof and houses a new living room and master bedroom. Rosette details from existing interior paneling were used throughout the design, bringing cohesiveness to the interior and exterior. Ornate historic door hardware was saved and restored from the original home, and existing stained glass windows were restored and used as the inspiration for a new stained glass piece in the new stairway. Standing at the ocean’s edge, this home has been brought to renewed glory and stands as a show piece of Victorian architectural ideals.

This Second Empire Victorian, was built with a unique, modern, open floor plan for an active young family. The challenge was to design a Transitional Victorian home, honoring the past and creating its own future story. A variety of windows, such as lancet arched, basket arched, round, and the twin half round infused whimsy and authenticity as a nod to the period. Dark blue shingles on the Mansard roof, characteristic of Second Empire Victorians, contrast the white exterior, while the quarter wrap around porch pays homage to the former home. Architect: T.J. Costello - Hierarchy Architecture + Design Photographer: Amanda Kirkpatrick

Photo of a large traditional two-storey green house exterior in Chicago with mixed siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Photo of an expansive traditional three-storey white house exterior in Orlando with wood siding.

Design ideas for a large traditional three-storey brick exterior in New York.

One in a series of homes I designed for the award-winning community, Westhaven located in Franklin, Tennessee. Photographer: Jennifer Stalvey
This is an example of a traditional exterior in Nashville with wood siding.