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Preserving America's architectural heritage is a priority for many designers today, but, as this project shows, it doesn't have to be at the expense of easy living and modern convenience.

When remodeling his own family home, architectural designer Brad Cruickshank took his cue from the original Dutch Colonial house right down to the choice of wallpapers.

"It was important that the alterations were in keeping with the era of the property, but I didn't want to hide the fact that there was an addition," Cruickshank says. "Many of these houses have been added onto over the years, and that is part of their character but I didn't want it to look new."

The designer says this remodeling work was the third major project he and his wife Cheryl have undertaken on the 90-year-old house in the past 10 years. It was also the most significant, providing a three-story extension.

Cruickshank says although the addition features similar wood siding, dormer windows and shingle roofing to the rest of the house, it is stepped back slightly to add visual interest to the front elevation, and to make it clear that this is a later addition to the original house.

As well as providing a new family room and master bedroom, the recent remodeling project involved extensive changes to the living room, which is now larger than the original.

"Because the existing floorboards and joists had termite damage, this room also features a new heart pine floor that matches the wood flooring in the foyer," says the designer.

Back-to-back fireplaces were added to the living and family rooms, and mantels chosen to reflect the era of the house.

"It was also important to maintain a sense of symmetry," says Cruickshank. "Sliding glass pocket doors featuring antiqued mirrors replace windows on either side of the fireplace."

Because the family room is separated from the kitchen by the living room, the designer extended the living area by 5ft. This extra space provides an open hallway, effectively creating a gallery off the living room, defined by two large wood columns and pilasters. Cruickshank designed a new seven-piece moulding for the living room to provide further visual separation and a refined look.

New decorative wallpaper in the foyer also provides a sense of refinement and a link to the past. The designer says the original wallpapers were uncovered during the alterations, and the new wallcoverings chosen to replicate the look.

"The new fixtures and furnishings are a little grander than the originals would have been, but they are more in keeping with other properties in the neighborhood."

A more rustic ambiance defines the new family room, which features pecky cypress wall boards, beams and built-in bookcases. Cruickshank says the materials complement the family's collection of natural curios, including shells and birds' nests. The green walls were chosen to provide a visual link with the garden.

French doors open to a landscaped outdoor entertaining area, complete with new pergola, bluestone patio and outdoor fireplace.

The new master bedroom on the upper floor also features French doors, which open to a covered porch. With the extra space available on this floor, the designer created separate his-and-hers bathrooms and closets, a new laundry and a much larger bedroom. To enhance the traditional look, the bedroom ceiling follows the line of the Dutch Colonial roof, and features painted boards with dark-stained beams. Decorative Brunschwig wallpapers and matching curtain fabric help to evoke the charm of a bygone era.

The remodeling project also involved a basement excavation beneath the existing living room. The new basement, which incorporates the original low-ceiling basement, provides a new, fully lined exercise room, storage area and space for a wine cellar. Brick columns, although not structural, were designed to replicate the brick supports that feature elsewhere.

Because the project was a pilot for the green EarthCraft scheme, the extension features extra insulation and eco-friendly materials.

Story by: Trendsideas