Fairy-tale ending

There are many reasons to opt for a remodel rather than a new build, and one of the most compelling is being able to utilize the existing footprint of a house.

And when that house sits in a magical setting right on the shore of a misty lake, there's an imperative especially when a new build could never be built as close to the lakefront.

Such was the case for this remodeling project, designed by architect William Harrison and associate Robbie Pich of Harrison Design Associates. The house was originally a small camp-style cabin nestled beneath the tall pines.

"The owner did consider demolishing the cabin and rebuilding, but regulations would have meant building back from the lake," says Pich. "So, a decision was made to use the shell of the cabin as the base for a remodeled house in the Arts and Crafts style.

"Based on natural forms and materials, this is a very organic architectural style one that was embodied by the work of legendary architects Greene & Greene in California and Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago. And, of course, it is especially appropriate for such a lake and woodland setting."

It is also an architectural style that depends on fine craftsmanship. Every detail of the millwork needed to be customized and handcrafted by builder Dovetail Homes.

"Key features of the Arts and Crafts style can be seen in the entry porch in the rafter tails, the double half columns and the mortise-and-tenon joints where the beams protrude," says Harrison.

The substantial look of the house is reinforced by another traditional Arts and Crafts feature a stone base that helps to anchor the house to the land visually.

"We wanted the house to look as though it had grown out of the site," Harrison says. "It didn't need to be grand, overpowering or overly ornate; it just needed to retain that link with nature, just like the Arts and Crafts movement around the turn of the last century, which was a reaction to the industrial Modernism of the times."

Pich says the house is not especially large; its size gives it a sense of comforting intimacy.

"We have noticed a revival of interest in this type of finely crafted detail people are looking for quality over quantity."

The house did get another story, but the position of key rooms remained as before.

"The owner really liked the way the morning light came into her original bedroom, and the view from that part of the cabin," says Pich. "So we chose to put a large screened porch in this prime spot, and placed the new master suite directly above this. This means she can still enjoy the same view and light from her bedroom."

The full impact of the Arts and Crafts style is evident in the entry hall, which features wood wainscoting and arches, and a handcrafted wood staircase. Wood wainscoting also features in the family room.

Ashley Martin of Dovetail Homes says all the exposed wood was stained, glazed and given a Briwax finish.

"We wanted the wood to have an aged look, as though it could have been there for the past 75 years," he says.

Rabun Martin, the interior designer for the project, says all the millwork detailing replicates traditional designs.

"We also replicated a mural designed by Gustav Stickley last century. This was handpainted on the wall, which has a faux paint finish that helps to soften the dark-stained wood stairs and wainscoting. Lantern-style light fixtures hang above the mural. We positioned these at different heights to focus attention on the mural of the tree."

The tree form a common design element in Arts and Crafts architecture also features in the family room, on a custom light shade. Other light fixtures incorporate a dragonfly shape, a signature design for the owner.

Custom furniture designed by Rabun Martin includes a dining table in two parts, and built-in banquette seating.

"We incorporated many of the owner's existing antique pieces as well, including the barley-twist furniture."

The kitchen features solid wood cabinets, also built by Dovetail Homes. These have traditional Shaker-style flat-panel doors, and are painted in a sea green-blue, a color that reappears in other rooms.

"Both the paint colors and the furnishings were inspired by the wooded lake setting," says the designer.

Other special features of the kitchen include a decorative wood hood, and a tiled backsplash that incorporates petrified fish fossils estimated to be 50 million years old.

Bedrooms on the upper level continue the Arts and Crafts feel, with traditional wainscoting that is either painted or stained wood. In the master suite, the wood-lined ceiling follows the roof gable, but flattens out to enclose the room, making it more intimate.

Another focus of attention is the tub, which is positioned right beneath a large bay window, ensuring the view is always within reach.

Story by: Trendsideas