The project was a complete remodel with multiple additions to an existing mid-century ranch. The existing house was a small two-bedroom home. The client had initially wanted a temporary addition with the intent of razing the house within a few years. Forward believed that the original house had features that would be cost prohibitive to recreate in a new house. Forward also believes as a firm ethos that the most sustainable thing that could be done is to preserve a house when possible, especially one with significant architectural character.

It was critical to the design team to maintain the overall scale and aesthetic of the original house while adding the clients’ desired program elements. Four additions were added to the house to unify the overall and solve the programmatic desires. The first is to the front of the home, creating an entry vestibule and covered porch, one small addition on the rear for a mudroom pantry, and two moderate additions to the rear, one for the master bedroom and family room and the other for the screen porch. The interior of the home was reworked to accommodate circulation between areas and the new lower-level walk-out family room. The new stair to the lower-level family room was added in the primary living area of the house, connecting it to these spaces as a public space. The kitchen was fully reworked as a more functional space open to the living and dining areas via a cased opening louvered wall. In the primary bedroom addition, the ceiling was hipped to gain volume and define the space. The primary suite has a skylit wet zone containing the shower and tub.