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Tenafly - Custom
The existing structure was a center hall colonial with a usable basement, and an attached single story 2-car garage on the side. The center hall colonial layout is broken up into four spaces located at each corner of the house with the stair and entry forming the central element. We analyzed the zoning for potential expansion and pool space. The house would need a full renovation to accommodate a family of 5 with space for overnight guests.
We settled on finding an existing home in the area that could support a full renovation and expansion in order to fulfill the family’s need for a 5 bedroom home. The owners wanted to accommodate overnight guests with a first level bedroom and create an open layout between the kitchen, dining and living spaces that connected to the exterior patio. We also had a tight deadline to purchase, design, and construct the house within a year.
1. Open and visually connect the public spaces on the lower level.
2. Create a 2-car garage with an adjoining mud room and family entry.
3. Maximize permitted space.
4. Reconfigure and add light-filled 5 bedroom suites on the second level.
5. Integrate an attic office space.
6. Create a finished basement for musical performances and a home theatre.
We began to design the house as soon as the offer was accepted. In order to
accommodate the schedule, we decided to keep the existing structure and locate the
majority of the expansion to the side of the house. The design sought to respect the existing traditional proportions by incorporating the expansion into two volumes set off the main house. This also serves to create visually hierarchy. The existing second level was reorganized to form the master bedroom suite and a long hallway connects all the bedrooms. The reorganized and expanded second level allowed us to create cathedral ceilings in every bedroom, introducing a playful character.
The clients were living in another state through the design and most of the construction.
We encountered and resolved numerous unexpected issues during construction while the family was busy relocating and adjusting to their new environment. The construction was finished within nine months, just in time for the school year.
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