Initially the owner bought the property as an investment and intended to raze the dilapidated late-1800s house. After discussing possibilities with an architect, however, they decided to restore the structure and add more space so the home could become a suitable weekend retreat. The new design required the refurbishment of wood floors and ceilings, plus replacement of each window.
Although the house needed extensive repairs as well as a new roof, its unique features caused the project to turn into a labor of love. The original stone fireplace remains one of the largest historic stone fireplaces in the area left intact. A dog trot that had been enclosed during prior renovations serves as the formal dining room, and a winding staircase in the family room survives to this day.
Project name: Sophistication in the Country Project location: New Canaan, Conn. Square footage: 2,500 Project cost: $650,000
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
Sophistication in the Country
Marcos Paparelli
The clients, who are empty nesters, wanted to update and improve the interior of their mid-20th-century colonial home, which had not been worked on for 15 years. A newly remodeled kitchen, dining room, three bathrooms, entry hall, library and media room were needed to bring the house up to date with new material choices and color trends, as well as 56 windows and an HVAC unit.
The homeowners were so thrilled with the initial phase of the project that they opted to move the existing kitchen to the rear of the house and take advantage of their backyard view. This required a second signed contract and tearing out some areas that had just been finished, but the result is a luxurious kitchen, dining space, laundry room and wet bar with custom cabinetry and moulding.
Products
Doors: Upstate Door Company Brick/stone: Connecticut Field Stone Lighting: Lightlolier; Halo HVAC: Trane Roofing: GAF Windows: Marvin Locksets/hardware: Baldwin Structural: Georgia Pacific Insulation: Eco Foam Paint/stain: Benjamin Moore Sink: Kohler Faucet: Kohler Range: Wolf Exhaust hood: Wolf Oven: Thermador Refrigerator: Sub-Zero Freezer: Sub-Zero Dishwasher: Miele Washer/dryer: LG Toilet: Kohler Shower faucet: Kohler
Project name: Simply Zen: A House Transformed Project location: Minnetonka, Minn. Square footage before: 1,762 Square footage after: 2,793 Project cost: $622,330
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Tunks-26Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
Simply Zen: A House Transformed
Rob Aldecocea
A family of six had outgrown their tired, one-level, ranch-style rambler built in 1969. After careful consideration, the original plan to remodel in phases shifted to the idea of scraping the house down to the subfloor.
The resulting design is a less-is-more Scandinavian style. The home features 12-foot ceilings and a mix of natural maple and resilient concrete-colored linoleum flooring. The home also includes expansive transom windows to capitalize on scenic views outside.
A dramatic, contemporary exterior features a combination of natural and black-stained cedar siding, a concrete hardscape, and a prairie restoration. The master suite includes a pass-through shower to sauna, a baker’s kitchen with quartz waterfall countertops, and energy-saving green construction throughout.
“Green design was important to our client’s lifestyle and they wanted to infuse their values into their new home,” says Rob Aldecocea, who co-designed the remodel with Sid Levin. “We offered many opportunities for them to use sustainable and energy-saving materials in addition to a functional ultra-efficient wood-burning stove that heats their home during the winter months, minimizing the need for using their gas furnace.”
