"Absolutely amazing," said the judges of the whole-hou…
"Absolutely amazing," said the judges of the whole-house renovation of this 98-year-old four-square. "An extremely skilled period piece that is consistent from room to room."
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
"The project was part restoration and part invention,"…
"The project was part restoration and part invention," says architect Greg Wiedemann. A sagging, neglected relic when his clients bought it, he nearly doubled its living space, to 4405 square feet, by capturing the attic and crawl-space lower level. The project "demonstrates that one can substantially increase the useful area of a historic home without major changes to its character," he says.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
"We created spaces and details in the house that were consi…
"We created spaces and details in the house that were consistent with the language of the home, while transforming it to serve a 21st century family's needs," says architect Wiedemann. In the foyer, custom millwork created cubbies for storage, a bench, and window and banister moldings.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
View of dining room from entry hall. The home required major str…
View of dining room from entry hall. The home required major structural and finish work, including all-new plumbing and electricial and the custom-milling of period interior natural oak trim.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
Kitchen countertops are honed granite. Storage cabinets around t…
Kitchen countertops are honed granite. Storage cabinets around the high ceilings and throughout the large center island maximize space. The kitchen designer was Glenda Powers of Bethesda Design Group.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
The all-new master bath is reclaimed from the original sleeping …
The all-new master bath is reclaimed from the original sleeping porch, whose influence remains in the large custom windows. The claw-foot tub was found at a salvage store.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
The small breakfast room repurposes a small porch and is the onl…
The small breakfast room repurposes a small porch and is the only part of the home that extends beyond the original footprint.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
The large attic was reconfigured from a storage-only zone to acc…
The large attic was reconfigured from a storage-only zone to accomodate an office with built-in shelves, dormer bench, and trundle bed, as well as bathroom, closet, and mechanicals.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
New wood detailing and and French doors enhance the room's natur…
New wood detailing and and French doors enhance the room's natural warmth and connection to the outdoors. The chandelier was found in an antique store.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
The addition of a satin mat-finished stained oak fireplace surro…
The addition of a satin mat-finished stained oak fireplace surround and distinctive tile — with an Arts and Crafts stem-and-flower motif — connect the original fireplace seamlessly to the home's predominant style.
Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto
Looking toward the front of the home, with French doors connecti…
Looking toward the front of the home, with French doors connecting the dining room to the yard.
Just shy of 100 years old and sorely neglected, this classic foursquare gained a dramatic restoration and expansion that impressed the judges as “absolutely amazing … an extremely skilled period piece.”
The owners’ program included an entry foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen with adjoining breakfast room, three bedrooms, two baths, an office/guest room on the third floor, and the possibility of building out the basement.
To architect Greg Wiedemann, the result “demonstrates that one can substantially increase the useful area of a historic home without major changes to its character.” For instance, he and his team nearly doubled the home’s living space by finishing the attic and excavating the basement (then a crawlspace) for an additional bedroom, bathroom, mudroom, and recreation room.
The project addressed structural problems while also restoring the original details where possible. Sagging joists and beams were sistered to new timbers; the plumbing and wiring were replaced; the windows, exterior trim, and shingles were restored; and period interior natural oak trim was custom-milled to complete the seamless transition.
