Featured Addition

Oakwood Avenue,
Webster Groves




Two Story Rear Addition:
1,030 Square Feet
Price Range:
More than $100,000
Architect:
Michael Blaes, AIA
Construction:
Home Owner and
Meinhardt Construction

    In the middle of Oakwood Avenue there was an American Foursquare house in dire need of modern living updating and exterior renovation. A previous rear addition and attached garage detracted from the original character of the home. Our clients purchased the home in poor condition with the intent of remodeling the interior and exterior and then selling the house. As work progressed and the building was transformed, they decided to make it their own home.

    The original house had a poorly designed rear kitchen addition and an odd arrangement of spaces did not meet the needs of a modern family. This first kitchen addition was removed. A new two-story addition was created with a large kitchen open to a Family Room with a Mud Room and Breakfast Room, all in character with the original house.

    On the second floor, a new Master Suite was created over the first floor Kitchen/Family Room. The Master Suite included a spacious bedroom and a full Bath including large tub, shower, double vanity, walk-in closet and water closet. A new Laundry Room was also created off the existing bedroom at the top of the stair. The removal of the existing low-slope Garage roof and replacement with a higher sloping roof enabled the creation of a large Loft space above the garage, while enhancing the character of the garage addition. Access to the Garage below and an inconspicuous door to the master bedroom allow versatile use of the space by the homeowners.

    The Front Porch was expanded to wrap the South and West corners with tapered round columns and new railings, softening the boxy appearance of the house from the street. The addition of dormers at the second floor over the garage doors at the front broke up the massiveness of the new higher pitched roof. A shed dormer at the rear of the garage maximized the loft space.

    The additions and renovation turned a dilapidated Webster Groves residence into a functional two-story home the owners fell in love with. The Owners and the Architect worked closely to preserve those portions of the house worthy of saving (such as the front stained glass window and interior trim) while creating an addition that was consistent with the American Foursquare style in Webster Groves.