Heirloom Healthy House: The Restoration
> Highest Quality Authentic Historic Materials
A Craftsman Home is a great starting point if you want a healthy, non-toxic home. The Arts and Crafts movement emphasized integrity of materials and craftsmanship, and the restoration work on the house has followed this philosophy. Longleaf pine, tiger oak, northern cedar and cypress wood were used to build the original house, so they were also chosen for its restoration. Historic building materials purchased from Historic Houston’s warehouse were integrated in the restoration to maintain the original character of the house.
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> Healthy Materials For Clean Air and Health
Only the highest quality healthy materials have been used in the restoration. All finishes are non-toxic, with no VOCs, and are formaldehyde free. We used AFM Safecoat paint, Bioshield oil for the wood, hypoallergenic drywall compound, and non-toxic tile adhesive and grout for bathroom tiles.
> A New 110 Year-old House
Nothing has been spared in the restoration of this home. The house was taken down to the studs and all plumbing, gas, and electric completely replaced. The shiplap was numbered and mapped before it was removed so that, along with the new utilities, the 100% non-toxic cotton batt insulation could be put in the walls. The shiplap was then repositioned with screws in its original location and covered with GreenGold certified zero VOC drywall and Safecoat paint.
The house retains virtually all of the original built-ins and lighting. All original fixtures have been re-wired.
New Utility connections:
All utility connections are new, including water, gas, and sewer lines.
The electricity and fiber internet connections were run underground for aesthetics, safety, and reliability (no tree-trimming).
The water meter and irrigation meter are new. This separate irrigation meter can provide substantial savings, especially if a pool is installed.
New Air Conditioning / Heating System:
A new Top-of-the-line Trane Variable-Speed high-efficiency 21 SEER2 rated system was installed in May of 2023. Warranty is transferable to the new owner.
New Foundation:
The property is high and dry, far from any flood-zone. The land itself is significantly higher than street-level, to which 90 tons of pure crushed lime-rock (no recycled concrete) was added to create a clean, solid platform for a new foundation on which the house sits high, dry, stable, and stately. The foundation is engineered to support a second floor addition above the back of the house, if desired.
> Beyond the Restoration:
The Best of Both Worlds
The common spaces of the house are iconic examples of the Arts and Crafts movement and they have been kept original and meticulously preserved. Beyond the restoration of the original structure, we planned to move the bedrooms to an addition at the back of the house. We took this opportunity to reimagine a luminous great room and kitchen in the Craftsman spirit. A few walls were opened to increase the internal flow of the rooms, taking advantage of the natural light from prairie style bay windows and sliding doors. The layout of the kitchen increases the connection between the dining room and the outside garden. The result is a carefully de-constructed bungalow that preserves its authenticity while creating light-filled inspiring spaces.
> The Present Project: Designed for Expansion
The front of the house is largely finished, with some personal touches to be designed by the new owner. The back room of the house has been left unfinished, since that would be the most likely transition to an addition, whether it was added as a second floor or expanded to the west. Because it was so important for us to get the kitchen/great-room “right”, we kept the design fluid by using temporary countertops. This gives the new owner the opportunity to decide on this highly personal crowning detail.
Restored to be preserved, this heirloom house is a cultural treasure that will grow in value as time passes. With the greatest part of the original house perfectly preserved, accompanied by careful additions, this residence is ready for a new owner and another 100 years of stewardship.
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