house b

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The modest cottage renovation and addition has a unique story about the concept of aging in place.  The homeowners originally owned two adjacent pieces of property: one with a large house and one with a small cottage. After 40 years of living in the larger home, the owners' decided that they would like to create a plan for aging in place.  Their goal was to live in a familiar setting that was close to family.  After looking at multiple options, they decided to strategically evaluate the properties they already owned.  After much discussion, they gifted the large house to their daughter and her family and to moved themselves into the small cottage next door. After living in the abode for a few years, they began phase 2 of their plan: the cottage renovation. 

In 2018, Dennehy Architects was hired to design a modest addition and carefully integrate the new design with the existing cottage.  The resulting design turned the original portion of the home into a large living room and kitchen and provided an addition with a bedroom, accessible bathroom, laundry room, attic storage and pergola front porch. The 8 foot ceilings were preserved in the original home and in the addition the ceilings were constructed at 9 foot. The large eat-in kitchen with views to the main house became the core organizing element of the house with living areas to the south and private areas to the east. Large operable, insulated windows in every room provide an abundance of natural light and cross-ventilation across the signle width rooms.

The property sits elevated above the street level on the south side.  This created the opportunity for the original split level home where the garage was buried below the ground and accessible to the street and the home sat on top with walkout access to the other street.  This project required structural repairs to the garage walls which act as retaining elements.  

The exterior of the "L" shaped cottage is organized about a raised and trellised deck. An accessible ramp gently sits along the addition with a screen wall backdrop to a native garden plantings.  A meandering brick paved path leads to a new ramped walkway from the lower garage level. 

Being located in a historic district, it was required that the design of the new addition be linked but visually separated to the existing home. The original structure featured painted horizontal lap siding.  The new structure is painted vertical board and batten siding. At the juncture of the two elements sits the trellised deck.  The existing concrete block at the garage was painted to match the upper level. 

At completion, the modest cottage blends effortlessly into the rich historic fabric of the Ryan Place. The family now lives in a home that meets their long term needs: a familiar neighborhood, close proximity to their children, and a place to call home.

PROJECT SIZE

1 bed, 1 bath, 1 living  |  1,440 SF  Conditioned  SF  |   1,565 SF  Total SF 

COMPLETION DATE

2019

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS

Paul M. Dennehy, AIA

PROJECT CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Frank W. Neal & Associates, Inc.

CONTRACTOR

Travis Construction

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Todd Ramsey https://www.impressia.net/ (Photography & Video)

HOUSE PRODUCTS FROM TOUR SPONSORS

Ferguson Enterprises (Gold Level)  |  Plumbing Fixtures

Frank W. Neal & Associates, Inc.  (Home Level) |  Structural Engineer

The Sherwin-Williams Company (Home Level)  |  Paint

Texas Appliance (Home Level)  |  Appliances