THE VISION
Attracted to the idea of The Not-So-Big®House from Sarah Susanka’s, the homeowners wanted to make a "jewelbox” from this small neglected original farmhouse in the Water Hill neighborhood of Ann Arbor. While the footprint remained the same, a master suite addition was needed on the second floor to support a growing family in this small old farmhouse.
Our clients were passionate about building sustainably and wanted to use local resources to bring their vision to life.
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Schematic Design
Before any true remodeling began, all the layers added over 175 years needed to be peeled away, revealing the inner core of the home. Portions of the home required complete re-building, and most parts of the home were recycled back into the home or would be made into furniture.
Key design drivers:
- Complete gut remodel both interior and exterior was needed
- Utilize Sarah Susanka's "Not-so-big-house" design principles to maximize space utilization
- Utilize custom craftsmanship to add beauty and function to every square inch of this modest-sized home
- Update the "Michigan basement" for 21st-century mechanicals and for future finishing
- Add a large front porch for outdoor living
- Stay true to the aesthetic of the original home and of this historic Ann Arbor neighborhood
- Use sustainable building methods, re-use or recycle all materials possible into the new construction, and use local artisans and suppliers
Design Development
Careful planning, design and building followed to realize the full beauty and utility of this 1576 square foot home. Although modest in size at 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, every square inch of this home is utilized — making the home function and "feel" much larger than it's actual square footage.
- Addition was made using reclaimed wood from the original home
- The wrought iron stair railing was custom designed and built by Drew Kyte of Kyte Metalwerks
- Custom built-in cabinets made from curly cherry used throughout the home
- The kitchen cabinets are custom-made bookmatched curly cherry
- A cook’s kitchen has a large built-in cutting board and a custom-made copper metal hood by Drew Kyte
- A complete energy makeover makes this home a model of efficiency
- Wraparound treads of the stairs become a curio shelves in the living room
- The "Michigan basement" with large stones was dug out by hand
- The front porch was re-built with cedar and copper pillars in the same dimensions as the 1924 addition to the home
The Results
This small old farmhouse lives large into the future. In many hands this home would have been destined for the wrecking ball. Instead, it lives into the future as a model of green renovation. Hand craftsmanship and small delights are experienced throughout the home with every nook and cranny used to its best advantage..
