Just in time for summer
Amity Construction and Design showcases shoreline cottage renovation.
There are three magical words a shoreline homeowner wants to hear this time of year: Cottage Project Completed.
And it should come as no surprise if the cottage featured here seems familiar. It’s the same one that was featured in Amity Construction & Design’s article in March. In that first story, Amity described the early phase of the project and illustrated it with computer-generated 3D renderings.
Now, three months later and just in time for the summer season, this major renovation is completed and the family has moved in. The finished photos demonstrate that the work not only remained true to the renderings, but – in many respects – actually surpassed them. The owners agree. “My husband and I could not be more thrilled with the final product of our house reconstruction project,” said a delighted owner. “Russ Smith (Amity owner and president) used his experience and expertise to help us successfully navigate through some stringent zoning issues; Russ’s work to ensure the success of the project began long before the actual construction started, and his focus on quality remained until the final piece of the project was in place.”
The starting point was a 1,123-squarefoot bungalow on the Connecticut shoreline. Built in 1932, it could be best described as that era’s archetypal cottage. The small rooms were laid out in a jumbled fashion that had virtually no flow or interaction. The second floor was no better; it had four small bedrooms, no bathrooms and no closets.
The owners’ goal was for Amity Construction to give the cottage a modern, open floor plan without extending outside the cottage’s original footprint and without compromising its original charm and character.
Amity increased the interior space by incorporating the front and rear porches into the structure. The cramped and dated original kitchen was expanded and transformed into a bright, functional and attractive room. It now has custom painted white cabinetry, high-quality Caesarstone quartz countertops, a colorful tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting.
One unifying element throughout the first floor is the original oak flooring. Noting that gray was predominant in the owner’s color palate, Smith suggested that the floors be refinished and stained cottage gray. The expanded dining room flows freely into the living room, and patio doors were installed to open the indoor living space into the outdoors on a new deck.
The deck has mahogany railings and posts, along with stainless steel cable rails and solar lighting incorporated into the tops of the posts. Next to the deck is a custom outdoor shower that fits seamlessly into the home’s exterior design.
One sentimental request of the owners was for Amity to incorporate some of the small sea stones from the former front walkway into the fireplace. Amity did the request one better by utilizing these stones in the hearth (the new face has an attractive tile finish), and creating a stone pebble floor and accent areas on the walls in the upstairs master bath. The master suite also has a walk-in closet and sitting area that was created by incorporating the second-floor sleeping porch into the home.
“Admittedly, I did not always know exactly what I wanted for every aspect of the project, but the team at Amity was skilled at interpreting my concepts and turning them into reality,” said the owner. “Russ and his team from Amity Construction and Design were excellent communicators, proactive and responsive to our questions. All of our ideas were valued, and we were always provided with options for consideration for each part of the project.”
The end result, she said, is a “showcase home.”
If you would like compare the finished photos with the renderings shown in March or if you would like to view additional photos, visit Amity’s website at www.amitycd.com and click on “Old Lyme Cottage” under the project gallery section. If you would like to find out first-hand how Amity Construction & Design can create a showcase for you, call them at 860-434-5500 or stop by their showroom in the Old Lyme Marketplace.