Retro Renovation Guide

Buying a home that needs a renovation can be intimidating if you don’t know what’s involved. Architect th ar les arren shares the process his firm, Teass/Warren Architect ts, goes through to help prepare you.

“n average, from day until you walk into your finished home, it’s about a two year process ,” he explains.

Design. he first part of the renovation process involves choosing a schematic designou’ ll discuss your needs, goals and design preferences and come up with a plan “e usually present three or four options for you to choose from,” harles says his step takes a couple of months

Permits. nce the design is selected, the architect will go through the permitting phase Because this step can take up to four months, construction drawing and pricing are worked on simultaneously

Bids. he ne t step is to complete the team, so your architect will get bids from contractors and decide who will help them work on your home.

Construction. fter that, construction can begin “Based on how large the pro ect is, it varies, but it can take around months to complete this step,” harles says “If it’s a full house renovation, we typically recommend not living in the home during the process ”

NATURAL FINISHES

White oak was incorporated throughout the home in the form of ceiling beams, lower kitchen cabinets, stair railings, shelving and a bathroom vanity.

“ll the white oak is natural stain with a clear coat,” harles says Its clean finish and light color are reminiscent of mid- century- style furnishings and give the home an MCM feel, despite the features being new. ost of the home follows a neutral color palette, but the kitchen, office and primary bathroom have deep- blue features that play to one of the homeowner’s preferences. “The client loves blue, so we wanted to incorporate it where we could,” Charles says.

RESPECTING THE PAST

Whenever Charles and his team approach a renovation, their goal is to always respect the home’s origins.

“We try to understand what the original architect was thinking, and that informs how we approach the renovation. We use the lines of the house to give us clues about how they handled things. It allows us to make interventions that are sensitive to the original design decisions, even if we stray from the design,” he explains.

Because they don’t know who the original architect was, Charles studied Eichler case study houses and other local mid- century homes for inspiration.

“The structure was there, but we had to strip it down to make the necessary changes.”

“There is a fair amount of mid- century homes in Washington, D. C., if you look hard enough,” he says. “We showed our clients some homes in the area to help inform some of their decisions.”

If you’re thinking of working on your own renovation, Charles advises planning ahead and being prepared: “It’s always going to take longer than you think— and cost more,” he says.

But, if you’re up to the challenge, you can live in comfort in a home that respects its past and is perfect for the present.

( ABOVE) THE ADDITION AT THE BACK OF THE HOME COMPRISES AN EXPANSIVE WALL OF WINDOWS THAT CONNECTS THE INTERIOR TO THE EXTERIOR, PROVIDING BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. THE NEW DECK IS MADE OF IPÉ HARDWOOD AND EXTENDS THE LIVING AREA OUTDOORS.

( LEFT) THE BACK OF THE HOME HAD A FULL RENOVATION— A NEW DECK, SCREENED- IN PORCH AND PATIO. THE STAIRS WERE RELOCATED TO ALLOW FOR A LARGER DECK SPACE. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE AREA WAS REDONE, THE ORIGINAL BRICK SIDING WAS KEPT IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE OLD WITH THE NEW.

( ABOVE) THE STAIRCASE TRANSFORMED FROM JUST A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION INTO A SCULPTURAL PIECE. THE STAIRS WERE ORIGINALLY ENCLOSED BY WALLS ON EITHER SIDE, SO CHARLES KNOCKED DOWN ONE WALL TO OPEN UP THE SPACE. “SCREENS HELPED DIVIDE SPACES IN MID- CENTURY WORK,” HE SAYS. “WE SPACED THE VERTICAL WOOD SLATS SO THEY WOULD PERFECTLY MEET THE RAILING ON THE MAIN FLOOR.”

( LEFT) BLUE TILE WITH A GLASS- LIKE FINISH GIVES THE PRIMARY BATHROOM A CALMING ATMOSPHERE. ALTHOUGH THIS SPACE WAS COMPLETELY REDONE, IT MAINTAINED ITS MID- CENTURY FEEL VIA THE CUSTOM WHITE OAK VANITY, MODERN LIGHTING AND CLEAN LINES.