As our move date approaches and we close out many categories of our home building experience, I thought I would highlight a few examples this month of what is distinctive about a Small Batch Builders house: the details.
We have always loved the traditional appearance of our home. To that end we have tried our best to restore the house without significantly altering its original exterior. One example is that we are using the existing fireplace chimney as a vent for our new range hood. It took some calculating and a bit of luck, but this way we will not have to alter the exterior brick to accommodate our modern kitchen appliances.
On the subject of exteriors, we also had an expert brick mason repoint some of the brick that was damaged on the side of the house from the former screened porch. Hayes found bricks from downtown Norfolk that were about the same era of our existing reclaimed brick exterior. I bet you wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t tell you!
The entry has come a long way. We opened up the downstairs hallway to the lake view and second floor by sacrificing a downstairs bedroom and master closet (don’t worry the new ones are much better). We tore off the carpet and restored the risers and treads. Hayes had to do some creative carpentry to modify existing pieces including custom design of the missing top risers and meticulous fitting to integrate the new balusters. Building code now requires more balusters per stair tread, and the bases are slightly different. The fittings will be stained to match the stair treads and will not be noticeable (unless you remember this blog post). I loved the old monkey tail handrail, so we reproduced it.
Another great element of this house was the old brass door hardware. The handles were really distinctive in their weight and small size. Hayes and I both wanted to salvage them, but with the addition to and modification of the house we now have more doors. We found the closest match at House of Antique Hardware. Each mortise lockset has seven pieces including classic simple round knobs and rosettes. These have all been specially drilled and assembled. They are not an exact match, but we have planned placement of the handles so that they will blend. The old knobs were also polished with gusto to restore the shine.
Designing our home has been a labor of love for me, so watching the final details come together has been especially fun. I have particularly been impressed with Hayes in the way he can turn a concept into a reality. I previously mentioned my reliance on Pinterest, so I will highlight two inspiration images here.
I am really pleased with how the master bathroom is coming along. You would never guess how many shiplap options exist in terms of the height of each horizontal piece. We deliberated on this for a while. Hayes also custom made the chair rail moulding, which I just now realized is remarkably similar to the Reeves bathroom. Even the paint colors have turned out to be a pretty close match!
I love this powder room from Morrissey Saypol Interiors. I was drawn to the distinctive wall paper paired with the beadboard and elegant vanity. I realize my direction for the powder room vanity was a tall order, but it’s going to be gorgeous! Hayes is hand turning each one of these custom vanity legs out of walnut with a talented friend. Wallpaper, finished vanity and fixtures should be ready to go this month.
Renovating our house has provided the opportunity to problem solve together. As much as we wanted to have the laundry room upstairs, we could not make it work. Instead we devised a way to get the laundry down to the mudroom on the first floor a little easier.
I believe all pursuits in life are best when endeavored with intention. Our house is no exception. When we realized we were going to need more space years ago, I started journaling about what I wanted in our house, for our family, for my life. After all a home is very personal to most people. We wanted a space we could grow into and that could develop with us over time. I wanted to create a warm, comfortable, natural environment that could be both relaxing, centering and inspiring. As a family we value quality and craftsmanship. When choosing between form and function, we choose function every time. Years later, reading over my goals for our home, I am at peace that we have been aligned with that vision that still resonates with me today. I hope you feel the love we have poured into our home when you visit!
Small Batch Builders 