Home rebuilt with Lloyd-Wright style

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1 MT-Layout 2 Proofs RR Ready to Paste Home rebuilt with Lloyd-Wright style

2 Couple, architects collaborate to re-imagine South Hill home STORY BY CINDY HVAL PHOTOS BY DEAN DAVIS An aging 60 s home on high Drive on Spokane s South Hill has gotten a Frank Lloyd Wrightinfluenced makeover, but because the bulk of the renovation occurred indoors, the casual passerby might be unaware of the sweeping alteration. The new owners wanted to keep the structural integrity of the home s exterior, while revamping the dated interior. So, they turned to Copeland Architecture & Construction Inc., of Spokane. We were looking for a house on the South Hill that we could remodel, says the recently retired homeowner who moved to Spokane with his wife in View and location were important to them, and the house they discovered The renovation of the interior of the 1960s South Hill home included removing its second floor, making the kitchen, seen here before and after the remodel, and the rest of the house more airy and expansive.

3 A brick fireplace, once hidden by drywall, anchors the home s living room. offered both. The tree-lined street and shady backyard suited their taste perfectly, but the interior of the house needed a fresh touch. We liked the bones of this house. We took it down to the bare studs. Every room except the living room and master bedroom is different, he says, adding that whole rooms changed in function. Architect Gerry Copeland says the basic shape of the house, with its wide, low eaves, rows of similar sized windows, extensive brickwork, dark trim, and light colored stucco, lent itself to the Frank Lloyd Wright look. He and architect Jeff Fountain derived the design of the house from Wright s Willits House of 1901, which is in Highland Park, Ill. Fountain says, The prairie style architecture was very strong. It gave us everything we needed to work with. Borrowing Wright s philosophy that space within a building is more important than its enclosure, the team set to work. Collaborating, the owners and architects decided on a floor plan that opened up the house and revealed the great structure hidden within. But first they had to get rid of the second floor. Opening up The upstairs, with its oddly shaped bedrooms and narrow stairway, limited the possibilities and potential of the house. Fountain suggested closing off the upstairs and eliminating the stairway. He says with a smile, Removing the second story while keeping the existing roofline was a challenge. It was worth the effort. With the entire second floor gone, the downstairs became airy and expansive. Exposed straight grain fir beams draw the eyes upward, add a characteristic Wright touch, and the results give the main floor a distinct vertical feel. Windows line both the back and front of the house, allowing views of the surrounding lush mature trees and foliage. While visitors once entered directly into the dining room, the front door now opens to the spacious great room. Attention to authenticity and detail adds charm to the revamped rooms. For example, one side of a glass-fronted wooden bookcase faces the entry hall and holds collectibles, while the opposite side faces the kitchen and serves as a pantry. The functional kitchen includes artistic elements that make it a pleasure to work in, the homeowner says. Warm, rosy granite countertops complement the burnished oak of the cabinets and mirror the reddish tones of the brick central fireplace. That fireplace presented another challenge. Drywall had been placed atop the brickwork. The owners decided to keep the fireplace and use it as a separating element between the kitchen and living room. Once the painstaking process of removing the drywall was complete, the fireplace was completely re-bricked, resulting in an additional elegant focal 26 INLAND NW HOMES & LIFESTYLES

4 Entire rooms changed function during the extensive remodeling. Clockwise, from top left: the home s entryway, den, and dining room. DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY

5 Lloyd Wright-inspired details include block patterns in the door and wood and stained-glass skylights. 28 INLAND NW HOMES & LIFESTYLES

6 point. The homeowners and architects agree that their motto during the project was WWFD What would Frank do? Wright s influence is apparent both in the layout of the house and in the smaller details. For instance, instead of rounded newel posts on the downstairs stairway, they chose flat-topped posts, which keep the horizontal lines flowing. Another Wright trademark is the use of stained glass. In the dining room, beautiful wood-trimmed glass skylights, by Spokane artist Isaac Smith, reflect natural light above the dining room table. The amber, golden, taupe and reddish tones from the stained glass bathe the room in soft light. Lighting is so important, Fountain says. It can make or break a space. Extra thought and care to this detail resulted in lighting that is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Natural light pours in from the stained glasstopped kitchen windows. In spite of the historical feel of the The house is low-key on the outside but special on the inside. Jeff Fountain, architect house, the attempt to employ Frank Lloyd Wright s influence didn t get in the way of modern conveniences. Each room is wired for Internet access and cable television. The owners also made sure each bedroom had its own bath, so guests can visit en suite. They also asked that the home be designed so they could age in place. Wide doorways and a main-floor laundry tucked in the master bedroom will help them do that. Throughout the home the owners added their distinctive personality to the Wright-themed design. Limestone tile from the Kansas hometown of one of the owners trims the master bath and is seen elsewhere in the house. William Morris wallpaper adds flair to the powder room, and an aromatic cedar floor lines the closet of the master bedroom. While the couple enjoys strong colors, they combined their preferences with what seemed to suit the home. Thus soft gray, warm taupe, and cool green walls complement the glowing tones of the light from the stained glass. Fountain says, This house was truly designed by committee. I can think of no other project we ve been involved in that s been this collaborative. This house is low-key on the outside but special on the inside. Most importantly, his client is thrilled with the results. The husband says with a grin, We love the house. It s a work of art. o DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY