A young married couple purchased a 1950’s home in an up-and-coming East Nashville neighborhood, where renovations and additions are common. Customary to the period, this 2-story brick home has great bones (solid construction), but the small rooms and small overall square footage are not in keeping with today’s living standards. In addition, the front porch once had tall columns and a roof, a common architectural ornament in Tennessee. However, the columns and roof have been removed for safety reasons, leaving the home without a “face”, really without street presence and a personality.

CHALLENGE: The design challenge was to renovate the interior to bring the living spaces up to modern standards (and sizes), while at the same time create an exterior presence for the home: curb appeal. The homeowners asked me to develop the exterior in the Craftsman style, which is their favorite, and is also a popular style in the neighborhood.

SOLUTION: The design solution includes the removal of the existing roof altogether, as the second floor is underutilized and confusing. Adding onto the rear of the house is not economically feasible, as the house is built into the side of a hill, and adding to the left or right did not make sense due to the existing layout. However, adding up and out (second floor extended to the right and left), allows us to create a presence with the massing of the house, while the craftsman details create the desired aesthetic for this existing plain façade.

The owners can’t wait to get in their “new” home, as it is currently in the construction process. Stay tuned for the “after” pictures!

East Nashville Addition