Spanish Colonial
Koontz - I too am impressed with your sensitivity to your house Jen. It may be self-evident by our posts, but Jodi and I are a bit strident about respecting the style of a house and altering it within those parameters. Accolades to you therefore.
I've not only worked on similarly styled homes, but I owned what I called a Meditteranean styled house some years ago and I loved the place. I am a contractor, not a designer and though I am interested in architecture, I don't have the educational background Jodi has in the topic, so the differences between what we term Meditteranean, Spanish, Spanish revival, or Spanish colonial revival escape me. I think the terms are often used interchangeably, and I am going to do the same for ease of answering some of your questions.
First, a designer is a good idea, but there are some things you need to be aware of with or without a designer on board and you'll have to make sure your contractor understands the importance of these points.
When you add square footage to a house, you obviously are going to be adding exterior wall footage. You have to have a contractor who uses a stucco sub-contractor that is versed in the finish on your original structure. New stucco homes have an entirely different look and texture than the older homes. The old style can be replicated, you just have to look for the person that can do it.
Second, though your house will be lath and plaster on the inside, you can get the same look with new materials, i.e., sheetrock and mud. The reality is that no one is going to build your addition with lath and plaster. It would cost you a small fortune, it's wasteful in terms of materials, and you don't need to go that far. New methods and new materials are versatile as long as your craftsmen are versatile. In a new house you walk in and if you look at the walls, they will have what is called a "blown-on" texture. It is quick, mechanically applied and meant to be indistinct. In your home you'll need someone who can apply a hand troweled texture that when dry and painted, will look just like a plaster wall. It's a little more costly to the owner because it takes the worker more time, but it's imperative if you want things to look original.
Both of these points have everything to do with the contractor you choose to work with. It has to be someone who knows you want the look of your old house, with the ameneties of modern living. So be careful whom you work with at that level. Referrals from other homeowners' in your neighborhood would be a good place to start.
Personally, I am less concerned about the choices between copper and brushed stainless fixtures. Sometimes people try so hard to replicate a style that it becomes over-done. Choose what is appealing to you and try to have some consistency so you don't have too many elements fighting with each other.
My old Meditteranean house was built in 1930, and the influence of the Art Deco period was subtle but obvious in the builders' choices. It was a lovely melding, but not overwhelming.
Real wood floors are perfect, you'll never have the warmth from laminates. Tile for counters would have been the style then, but you have some other options. I am currently in love with honed granite for older homes. It seems to give all the benefits of modern materials but it looks like it fits in older styled homes. (Caveat here-honed granite develops a patina that doesn't come together for the first 6months to a year-be aware of that before you choose it).
Adding archways is easier than ever these days (from my perspective as a carpenter), with new building components. The same for adding a niche in a hallway. As you envision walking from the original house to the additions, what makes sense to be in that space, to make it feel seamless?
And that last sentence may be more important regarding a designer than anything else you do. Getting the flow of the space right, so you end up with a house that uses it's layout in the best possible way.
You're in for an exciting change-be patient, and be prepared for upheaval and a lot of dust! Ultimately it will be worth it though...really!
I've not only worked on similarly styled homes, but I owned what I called a Meditteranean styled house some years ago and I loved the place. I am a contractor, not a designer and though I am interested in architecture, I don't have the educational background Jodi has in the topic, so the differences between what we term Meditteranean, Spanish, Spanish revival, or Spanish colonial revival escape me. I think the terms are often used interchangeably, and I am going to do the same for ease of answering some of your questions.
First, a designer is a good idea, but there are some things you need to be aware of with or without a designer on board and you'll have to make sure your contractor understands the importance of these points.
When you add square footage to a house, you obviously are going to be adding exterior wall footage. You have to have a contractor who uses a stucco sub-contractor that is versed in the finish on your original structure. New stucco homes have an entirely different look and texture than the older homes. The old style can be replicated, you just have to look for the person that can do it.
Second, though your house will be lath and plaster on the inside, you can get the same look with new materials, i.e., sheetrock and mud. The reality is that no one is going to build your addition with lath and plaster. It would cost you a small fortune, it's wasteful in terms of materials, and you don't need to go that far. New methods and new materials are versatile as long as your craftsmen are versatile. In a new house you walk in and if you look at the walls, they will have what is called a "blown-on" texture. It is quick, mechanically applied and meant to be indistinct. In your home you'll need someone who can apply a hand troweled texture that when dry and painted, will look just like a plaster wall. It's a little more costly to the owner because it takes the worker more time, but it's imperative if you want things to look original.
Both of these points have everything to do with the contractor you choose to work with. It has to be someone who knows you want the look of your old house, with the ameneties of modern living. So be careful whom you work with at that level. Referrals from other homeowners' in your neighborhood would be a good place to start.
Personally, I am less concerned about the choices between copper and brushed stainless fixtures. Sometimes people try so hard to replicate a style that it becomes over-done. Choose what is appealing to you and try to have some consistency so you don't have too many elements fighting with each other.
My old Meditteranean house was built in 1930, and the influence of the Art Deco period was subtle but obvious in the builders' choices. It was a lovely melding, but not overwhelming.
Real wood floors are perfect, you'll never have the warmth from laminates. Tile for counters would have been the style then, but you have some other options. I am currently in love with honed granite for older homes. It seems to give all the benefits of modern materials but it looks like it fits in older styled homes. (Caveat here-honed granite develops a patina that doesn't come together for the first 6months to a year-be aware of that before you choose it).
Adding archways is easier than ever these days (from my perspective as a carpenter), with new building components. The same for adding a niche in a hallway. As you envision walking from the original house to the additions, what makes sense to be in that space, to make it feel seamless?
And that last sentence may be more important regarding a designer than anything else you do. Getting the flow of the space right, so you end up with a house that uses it's layout in the best possible way.
You're in for an exciting change-be patient, and be prepared for upheaval and a lot of dust! Ultimately it will be worth it though...really!
permalink
