Designers: R. Michael Cross and John Barker III of R. Michael Cross Design Group
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Size: About 300 square feet (about 28 square meters); about 20 by 15 feet
Year built: 1909
Special feature: “The decision to go with an all-white color palette was very intentional,” says homeowner Margaret Anne Powers. “We had studied hundreds of photos on Houzz and identified key elements that we wanted to incorporate: dark wood floors, light walls and natural materials. Urban homes tend to be dark inside because of shared walls, limited windows and close proximity to other buildings. White was an easy choice for us. The natural elements really show off against the white backdrop.”
The floors are heart pine reclaimed from 100-year-old Navy pier pilings in Washington D.C. The dining table was hand-made from Virginia walnut grown on the farm of the homeowner’s great-grandfather. The stools were bought unfinished and then stained with the same oil and wax as the floor.
Homeowner’s request: These newly empty nesters wanted a clean, fresh start for the next phase of their lives. The existing home was in poor condition, with small, dark rooms. They reconfigured the house so that everything they need would be on the ground floor, including the master suite. Upstairs sits a media room, office, two guest bedrooms and two bathrooms. Nontoxic and sustainable materials helped earn the home LEED Gold status.
Who uses it: Margaret Anne Powers is a former schoolteacher. Her husband, Patrick, is a local physician. They designed the home to age in place, with all doors wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers if needed. The home is automated so that interior and exterior lights, security system, media components and temperature can controlled through smart phones and tablets.
Plan of attack: The floors drove the other details of the house. The cabinetry followed. Originally, the homeowners wanted stainless steel for the island countertop before spotting a beautiful slab of marble that was almost the exact size of the island in the plan. They used stainless steel for the perimeter countertops.
“Uh-oh” moment: A few months after completion, the wood grain on the cabinets began to “bleed” through the no-VOC finish. At first, the homeowners thought it was shadowing but it got worse. “With an open floor plan there was no hiding or ignoring it,” Powers says. The cabinet company shared the owners’ disappointment and began researching a solution.
The manufacturer of the cabinet paint (thinned for use in a sprayer) and the woodworking company stood behind the product and offered to pay for a replacement product. However, the replacement would not be a LEED-acceptable product. After weeks of contemplation, it was decided that all the cabinetry in the entire house would be professionally hand-painted, in place, with a no-VOC paint.
The nitty-gritty: Wall color: Seagull, Porter Paints; cabinet and trim color: Delicate White, Porter Paints; stools: smart and sleek, Wisteria; dining chairs: Skin chair, Houzz; pendant lights: recycled cardboard, Houzz; dining light: George Kovacs Twist & Shout, Houzz; appliances: Thermadore; faucet: Align, Moen; sink: stainless steel: Elkay
Team: R. Michael Cross (principal architect) and John Barker III (project designer) of R. Michael Cross; John Luck (builder); Richard Cross (LEED Homes consultant); Adam Goldsmith (photographer); Cary’s Mill Woodworking (cabinetry); Old Dominion Metal Products (stainless steel countertops); Artistic Stone Design (marble island countertop); Wendy Morton (design consultant)
from Houzz http://ift.tt/1SCOAit
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