Piedmont Entry

• About the project

  It all began with a new entry for this Piedmont renovation.  Following that, came a series of remodeling phases spanning over a decade. Our clients purchased this Piedmont residence, and lived in the home for a short while.  During this time, they developed real concerns about the safety of the home’s entry.  The existing front door was located on the side of the house.  Access to the entry was via a step up-sloping driveway.  Not only was it difficult to identify the front door from the street, it was also treacherous to access at times.

  They worried about family and visitors slipping and falling at night or during rains.  They interviewed different architects about how to make the entry safer and more visible, but most gave suggestions for improving the appearance.  When they spoke with us, we suggested relocating the entry from the side of the house to the front.  We designed a new, relocated entry addition along with a generous stair that connected it back to the sidewalk.  To keep things simpler, we kept the driveway for cars only.

  We added a small, one hundred square foot structure to the front building.  By wrapping windows around all sides, we gave it the appearance of a glassed-in entry porch.  To integrate the old with the new, we replicated details like shaped-beam ends and large overhangs.  Because it connects to the existing living room, we also remodeled the existing fireplace surround as part of the project.  Additionally, we introduced new built-ins between the living room and dining room.

  Piedmont Renovation: Planning Commission

  Because the new exterior staircase extends into the front yard setback, we were required to attain a variance from the Piedmont Planning Commission.  When presenting, the Commission praised our design not only for its contextual appearance, but also for the improvements we made to safety.  They voted unanimously for approval.

  We also added built-in benches with storage inside the entry, and transformed the former side addition into a reading nook.  Our clients use it as the place to play board games, and look out onto the backyard.