Before & After: Historic PA

The Nogami’s stone farmhouse, originally built in 1870, has been a ‘fixer-upper’ since Mr. Nogami’s grandfather purchased the home in the 1940’s. I think it is time for this family to finally call it fixed and enjoy living on their lovely family estate, don’t you?

Before any other improvements are made, this home needs a solid roof overhead. DaVinci Roofscapes single-width slate in standard color blend Villa will give Nogami’s a roof that is true to the color and style that would have been found on the home originally. It will also provide them with many years of protection for their treasured property.

Next on the wish list is replace windows with energy efficient double hung windows with 6 over 6 grids. White window frames stand out too much against the stone so I recommend a color for the window frames that blends in better. To find the right color, I planned the entire color scheme first. In this case, I selected a three color scheme that included a neutral that I keyed off of the color of the grout between the stones. Then I looked at the available window frame colors and selected tan because it was closest in color and tone. Don’t worry about the frames matching the trim exactly. Start by getting the trim color right and go from there.

I added Fypon stone crosshead to enhance the windows and changed the shutters to low maintenance Fypon double panel shutters painted in rich Bittersweet Chocolate or stained mahogany. Although not shown in the rendering I would keep the wrought iron latches on the shutters both because Mr. Nogami’s grandfather crafted them and they are a delightful design element that fits the style of the home.

The Nogami’s may choose to expand the front porch or leave it basically the same size it is now. In either case, it needs to look like it is part of the architecture. While the wrought iron pieces have sentimental value they are not a strong enough design element to create an impressive entry. I would remove them and enjoy using them as design elements in the garden.

The wrought iron was replaced with Fypon plain square columns. Then I add Fypon’s peaked pediment to give the entry the much needed dimension currently missing. Top the porch area with the same DaVinci slate as was used on the roof. These changes will make the entry area feel like part of the home not an afterthought.

Replacing the front door with a solid Therma-Tru fiberglass entry door painted in a contrasting color will make the entry the focal point on the front of the home. I selected a Classic-Craft Canvas painted Autumn Purple. Fypon triple panel shutters painted in Bittersweet Chocolate frame the door and a new light fixture complete the entryway.

If the homeowners want to go with a mahogany door as they suggested in their submission they could reverse the scheme and use a color like deep Dark Purple on the shutters. Don’t let the color name scare you. I’m not talking about crayon colors but rather a deep shade of purple that can look as elegant black or brown.

The finishing touch is a little simple landscaping and this historic stone house will be ready to be enjoyed for many more generations.

Take a peek at all the finalists and vote for your favorite to win!