Fountainhead Residence

Our client purchased this house for its 5-acre wooded site. But the dark, 1980s tract home was decidedly less spectacular. We were hired to expand and renovate the home to accommodate a growing family.

Absorbing the mid-century modern roots of the existing house, we strove to transform the living level into a space that cultivates a strong family life. We removed walls, ceilings – even a bit of roof and floor – to interconnect family activities. We exposed existing attic trusses and created a tall addition to create higher spaces, and expand views upward. We also infused the living areas with light from new skylights, larger windows, and strategically placed clerestories.

Then we used a glass floor, open-tread stairs, and warm wood finishes to visually connect the three levels of the house. And we always kept children’s activities a central focus of our design, integrating elements like cozy window seats, a children’s height kitchen counter, a child-sized play nook, and cubbies everywhere!

The end result is a light-filled, modern version of the original house, one that is open, takes advantage of its wooded surroundings, and draws the family together.

Do you want to improve your dark tract-home? Or do want to build a new cozy, yet open home for your family? Contact us at Ossolinski Architects.