The Story
Featured In Woman’s Day Specials
Featured In Southern Living Magazine
2002 Aurora Award Winner
2002 Remodelors’ Showcase Grand Award Winner
This project was awarded the 2002 Aurora Award in the category for Remodeling, Rehabilitation or Historic Restoration as well as Best Remodeled Kitchen in conjunction with the Southeast Building Conference. The home was also recognized with the Home Builders Association of Mid-Florida 2002 Remodelors’ ™ Showcase Grand Award and is scheduled to appear in a future issue of Southern Living magazine. Updates will be posted here at psgconstruction.com.
Taking advantage of their sub-tropical locale and a love for the outdoors, Doctors John and Wendy Huhn came to PSG Construction with several goals. One was to make the most of outdoor living when they tackled their whole house renovation and addition.
The couple’s 1970’s colonial, located in Lake Conway Woods, had the typical ailments of an aging Florida home: it was dated and worn, the closet in the foyer blocked the view of the lake from the front entry, and the low 7 foot ceilings in the kitchen were confining.
“We chose PSG Construction based on the quality of the work we had seen in some of their other projects,” John explains. “Their up-front project planning seems to be better.” In addition to PSG Construction, team members for the project included Fleta Collins-Tachi of Loggia Architecture and Jennifer Haddock of J. Haddock Interiors.
“John and Wendy enjoy cooking and being outdoors,” PSG Partner Paul Gidus explains. “We gave the back of their home a total update geared to their interests.” This meant adding a 700 square foot open porch featuring a spiral staircase that leads to the master bedroom balcony, wood detailing on the porch ceiling, and a stainless steel grill center that is 12 feet wide and enclosed in brick.
Wendy recalls that the first get together the Huhns hosted was a birthday party for her husband. “We cooked some lobster on our new grill!” she says.
To enhance the pool area, PSG expanded the pool deck, added a spa with a spill over and renovated the existing pool bath with stone accents and a converted furniture chest that holds the sink basin. “The spa’s spill over creates a nice visual effect,” Wendy says. “It’s very relaxing.”
“The porch and pool area are an extension of our home,” explains Wendy. “When we have get-togethers, we open the doors of the kitchen to the porch and pool, and the outdoors becomes a primary place for guests to hang out. It’s such a great place to enjoy the sunsets, the pool view and the lake.”
PSG also gave the entire exterior of the home a much-needed remodel. A new front entry portico with new columns, copper flashing and detailed molding replaces the original entry that was shallow and uninviting. Siding on the lower portion of the home was replaced with brick that matches existing brick finishes. The exterior of the home was completely repainted. Windows and roofing were also replaced.
“Now the exterior of their home is as appealing and comfortable as the interior,” Paul says.
Removing Awkward Details Inside
Indoors, the first floor of the 3,600 square foot home was renovated and awkward details were removed. The stairway was reconstructed and the foyer was opened up to provide a more spacious entry. The foyer closet was removed to allow for an inviting view of Lake Conway. Carpeting throughout the house was removed and replaced by hardwood floors. A furniture-grade bookcase was built into the living room. The wall between the family room and kitchen was removed to maximize the functionality of the space. New exterior doors and a furniture-grade entertainment center was added in the family room as well as a bay area that mimics the kitchen’s bay.
Redefined Kitchen is Interior Highlight
The highlight of the interior is undeniably the kitchen which is geared to cooking aficionados.
Cherry wood cabinets are paired with painted white cabinets to impart a warmth in the kitchen that encourages friends as well as the children to congregate. A wine cooler is built into one end of the kitchen island. New French doors in the breakfast bay area and heightened 8 foot ceilings capitalize on the view and natural light.
“PSG took out the wall between the family room and kitchen and removed the kitchen’s existing peninsula so that there would be great traffic flow from the kitchen to the porch and pool area,” Wendy points out. “The elevated counter space on the new kitchen island is where the kids sit to eat breakfast or do homework while I prepare dinner.”
Master Bedroom Balcony is Doubled in Size
Minor improvements were made to the second floor, including updating the hall bathroom. The addition of the rear porch, however, doubled the size of the master bedroom balcony, which now totals 700 square feet. At day’s end, the Huhns can retreat to their master bedroom and still enjoy the outdoors and inspiring sunsets from a very ample but private space. The project successfully incorporates the two doctors’ favorite past times in a retreat they can escape to…right at home.
SOURCES
Appliances – Southeast Steel
Cabinetry – Busby Cabinets
Roofing Contractor – Steppi Roofing Inc.
Tile – Tile Market
Interior Trim & Doors – Residential Building Supply
Wood Flooring – Specialty Floor Designs