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Saturday, January 21, 2012

Teardown Complete: door shutters, stone, french doors, small panes

I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to Susan!

It's by Rutledge Alcock Architects, Decatur, Georgia. It's all done. I like it. The old house had looked sick for a long time, probably an estate issue. It was on .2072 acres, built in 1920 with 2,264 square feet.


The door shutters and lantern are the finishing touches for the new one.

It's on one of Atlanta's great streets, half a block from "Dean Rusk's House."

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The new house has a smaller profile than the original. How often does THAT happen in a teardown?

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The old house was taller, amazing.

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The new one has a watchtower. Everybody wants a watchtower.

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Nothing wrong with the old one's style or proportions though, nice little porch too. They still build them like this as well they should.

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It was a goner in this neighborhood even in this economy.

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Off we go.

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The new one gets its 5000 square feet by going deep on the lot. The slope allows light into the terrace level.

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The windows fascinated me most, the small panes, the different sizes.

These windows will admit wonderful northern light and flood the narrow house through and through

I wrote ''Window pleasures, window design patterns" about them.

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I liked it just fine in its white wrapping, the black checkerboard of window panes.

The woody French doors intrigued me too, a balcony maybe?

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I was surprised when the stone went up. There aren't any neighborhood houses with full stone facades. But many have stone detailing.

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I was a bit wary. But I hadn't "read the last page of the book." It didn't come together in my head.

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But now I get it.

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Fine work I think.

It's unique; it makes a statement; it doesn't look brand new in style or finish.

It makes it neighbors look good.

Congratulations.


Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

20 comments:

  1. It doesn't look like one could close those 'door shutters' without hitting the light fixture above. I would've gone with wood windows on the stone portion of the house that I could stain to match the doors.

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    1. Well, the review gets it right on one score - it certainly does make the neighbors look good. Pretty much anything would look good in comparison. The black Mercedes SUV perfectly completes the picture of a new owner who's trying way too hard, abetted by Rutledge Alcock who appear to not have the confidence of restraint (one expects to see a small kitchen sink embedded in the facade somewhere).

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  2. What a great blog! I am popping over from Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday - my post is right before yours. I love the concept of your blog... I love looking at what others are building and sometimes wish I could carry sticky notes with me to give them tips or ideas...Just kidding - I would never actually do that, but I do think about it a lot! I will be reading your older posts and following you now!

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  3. I never would have guessed 5000 sq ft until you showed the side. It's gorgeous! Thank you for sharing that tear down and put up. wow

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  4. Ideally, it would have been nice to have kept the original facia and just re-do it where necessary; however, this is a wonderful architectural remodel that brings the home into the 21st century. Truly a remarkable job!

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  5. I'd have never guessed this was a 5000 sq ft home from the front. I love how they kept it from looking like a hulking beast from the street. I wish they had eliminated the light over the front door, though. Shutters should at least appear to work. Thanks for sharing this reno.

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  6. I think I prefer the lantern to the door shutters. I've seen the house for so long without them, they make the tower look small. But I may change my mind.

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  7. The shutters verses lantern bothers me too. A driveway with a central grass strip is a feature that is starting to be encouraged where rain water run-off is such an issue; are you seeing a lot more in new residential landscaping in Atlanta?

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  8. Split driveways everywhere. In this neighborhood they build to maximum lot coverage and that includes the drive. I'm not sure I could manage backing on a split driveway. It would be a muddy mess today.

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  9. I like the form and scale of the house but there my positive feelings end. That multi-colored stone veneer is particularly virulent and quite comic. As to the brown shutters (I agree about the lantern) and the white trim .... maybe, I'd better stop there.

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  10. I love this blog and hate to be negative, but I had such high hopes for this house when they were building it. It is on my drive to and from work. Unfortunately, they just kept adding materials (and square footage), and the style is nothing like the rest of the beautiful, historic neighborhood. I agree with the other Anonymous that it makes the neighbors look VERY good. There are so many good new builds in Morningside -- but this is not one of them. Aside from the issues with the front facade, the diveway side of the house is ridiculous looking, and the house appears to take up the ENTIRE lot. I miss the old rental that used to stand there. Such a shame.

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  11. I like it more than the anonymous's, and I wasn't enjoying the long era of deterioration of what it replaced. A few tweaks may be forthcoming.

    But I'm not an idealist when it comes to these things. I can't think of a single house in the neighborhood that's close to perfect, old or new. This isn't a neighborhood with Tuxedo Park budgets. The houses are mass plantings rather than specimens.

    And as much as I love Morningside the street, there are only 4 houses that I'm head over heals for. I'm sure my readers wouldn't choose the same 4. Maybe I'll blog them some time.

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  12. I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are incredible! Thanks!
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  13. I am in LOVE with this house! Is there anyway I can get your email address so I can ask you some questions about it!

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  14. Not bad at all....the shutters looks beautiful...Adoring all.
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  15. There are a lot of blogs and articles out there on this topic, but you have acquired another side of the subject. This is reliable content thank you for sharing it.

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  17. I love the architecture of the house and the materials used. It is really sophisticated with the exterior wood shutters installed. They are better. Love to have this kind of house. One of the best I've seen.

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