A 1950’S CAPE RENOVATION
We live in a time when the average family would sooner sell their home than renovate. The many sprawling, new homes that pop up each day in every direction you look are evidence of that. More square footage means higher taxes, though. Over the long haul, making the most of what you have is not only eco-friendly, but also economical.
Tom Zulawski, owner of ZDesign, factored these things in while he was mulling over what to do with his 1952 cape cod. Located on a quiet street in Buffalo, the house had been home for many years, and he loved the neighborhood. Not uncommon for a cape cod built in the post-war era, however, the rooms were small and inefficient. Still, Zulawski saw potential. “You can refigure the inside of your house, or put in phenomenal finishes, and it will completely change how you live,” he said. Zulawski decided to do both.
Expand Up, Not Out
He began the transformation with the installation of a shed dormer across the back half of the attic to create a true second story. On this floor, he added two large bedrooms, a loft area, and a full bathroom. This upward addition allowed him to reconfigure the main floor layout.
Design an Open Concept
Removing several walls on the main floor created a large, open concept kitchen and living room. “Prior to [the renovation], it was hard to have people over. More than six people? Forget it, you weren’t going to fit,” Zulawski said. “Now I can get upwards of 20 people in the house.”
The kitchen, once small and lacking counter space, now features custom cabinets, Calacutta marble countertops, a large island, and high-end appliances. “The veining in the marble was so beautiful, it became artwork on the backsplash, and is one of the things most people who see the house comment on,” Zulawski said. Incandescent lighting enhances the natural light that filters through the new windows, and Steven and Christopher pendant lighting over the island provides functional lighting, as well as artistic flair.
The color scheme in the kitchen is high contrast, with a bold splash of color coming from the oversized artwork on the interior wall. “I went with an off white color [on the cabinets] and a medium brown cherry island to complement the hardwood flooring,” Zulawski said. “I went with this look because it’s timeless. This will still be relevant many years from now.”
The flooring throughout the house is Brazilian Teak, five-inch, engineered hardwood. “I chose the floor because it has a beautiful grain,” Zulawski said. “It’s the second hardest hardwood flooring available.”
Create an Element of Surprise
Zulawski is especially pleased with the way the basement turned out. “I love that I was able to finish the basement,” he said. In an older home, “that’s something nobody would expect.”
The basement hosts a family room, laundry room and full bath. Like the rest of the house, there are full-height, drywall ceilings with recessed lighting and crown moulding. The full bath is spa-like –complete with a five-by-eight-foot shower. Even the laundry room is exquisite, with custom cabinetry and a folding station. “I used to hate doing laundry and now I don’t mind it so much,” Zulawski said.
Pay Attention to Detail
Zulawski chose a neutral gray palette for the walls, adding accent colors through artwork and accessories. “Gray is the new neutral, very current, and can work with many different accent colors,” he said.
One of Zulawski’s favorite things in the house is the audio wired in every room. “Sunday mornings are my favorite time of the week,” he said. “I enjoy nothing more than to get up in the morning, pour a cup of coffee, and listen to music throughout my entire house, as I walk from room to room.”
“[The redo] completely changed the entire function of the house, even though it’s still the same square footage,” Zulawski said. “It looks like a brand new house. It’s where I want to be, and it’s home.”
Tom Zulawski is owner of ZDesign, an architectural and interior design firm located in Buffalo, New York.