A PUZZLE AND A DREAM
The homeowners’ ideal house was waiting for them tucked into a small lot on the shores of Canandaigua Lake. The split level ranch had a lakeside lower level. The neighbors were wonderful and it was perfect for kids. Cork floors accommodated piles of wet bathing suits and wood-burning fireplaces in the bedroom and living room were especially loved in the winter. This was 11 years ago. As the kids grew up, the cramped basement made it impossible for them to use as a hangout. There was no garage. It was time for a transition; remove the original house and build the dream.
It quickly became apparent that building the dream house was like working with a puzzle. In addition to duplicating the original home’s beloved features in the new house, the small lot demanded everything be built within the confines of the original footprint while preserving a masterpiece stone retaining wall and patio. It was Ketmar Development that figured out how to put it all together.
The homeowner reflects on the past, “From the day we bought the house we knew it would someday be our dream house. We’ve been planning it for ten years! I have collections of colors and clips. Because we’ve lived here for so long we know how to use the space through the seasons. It was a matter of figuring out how to incorporate all the pieces.”
“It was a complicated project and we designed accordingly,” says Marie Kenton, President of Ketmar Development. “We kept the footprint of the house and within that space we added a garage, created three levels with viable headroom and amazing views of the lake from just about every room. It’s an amazing transformation!”
Many deliberate decisions establish a unique, earthy style that departs from most lakefront homes. Local stones are used throughout the home. The kitchen, which opens to the great room, ties the space together with a recycled beach glass countertop island. Custom wrought iron railings open the views. Calm, neutral palettes with unexpected pops of vibrant, sassy color emphasize fresh spaces.
The homeowners credit Kenton with having a tremendous influence. The former basement level is now a terrace with a billiard room and two-sided fireplace connecting the main room with a four-season enclosed glass structure. This room is set directly on the stone patio capturing summer breezes. Just as in the old house, the new one has a kitchen balcony and fireplaces in the living room and master suite. Additional balconies extend off the master suite and guest bedroom. A dumbwaiter easily moves firewood or even hors d’oeuvres to each level.
It’s a home that brings to life the homeowners’ decade-long sequence of experiences and ideas. Their thoughts now? “Everything worked out exactly as we had hoped.” In other words, a dream come true.