Curtis Park Remodel
25th Street bungalow-Careful restoration; contemporary sensibility

By Susan MacCulloch
Viewpoint Staff Writer

When Kathleen Ave first saw her two-story, circa 1911 bungalow on the corner of Donner Way and 25th Street for sale in 1997, she was immediately drawn it.

"It looked so at home with the big oak tree and two palm trees in front," she said. "But when Bill and I looked at the inside, I started to hesitate."

Despite her initial hesitation, Kathleen, an Intel project manager, and her husband, Bill Davies, a public interest criminal defense lawyer, undertook their home restoration with diligence, patience, and a willingness to live in the house for several years before tackling the recent remodel of their kitchen area and upstairs master bath.

Bill and Kathleen encountered several challenges during their first few years in the house while removing misguided home improvements by previous owners. Stripping paint layers down to the original woodwork in the living and dining rooms took many months, much of it done by Bill and Kathleen themselves. A mortar failure caused the collapse of the clinker brick fireplace (but revealed a hidden treasure-an ice pick-behind the rubble). Less glamorous but necessary upgrades of the electrical, plumbing and sewer systems took place before two welcome detours-the birth of their two children, Will, now 5 years old, and Kate, now 2 years old-put a hold on other more aesthetically enhancing projects.

"It took living with the problems for a while to really discern the priorities for the remodel," said Kathleen. "It also took some time to develop our sense of the house and figure out what would really feel right."

When the kitchen and master bath remodeling was finally undertaken, the young family moved out and lived with Bill's mother for 10 months last year. They feel the long months of displacement were worth the inconvenience.

The family now enjoys an open and spacious kitchen featuring plenty of natural light from skylights and a bank of windows looking out to the garden. Practical additions include a separate pantry area, small bathroom, and eat-in area for the family. Built-in cabinets simulating an inglenook enclose a built-in upholstered banquette. Marble counter tops, white subway tile backsplash, reproduction lighting, and custom cabinets built in the Craftsman style contribute to a warm feeling.

The former sleeping porch upstairs was transformed into the master bedroom. A bank of new windows incorporates a series of salvaged stained glass panels matching those of the twin bungalow next-door, also two-stories.

While the entry foyer, living and dining rooms retain the traditional Craftsman style details, the newly renovated kitchen, eating area, and small bathroom incorporate modern conveniences with reproduction Craftsman details.

A strong connection to the outdoors is readily accessible through many original and reproduction windows throughout the home. A window seat in the dining room provides a cozy spot by the fireplace.

After nearly 10 years of ongoing house projects, Kathleen offers this advice: "Focusing on smaller projects first is a good approach-you get projects without a lot of risk. And it helps you build a network of skilled people. Looking at what you have in your house can help narrow the range of possibilities and makes it easier to make decisions. This will also make the end result more cohesive."

Don't miss the chance to view the Ave-Davies home on this year's Home & Garden Tour. While admiring the restored woodwork in the living and dining rooms, take note of the river rock fireplace rebuilt after the clinker brick one failed while enjoying the outside view from the cozy window seat.

And here's a quiz while touring the kitchen: Where's the refrigerator? You'll be impressed with their space-saving solution.

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