The Myers Park Homeowners Association recognized three families for outstanding renovations and additions to homes in the Myers Park neighborhood at its annual meeting at the Duke Mansion on March 23rd.  The three homes recognized show that renovating older homes can be done to match the lifestyles of today’s families while preserving the architectural heritage of the neighborhood.

Richard and Alina Bartlett were architects for the renovation of their home at 1147 Queens Road. The house, completed in 1923, showed signs of neglect and disrepair plus extensive water damage. The Bartletts recognized the potential in the home with its  simple yet elegant floor plan, but wanted to adapt it to the needs of a family of four with growing teenagers.  They restored the front rooms of the house, while adding a new family room and master bedroom to the back of the home.  By swapping the uses of the original dining and living rooms, and relocating the kitchen, they created a floor plan that flows seamlessly from old to new, and allows for the comfortable entertainment of family and friends.  The respect paid to the original facade and room arrangement is the basis for the current application for historical tax credits being made by the Bartletts.

Carey and Warwick Werthmuller lived in their home at 1255 Queens Road West for nearly a decade before beginning their renovations.  They knew they wanted to add additional space and the amenities found in newer homes – a larger master bath, updated kitchen, informal family room and media area.  By adding on to the original home in two different areas, and by matching the Tudor Revival styling of the original 1938 home, architect Don Duffy met the family’s space needs while maintaining the general appearance of the home on its prominent hillside site.

John and Kim Grant faced a dilemma common to many owners of older single story homes.  They loved their home at 2233 Westminster Place, but needed more space and wanted to maintain their backyard with the shade provided from a mature white oak tree.  Working with architect and neighbor Kent Lineberger, the Grants raised the roofline and converted a walk up attic area into two new bedrooms and baths.  The additional space was added in a way sympathetic to the scale of the original home and the streetscape of primarily single story bungalow style homes.  The home was also returned to a more traditional bungalow style by abandoning a colonial blue color scheme with white trim and Georgian columns for a look more appropriate to the design of the original home.