This document provides an architectural assessment and renovation plan for a historic Craftsman-style home built circa 1925. It analyzes the home's original design features and later modifications. The renovation aims to restore original elements, improve functionality, and convert the home into a duplex while respecting its historic character. Key aspects include replacing the front door; renovating the living room, kitchen and dining room; restoring original windows; and modifying the rear entrance to serve as the second unit's entryway.

1. Owner: Eldon L Karr
Dr. Gerald & Mrs. Eleanor Roller Appalachian Architect

2. Making Old Ideas Better
 How we can create 21st century living space in a
duplex configuration while enjoying the products our
past and implementing the lessons learned for our
future?
 We don't really benefit by throwing away old ideas.
Unless we evaluate and re-evaluate, we are just
making our job harder. There is no greater joy than
making the old ideas better!!!

3. Understanding Historical Context - Built circa 1925
The Patrick Henry Hotel 1314 2nd Street, SW

4. Craftsmen Style Home
Summer 2011
Summer 2011
~Spring 2008

5. A. A set of three original casement windows, with a sill height of
approximately 4’-6” above the finished floor suggests that the stoop
and the door served as a service entrance to a pantry/utility room in
the original home.
B. The single original casement visible on the exterior is one of a
pair of original casements that still exist with one being concealed by
early remodeling.
C. This 15 light fixed sash does not match the detailing of the
original windows and therefore was probably installed as an enclosure
element on a second floor “sleeping porch” in a later remodeling.
D. A 3’-0” x 6’-8” commercial grade flush exterior door, not
original, was more recently installed as an emergency egress exit from
the second floor level during the building’s use as a halfway house.
E. A 6-light over 1-light double hung window appears to have been
installed at the time of the enclosure of the sleeping porch.
F. This is an original sleeping porch column that has been left
exposed through several remodels of the building. The siding on the
second level, and parts of the first level rear wing, is a fiber reinforced
cementitious material.
G. A 3’-0” x 6’-8” 6-panel metal clad exterior door, was more
recently installed as an emergency egress exit from the first floor level
during the building’s use as a halfway house.
H. A 3’-8” x 3’-8” aluminum framed sliding glass window (early
1970’s vintage) surrounded aluminum “clapboard” siding encloses an
existing interior stairway.
I. An existing 8-light over 8-light double hung window provides
day-lighting and ventilation for the basement space below. An adjacent
4-panel wood door in excellent condition also appears to be original.
J. A 2’-8” x 6’-8” commercial grade hollow metal flush exterior
door, which is clearly not original was more recently installed as an Some of the original windows in their current locations may be considered for
emergency egress exit from the first floor level during the building’s
use as a halfway house. A third open treated pine stair was installed on removal, restoration and re-use in alternative during the execution o this project.
the exterior.
K. Another single original casement visible on the exterior is one of
a pair of original casements that still exist with one being concealed by
early remodeling. A bathroom occupies the existing space on the
All three of the dilapidated open treated pine stairs and railings will be removed.
interior.

6. A. The existing carriage house appears to
have been built near the same time as the original structure. It is
currently serving as a dwelling unit with an exterior egress stair to
the loft level. The current zoning ordinance will not allow this use
to continue if the main structure is allowed to contain two
dwelling units. Therefore, current economic consideration
requires the Owner to abandon this use in favor of creating two
more desirable dwelling units in the primary structure. For that
reason, at this stage, we will not focus attention on the
preservation of that structure.
B. The east wing of the main structure appears to have been an
early modification (or addition) to the original primary structure.
This judgment is based upon observation of the existing adjacent
structure at 1316 2nd St., SW which appears to have been
constructed by the same contractor based upon the same basic
plan.
C. A uniquely “awkward” enclosure of interior space on the
second main floor level of the main structure appears to have been
added to accommodate utility access in the area of an interior stair
to the basement.
D. An architecturally important feature of the original
structure is the bay window located in the apparent dining area of
the original structure. The condition of the casement windows
encourages historic restoration. The installation of “window air-
conditioning units” has compromised the architectural integrity of
one of the four casement window units comprising the bay.
E. An 8-light over 1-light double hung window providing day-
lighting to the basement utility area appears to have been installed
as an original “design-sensitive match” on the earliest addition to
the original structure.
F. The same is true of this double-hung window noted above.
Further noteworthy is the rustication of the stucco finish on the
basement walls of the earliest addition.
G. The painted simulated cedar shingle siding that currently is
on the second level of the original structure and used with
apparent random application on the earliest east wing may or may
not reflect the original application of this material. Regardless of
that truth, it is doubtful that the original intended finish was a
painted color.

7. A. The six casement windows on this elevation combined with
four casements on the North elevation enclose what was originally
planned as an exterior front sitting porch. The floor elevation in
this area is slightly below the main floor level and the material
appears to be embossed colored concrete under an
indoor/outdoor carpet covering. The embossed concrete was a
commonly used treatment during the time this home was built.
The casements on the North side of the “Sun Room” have been
boarded up on the interior and one was cut to accommodate a
window air conditioning unit. The corner column is a classic over-
sized column typical of the craftsman period. Although the
modifications enclosing this space were not a part of the original
design, it is an attractive feature, sympathetic to the period, and
delightfully serviceable as a contemporary space. Restoration of
this area is desirable.
B. Also typical of the Craftsman style is the full dormer on the
second level. The gambrel roof was also used in the Craftsman
style but not as frequently as the bungalow style gabled roof. I
have looked for this home in Sears & Roebuck catalogues of homes
from this period, as I suspect this may have been a “mail order”
home, again reinforced by the presence house next door at 1316
2nd St. The original roofing material was probably a granular slate
asphalt shingle common during that period which provides clues
to original coloration.
C. The segmented arch pediment over the front door also was
used extensively in “catalogue” style homes though the
configuration of the brackets supporting the pediment cannot be
considered “true” to the Craftsmen style. Some of the “mix and
match” features start reinforcing the suspicion that this was a
“catalogue home,” though that does not reduce its quality or
historic value.
D. The existing metal clad entry door is clearly a much more
contemporary replacement that is in poor condition and needs
Granular-surfaced asphalt shingles were
replacement. newly introduced in the early 20th Century.
E. The industrial-type pipe railings leading to the front door
distract from the aesthetic appeal of the home. Tab sizes more accurately modeled slate
shingles.

8. A. The front entry location will be preserved and the entry
door will be replaced . We will address a shortcoming of the
original design: as this façade faces almost due west, the entry
door suffers extreme temperature fluctuations causing rapid
material degradation. Further, the front entry lacks protection
from rain and therefore renders it less hospitable . We propose to
eliminate the “industrial” railing in addition to responding to the
deficiencies noted above.
B. The original living room contains architectural detailing
akin to the Dutch Colonial styling including stair detailing, a bay
window, and ceiling treatment with simulated beams. The owner
intends to restore and preserve these elements.
C. The bay window in the living room space provides desirable
day-lighting as well as “openness” to the stair to the upper level.
Its location is awkward, aesthetically, in context with the balance
of the room’s interior. Its proximity to the adjacent masonry
structure of the fireplace makes the “minimized” sash lighted
panel s on the right side of the bay difficult to maintain. This
presents a very unique condition which was originally addressed
in a way that encourages preservation as a “unique” historic
element. These side sashes were carefully modified to reduce the
width of glass within the panes of the sash from a normal of 7 to 8
inches down to nearly 1 inch!!! The owner wishes to preserve this
element of the original building.
D. The service entrance previously described on the Southern
façade is an element of the original construction that will be
considered for major modification to the original structure. When
considering this location as the major entry to a duplex living unit,
nearby access to a stair to the upper level is a primary circulation
consideration. If this were used as an entry the stair to the second E. On half of a pair of high casement windows is currently blocked off from G. An awkward enclosure also noted in the Fifth Installment will be removed if
level for the 2nd duplex unit would be located in this space. use by either the early addition or plan modification of the East wing. It is possible possible.
However, the use of this space for vertical access would greatly that the window was blocked off when a suspected exterior porch area in the East
impact the functional use of other interior spaces regarding wing was enclosed. One of the casements still serves to provide light to a small H. The existing kitchen area will be completely remodeled in a style
compatible spatial relationships as well as plumbing and utility toilet area. These windows may be removed, restored and relocated in our design sympathetic with the historic character of the building.
needs. A major modification to the original structure will be proposal. I. The original dining room is one of the most attractive areas in the building
proposed in this area. and will be restored.
F. An apparently enclosed exterior porch area currently houses a service J. The casements in the enclosed sun porch will be restored.
stairway to the second level. The space appears to have a high potential for
adaptive re-use as a “scissor stair” and entry area for the 2nd duplex unit.

9. Proposed Design for
2nd Street Facade Existing

10. Proposed Design for
2nd Street Facade New

11. A Refreshing New Entryway
Existing East Wing Proposed New Entry

12. Demolition
Plan
Key to Door and
Window Replacement

13. Window and
Door
Schedules
New Window and Door
Specifications

14. Floor Plans

15. Elevations

16. Miscellaneous
Details

17. Miscellaneous
Details
Englenook Two Entries