One of the things I love about living in a historic district like Yalecrest is seeing how old homes eek as much functionality out of their limited space as possible. Old is new again, as far as design philosophy goes, and we can learn a lot from our predecessors in how they used space. Case in point, Dave and Michelle’s home on Hubbard Avenue.
A charming cottage-style built in 1939 by Raymond and Angelina Solomon, the Solomon family lived in the home until 2003 when Dave and Michelle bought the home. Dave and Michelle could have gone in and, true to the times, leveled the place or started knocking down walls and making all kinds of structural changes to add more square footage. But they didn’t. They fell in love with the architectural details, the thoughtful storage, the elegant arched doorways, and the practical, if small, floor plan.
As they remodeled the home over the years, they were careful to maintain the charm and craftsmanship of the home while suiting it to more modern needs. They preserved the beautiful orange-red brick of the exterior adding craftsman elements with new doors and hardware. The kitchen was redesigned to fit the original footprint and flows effortlessly into the dining room and living room.
They didn’t touch the original art-deco bathroom tile on the main floor and opted to subtly update with new fixtures and paint. They modified the basement with some pretty remarkable storage additions.
Walking through Dave and Michelle’s home you get a sense of authenticity and functionality. There is very little wasted space and an abundance of quality, warmth and comfort. While some people might raise an eyebrow to a family of five living in this kind of square footage, for them it was how they wanted to live: a walk-able neighborhood, old trees, close community, proximity to downtown, and living in a historic home were all important to them. And it was made easy by their creative and thoughtful enhancements to an already functional space.
As with all good things, they eventually come to an end. Life’s demands intervened and Dave and Michelle felt it was time to move their family on to another adventure in a neighborhood closer to family. Their home sold very quickly on a pre-listing; a credit to their well-preserved and functional home, Yalecrest Home’s strategic planning and a hot real estate market.Thank you, Dave and Michelle, for allowing me to be part of your transition to a new neighborhood and stage of life. You will be missed dearly by our community and for the service and time you have given to all of us!
Thank you, Dave and Michelle, for allowing me to be part of your transition to a new neighborhood and stage of life. You will be missed dearly by our community and for the service and time you have given to all of us!
