The view with a nature conservancy across the lake, along with the flat shoreline: these are two reasons why the owners of Atwater decided to purchase a property they knew would need both an addition and a significant renovation. Could the property, a 3-bedroom, single bathroom A-Frame have the potential with an addition and remodel to accommodate the family’s needs? After the Colby Construction team worked through multiple architectural revisions, the challenging remodel and addition began.
We will follow along as Atwater transforms from a home that had unusable space into a functional family dream home.
Building on a lake can bring a multitude of challenges, and remodeling or adding on to an existing property on a lake can bring even more. Conservation laws, permeable space regulations, and protected wetlands add restrictions to building a dream lake home, and this property faced these challenges and more. Once permits were issued and the process began, the transformation on the home began in earnest.
The unexpected obstacles that can happen with a remodel often far exceed those of a new build. A project like Atwater takes an experienced team that can handle those unexpected obstacles. A step-by-step process also had to be thought out in order to move the process forward. As walls and ceilings came down, the roof was raised, excavations were made and concrete poured, the new home started to take shape.
The excitement of watching each section of the home come to life truly is a metamorphosis. The entire lower level has been gutted, new walls and new basement sections added on, and the stairway removed. The engineers and team looked at how the home functioned from a basic level, where the furnace and water systems should be housed, the overall plumbing and more. No detail was overlooked. The main floor was also completely stripped down, and a full two-story addition, plus a garage, is added off the backside of the house, while a hearth room is added off the side of the home.
To make the space feel open and more practical, the room above the kitchen was completely removed to open to a two-story ceiling in both the kitchen and great room. The views of the lake are now available throughout the first floor, which changes the whole feel of the home.
As the project continues and the home is built out, we will follow along with the creative team that is making Atwater a practical house for a large blended family. The home has been a work in progress that continues to evolve as the custom home building team of Colby Construction works to balance functionality, use of space, and beauty.
