Classic Homeworks

O'CONNOR/RAASCH KITCHEN & DINING PORCH ADDITION

3rd Place - 2005 Contractor of the Year Awards (CotY)
Honorable Mention – 2005 Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence (CARE)
Before Exterior - The March 2003 snow storm brought down the porch overhang
After Exterior - The homeowners decided to add an enclosed Dining Porch instead
 
Before - From the kitchen, the homeowners couldn't enjoy their beautifully landscaped backyard

After - Now, the Kitchen overlooks the warm, bright Dining Porch addition and out into the backyard beyond
   
Before - The kitchen of this historic Congress Park Craftsman Bungalow suffered an 80's trend remodel
After - The new Kitchen reflects the Craftsman style of the rest of the home and features stunning custom quarter-sawn oak cabinetry, granite countertops, an art deco backsplash, all new stainless steel appliances, new electrical, and updated plumbing.
 
 
Before - The old, laminate-covered stairs leading up to the kitchen and down to the basement were narrow and creaky
After - Wide, custom-made oak stairs tie the Kitchen's hardwood floor to the Dining Porch's slate floor perfectly
The transition from the old to new is seamless, highlighted by a new Craftsmen-style fireplace

After a spring snowstorm dumped a record-breaking four feet of heavy snow in two days, many homeowners found their roof trusses cracked or snapped. A few older homes collapsed altogether from the weight of the snow. For the O’Connor’s, it was only the flimsy porch overhang in the backyard that suffered severe damage. Unfortunately, when the overhang came down, so did the layer of brick that attached it to the home.

After several days of deciding how to repair the damage, they discovered they had a window of opportunity. Having long wanted to remodel their kitchen, which included turquoise laminate cabinetry from the 80’s rather than the classic Craftsman-style details throughout the rest of the bungalow, they pursued their dream. As frequent entertainers, they also wanted to comfortably host their friends and family in a year-round space. Additionally, valuable area in the basement had gone virtually unutilized.

Instead of rebuilding the porch overhang, the O’Connor’s splurged for a large, enclosed “Dining Porch” addition. Matching the look and feel of the rest of this historic home was paramount and was achieved with great success! Salvaged clay tile roofing was tracked down on the Internet and special ordered from Texas to match the existing roof. The transition is now visually seamless. Lowering the Dining Porch to ground level allows for an expansive, bright, and peaceful view of the (soon to be) Xeriscaped backyard. The Dining Porch, only steps from the beautiful new kitchen, can accommodate formal gatherings, lazy mornings staying warm beside the dazzling new fireplace, or simply soaking up the sun. Slate tile flooring transitions easily to the new oak staircase that leads to the new kitchen and down to the new home office, relocated laundry room, and bathroom.

The Craftsman-style kitchen features stunning custom quarter-sawn oak cabinetry, granite countertops, an art deco backsplash, all new stainless steel appliances, new electrical, and updated plumbing. The homeowners, a freelance writer and banker, are thrilled with their new space, having achieved all their goals, and then some.
Classic Homeworks - Denver's Premier Remodeler of Older Homes Since 1985