Laura Kaehler

A client wanted to add a wing on to a classic American Colonial home we designed for them several years earlier. Functional requirements for the main level included a study and a bathroom, while the main features of the lower level were a large “recreational teen center” for billiards table, arcade, computer games, media area, band, and family exercise room. Watch the football game, relax and enjoy a movie with wine and friends, impress your friends with your basketball skills, or challenge them to a game of pool or ping pong.

The addition was designed to complement the existing house, converting the L-shaped floor plan into U-shaped plan, connected at the existing family room/kitchen, thereby transforming the back terrace into a private courtyard with framed views of the swimming pool.  Seamlessly connecting the addition to the existing residence was complicated by the intersection of new and existing roof lines. Thus, a new thematic element was introduced: a flat-roofed contemporary “glass box” to integrate the addition with the existing house. The focal point of this “glass box” is a stainless steel and mahogany staircase. The concept of a “ribbon” was used extensively throughout the addition. Outside, a thick band of mahogany traces around the roof and walls of the glass box. Additionally, the “ribbon” serves to frame views of the new lawn and distant pond. The staircase is a folded ribbon of mahogany flowing up from a solid boxed tread. The addition also allowed for more intimate outdoor sitting area with an outdoor fireplace. The lawn was extended to make the back yard more usable and to expose views of a pond beyond.

The Wet Bar:
We were asked by our clients to design a small wet bar as part of their teenagers’ game room/hang-out room wing they wanted for their home. This two-story wing needed to blend in well with the existing traditional stone exterior but also push the envelope with some contemporary details. Along with the exterior, the interior was to have similar modern, crisp details and materials.

The wet bar, located at the bottom of the stainless steel and mahogany stair, was designed in mahogany and stainless steel cabinetry with a black granite counter.

A Sub-Zero 700-BCI under counter refrigerator/freezer drawer unit with stainless steel drawer panels was integrated into the stainless steel sink base unit. A full height mahogany cabinet to the left houses a stainless steel microwave and storage for popcorn and bowls.

To provide visibility into the game room behind the wet bar, we used a full height glass back and side splash wall of clear and frosted glass stripes. Two clear glass shelves span between the glass side splash and the mahogany cabinet. Adjustable halogen lights are suspended above on stainless cables to light glassware on the shelves.