Craftsman's Touch

Cultured stone from Eldorado Stone accents the new front entrance, which features a custom-designed mahogany door and an oval side window.  After photos by Krogstad PhotographyEXTERIOR

 Remodeler and residential designer: Stone Pillar Remodeling, Redmond, Wash.

Classic craftsman details with a northwestern twist transformed the exterior of this high-profile, 35-year-old hillside ranch from bland to beautiful.

The new look to the Bellevue, Wash., home includes brand new front and rear porch entries, barrel vaulted archways supported by stone-sheathed battered columns, cedar lap siding and energy-efficient windows.

"What really struck me about this project is that it was a very bold renovation," says remodeler Patty Gordon, who partners Stone Pillar Remodeling, a design/build firm located in Redmond, Wash., with husband, Paul. "Now the home has an interesting park lodge appearance that is really stunning." BeforeThe goals of the exterior remodel were threefold: to increase the entry impact of the home's flat and featureless street façade; to add a deck off the front-oriented master suite, which is the only room in the house that has a view of the nearby mountains; and to develop outdoor living space in the back yard that would permit the homeowner to enjoy her extensive gardens.

"It was really important to accomplish a symmetry between these three elements and get away from the linear look of the original style," says Gordon. "We did this by repeating the same shape of the barrel vaults on both the front and rear elevations and using a curved railing on the new deck."

On the front of the home, the master suite's existing aluminum windows were replaced with two sets of French doors. The new deck is large enough to accommodate outdoor furniture. The original stairway leading to the main entry was retained but the porch was enclosed and extended forward to meet the existing lower section of the railing.

Gordon is quick to attribute much of the success of the project to her client, who, she says, was very involved in the design process. "She has a background in art and, even though she had no architectural experience, she did a wonderful job of making sure that everything went together well. Her ability to made decisions sped the process. The finished product is a remarkable reflection of her personality."