American Residential Design Awards (ARDA)
Ann Arbor Infill GRAND ARDA WINNER - Published Design DESIGNED BY TR Design Group PHOTOS BY Werner Straube Photography
The home was built for a married couple and their two young children. The couple presented drastically different views right from the start regarding what they envisioned for their home. The wife’s preference? A traditional exterior. The husband’s preference? A slick, modern, transitional style. One preferred minimal use of color, the other enjoyed rich colors. Designing one home – floor plan layout and exterior - that is mindful of both ends of their taste spectrum would be a challenge.
There is an undeniable elegance radiating from this Eclectic home. The eggshell tone that dominates the exterior works beautifully with the creamy beige shutters and shake shingles – a calm, enduring presence to take in. A symmetrical pair of gables stand tall over the porch centered below. The vertical board and batten siding leading the eye down to the entry, sending a warm welcome to visitors. Slightly set back on the façade, a
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third elevation presents an independent look. Three stacked rows of adjacent windows extend up to its hip roof, sending light into the staircase beyond. The windows pop through making themselves known, the line of the bold dark trim stands out against the light exterior. The interior of the home is bright and airy as natural light pours into the space and bounces off the walls. The ceiling height sitting 10 ft. overhead, stretching to 12 ft. in the family and harvest room where it goes virtually undetected. Trim line work added to the walls and ceiling are a subtle detail that makes the room feel even more spacious. As the trim runs up and carries across the ceiling it visually encourages the faces to merge, comprehended mentally as an endless room. This sensation is continuous throughout the interior.
