As promised from last week, today's PrairieMod Monday is chock full of photos showing some of the recent changes that have been going on at the Little Red House...
First up is a shot of the new sliding door. You can see I need to blend in the new construction with the rest of the house around it, however I'm holding off for a bit before I dip the brush in the paint...more on that later. There's a lot more to update in this section of the house, but this new energy efficient door is a useful and eco-friendly first step.
Moving to the front of the house, here's an image of the old window/door configuration to give you an idea of what was there before:
And here's the "After" shot of the newly installed window and wall construction where that old door used to be:
Here's a shot from the opposite angle, showing the three larger windows followed by the three smaller clerestory windows.
There are a few things to point out with this particular project:
First, the addition of this window creates a really nice visual flow. No longer do we have that drafty door acting as a visual disruption--only the rhythm of the windows letting in all of that natural sunlight.
Second, because the new window is constructed differently than the old windows next to it, I'm going to have to replicate the new trim effect around the other windows to integrate the look further. This may seem excessive at first blush, but integration of these sorts of details helps reinforce and further accentuate the rhythm that we're seeking. Remember, Integrate and Unify is an important Principle to pursue in any project design and execution.
Finally, you'll probably notice a distinct color difference between the red color under the new window and the surrounding siding. That's a perfect example of how difficult it is to try and blend old and new in any renovation project. The old siding is aged and mottled and the first attempt I made in trying to match that color went awry. It was meant as a stop-gap solution until the entire exterior envelope can be addressed, but it looks just as distracting as the unfinished material I was trying to blend in. So, I'm going to have to be a little more diligent about choosing a new color for my second attempt. If at first you don't succeed...
That said, it gives me the opportunity to reach out to our PrairieMod readers and ask for your help. One of the goals we have for the Little Red House is to make it as fresh and beautiful looking as possible while upgrading its energy efficiency. I'd like to find a low maintenance material to re-side the home with that keeps its characteristic "Cherokee Red" color, is extremely cost effective, easy to install and help insulate more effectively. I really love the board and batten effect you see on Usonian homes like the First Jacobs House:
However, is this the kind of solution that satisfies all the needs listed above? Is there a better solution that has as nice an aesthetic? I look forward to your help on this one!
Photos copyright PrairieMod.
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