Before and After: Prairie-Style Home Transformation

One of the unique architectural styles that we see in Silicon Valley is the prairie-style house plan. Originating in the Midwest and gaining its prominence from the famous Frank Lloyd Wright, prairie-style homes typically have distinctive horizontal lines, echoing the midwestern landscape, wide porches, large masonry chimneys and cantilevered eaves.

When these Naglee Park homeowners came to Acton ADU with a home remodeling challenge, they wanted to restore their original Prairie-style home to its original grandeur, leveraging these distinctive features.

The home had been modified from its original residential design by adding a Mansard roof design all the way around the top of the roofline. This modification was not at all in keeping with the Prairie-style home that the original designer had intended. The challenge was to create a solution that was in keeping with the original architectural style, while still meeting new structural requirements and code restrictions.

Acton ADU, along with design help from designer Brad Cox, was successful in bringing this architectural gem back from obscurity-just in time to be featured in a home tour hosted by Preservation Action Council of San Jose.

Before:

After:

After:

The siding was made to match the original, using a highly textured, neutral beige “pebble-dash” stucco exterior. Special structural supports were installed all around the home to support the weight of the cantilevered eaves. Custom-milled fascia materials were used to match original fascia trim details that had rotted or been removed. These details were reproduced exactly as a result of finding a few samples buried under the Mansard roof.

Got Questions? We’re here to help.

However you decide to remodel your home, you can’t go wrong with accenting the original architectural features of your home, like this original Prairie-style gem—combining comfort and style and adding simplicity and beauty.

Need an expert opinion? Whether you’re currently remodeling or just curious, the friendly team at Acton ADU is here to answer all your questions. Contact us today for a free in-home consultation, or visit our design gallery for the latest in modern home renovation. We promise it will be nothing short of illuminating.

If you have an aging home in need of restoration, call Acton ADU today.

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