By Micheale Taylor

I met the previous owners, Ihor and Oxana Rakowsky, in the foyer of 91 Plymouth on the morning of the walk-through, and they told me about how they had raised their 4 children there over 40 years. I told them about all of the things I saw in that house where their love and thoughtfulness shined through. I asked if either of them was an engineer, because I am; I could see the forethought and attention to detail in everything they had done to the home. They were the SWEETEST couple and we all teared up and hugged there in the hall.

When I first saw the house, it was the readiness for expansion that really sold me on it -

exemplified by the sprawling attic, where they had installed the CAC and run all of the ductwork along the ceiling, not along the floor as people often do. They had obviously laid the groundwork for a renovated third floor, and there was no limit to what could be done with that space. Since it was just me and my two girls, honestly, we had plenty of room, but I love having the option and ability to imagine. They told me about the addition they had built onto the back of the house and how the yard used to be even larger and there was an above ground pool. I can just imagine the covered patio next to the garage as a pool house, complete with two changing rooms in the back. I often imagined turning that into a detached office or studio.

The house as I found it in 2018: The ceilings were high, the rooms were huge, all of the windows were new, there was already central AC and a finished basement, and the details were beautifully maintained.

What the house really needed was an update

since all the work they had done had been for their family through the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. 

One thing I noticed soon after moving in was the drafts. Old homes can be like that but to address it can be disruptive once a home is decorated and you’re living in it. I invested in insulation throughout every floor and between the attic and basement and the living floors. No more drafts! This house, with new insulation and new windows and the original brick, holds the cool in summer and heat in winter. 

The family room:

The family room is a beautiful, light-filled space, but it was a bit disconnected from the rest of the rooms. When we refinished the floors, I had the vinyl flooring replaced with new hardwood maple flooring and stained to match the rest of the house. When we remodeled the kitchen we had it painted the same color as the family room to allow it to flow into the adjacent rooms. 

The kitchen:

I loved this project because we were able to keep the footprint of everything but do a complete update and transformation of the materials, the look and the overall usability. All the cabinets were replaced with full height, solid wood custom cabinetry to take advantage of the high ceilings. White countertops, stone backsplash, porcelain flooring and recessed lighting brightened and modernized the look. We extended the counters across the full length of the breakfast nook to create a coffee and breakfast station. At the same time, we removed saddles and built seamless flooring transitions from the kitchen into the hallway and dining room. 

With the kitchen remodel, the powder room was also updated with stone flooring. I also had all of the light fixtures throughout the first floor replaced with upgraded, transitional brass and glass fixtures to help connect the new modern updates with the traditional vibe.

The living room:

With the original chestnut molding, the living room didn’t need much but paint and updated window coverings. We painted the fireplace brick white and the original plaster textured walls throughout the first floor got a fresh, more updated color in a flat finish to create a more modern and soothing look for the traditional texture. 

The EXTERIOR:

Over the years the shrubs in front of the house had taken over and obstructed the views through the windows across the front of the house. Working with a landscape designer, we completely re-landscaped the front of the house as well as rearranged and cleaned up the backyard. We also installed a sprinkler system to keep it all healthy, and hardwired uplighting to emphasize the texture of the house at night. The deep purple of the japanese maple next to the front porch is visible from the sofa through the windows, and now the sky and beautiful homes across the way are a soothing landscape that decorate the entire front of this home.  

It was a tough decision to paint the exterior brick, but once it was done I never looked back. This along with the landscaping and the copper accents of the window boxes and planters has made 91 Plymouth a house that people linger and comment on, and the exterior now signals the modern updates you find on the inside. 

The basement:

The basement had been finished with vinyl tile and carpeting and that old fashioned acoustic tile ceiling. As my kids hit their teens, we wanted to make it a destination space for them and their friends for hangouts and sleepovers, so we did a gut remodel. Keeping most of the storage along the right wall, we freed up the rest of the space for a living area, workout space, ping pong table and video games. We also built out a full bathroom with shower and a laundry area with new washer and dryer. Then we added recessed lights throughout. We actually use the basement as much as any other area of the house, and it also makes for a great, private guest suite. There is even a separate entrance at the side door.

The bathroom:

Though the bathroom was large and the logistics worked for us, we longed for an update. Out came the corner shower, the huge jacuzzi bathtub, and everything else down to the studs. Not only is the new bathroom an update with luxury materials, but all the plumbing, base flooring, and electrical is brand new. Next to the bath, a very deep, cedar-lined closet had previously been used to hang coats which we never made good use. Instead, so we built in deep shelving (leaving the cedar walls) to make a sizeable linen closet. While we had the walls open, we took the extra step to run plumbing up to the attic to prepare for what might have been the next step in realizing the possibilities of the house - a primary suite OR a pair of teen bedrooms with a shared bathroom and hangout space. Alas we never got that far, but someone else can take that next step!

I really hope the next owners see what I saw in this house, a graceful design and expansive space and possibility. In my opinion, finishing the third floor would be straightforward and a really fun project!