Second Act

A Newton attorney knew exactly what kind of place she wanted next. But after months of house hunting, the single mom decided to stay in her home of 20 years and stage a revival.

By Marni Elyse Katz  |  November 23, 2008

When economic times get tough, homeowners tend to stay put and renovate. But Susan Sano had another reason for enduring a costly and inconvenient extreme home makeover: She wanted it to be perfect. She had already looked at every home in Newton in her price range. Either the location wasn't right or there were too many stairs up to the front door or the kitchen was super small.

So the busy 57-year-old tax attorney and single mom to Matthew, 21, Katie, 19, and David, 17, decided to gut-renovate her 1951 Colonial. She enlisted architect Michael Kim of Michael Kim Associates, Kathie Chrisicos of Chrisicos Interiors, and kitchen designer Charlotte Bogardus of Visions Design Center. They came, they saw, and they conquered, adding 1,250 square feet and creating a virtually new home. Here's how they did it.

Kitchen

Problem

The dated kitchen, with its bulky brown stove, chipped cabinetry, and inadequate lighting, was Susan Sano's number one priority. An avid cook, Sano (shown on facing page with Katie and David, two of her three kids) desired a large, light-filled space with custom cherry cabinetry and top-of-the-line appliances.

The Fix

Michael Kim conceived a new, much larger layout with lots of light. The upper portion of the back wall is a single piece of plate glass. When Kim proposed one huge window, Sano was initially worried about the loss of upper cabinetry. But Charlotte Bogardus assured her that there was storage space aplenty, with the under-counter drawers and floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets.

What We Learned

Design an island so it's a functional piece of furniture. This 11-foot island, covered with Alpana cream granite, has storage on both sides, offers plenty of seating (and more at the table that juts out perpendicularly from the island), and hides a TV that pops up with the push of a button.

End Notes

Sano can't believe how much stuff she can stash. She has three 12-piece place settings in one cabinet. When she throws a dinner party and everyone's congregating in the kitchen, it doesn't feel crowded. "Before, it was cluttered everywhere," she says.

master bedroom

Problem While the old master bedroom (above) was relatively large, it was disproportionately long, and a low ceiling made it feel claustrophobic. It also lacked closet space.

The Fix The master bedroom was completely reconceived, so much so that it moved

from the front of the house to the back. The room sits under a new three-gabled roof, which allows for a spectacular vaulted ceiling. Initially, this soaring space was supposed to be closed over with a tray ceiling, but Sano became so smitten with the peaks during the building stage that the team decided to leave the ceiling open. The result is an airy, white, pyramidlike space with a wonderful

light-infused sheen. Continuing with the cherry-wood theme, the decor was conceived around Sano's existing cherry bed and Shaker-style cherry armoire.

Kathie Chrisicos added a beautiful three-piece cherry dresser by Harden and cherry night stands from Dovetail.

What We Learned

Go with the flow. Just because you've settled on a particular design during a renovation, don't be afraid to change things midway. While changes can often be costly, others, like Sano's cathedral ceiling, are natural outgrowths of a work in progress.

End Notes

Off the bedroom, Sano gained a long outdoor deck and separate sitting area (not shown), complete with an eggplant velvet love seat from Robert Allen, a flat-panel television, and a Mission-style cherry desk from Dovetail. Because her bedroom is so welcoming, Sano finds herself spending a lot more time there.

Dining Room

Problem

The old dining room (above) was used essentially as a storage area. If it was Sano's turn to host a holiday dinner, she would excavate.

The Fix

Unlike every other room in the house, the dining room maintained its original size and shape. But the room got a face lift with a new dining set from Joseph van Benten, which, like the kitchen cabinetry, is fashioned in natural cherry wood. To ensure ease of movement around the table, a small glass-topped, cherry-wood server with curvy, antlerlike legs is the only other significant piece of furniture in the space. A framed mirror hangs above the server, and the room is anchored by a blue Tibetan area rug with an abstract, minimalist pattern.

What We Learned

Since the furnishings were traditional, Chrisicos added bold pops of color in modern art prints. And she hung an elegant light fixture to add drama; the Artemide chandelier is like a soft cloud over the cherry table.

End Notes

Sano's son David sums it up: "Now it's actually a dining room."

Master Bath

Problem

Sano was eager to do away with the cramped original (above), which didn't even have a tub.

The Fix

The master had to be executed in a relatively tight area. In order for the expansive Calacatta gold marble countertop, glass-enclosed shower, and whirlpool tub to work, Chrisicos stuck to a simple white palette. The floor and walls are covered in an elegant Thassos marble, and the vanity cabinetry is painted white.

What We Learned

Light fixtures of white and clear glass mounted on a mirror (right) over the countertop lend a crystalline look to keep the room sparkling and allow for accurate reflections.

End Notes Sano finds her new "grown-up bathroom" reassuringly peaceful. "I actually use the whirlpool," she says.

Family Room

ProblemThe old family room (facing page) was very small and accessible only through a single door. While it had been spruced up when the family first moved in 20 years ago, it hadn't been touched since. As the kids got older, it became the room nobody went into, except to visit Perry, the family parrot.

The Fix

Kim tore down walls, so the space opens onto the kitchen and can be used for overflow during a large gathering. It's also a comfy TV room, perfect for Sano's teenagers, who often have friends over. Chrisicos was able to achieve seating for 10 with an extra-long sofa and a settee from Robert Allen, two occasional chairs from Bolier & Co., and twisted wooden side tables that double as stools.

What We Learned

It's easy to add seating and visual interest to a living space with an X-bench. Chrisicos installed two plush versions (shown at left) that can serve as seats, ottomans, or coffee tables.

End Notes

Even with all of these pieces, the room maintains the open, airy feel that Sano deemed essential. It's where her kids hang out. And Perry? He has been relocated to the sunroom.

ArchitectureMichael Kim Associates1 Holden Street, Brookline, 617-739-6925, mkimarchitecture.com Interior DesignChrisicos Interiors 8 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, 617-699-9462, chrisicos.com Kitchen Designer Visions Design Center 525 Providence Highway, Dedham, 781-329-0028, visionsdc.net

Marni Elyse Katz has lived through two home renovations. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.