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Melding
graceful Japanese design with classic Craftsman architecture, this new
construction home features curvy large porch timbers and sensual cherry
interior woodwork. The house is unique in design details and finishes
yet is still right at home in the old neighborhood of Kirkwood. In fact,
the interior features so many examples of recycled architectural salvage
that most visitors believe the house to be an original 1920’s home.
Filled with loads of unique architectural detail, this California-Craftsman fusion bungalow was constructed in 2005 by Laughing Sun Renovations, more as an “art project” than a speculative build. This unusual home was built on the site of a house that suffered a century of water damage and was torn down piece by piece. The new house uses part of the same footprint and recycled granite foundation as a basis. However, that’s where the comparison ends.
Beginning with the theme of the dragonfly, Japanese styled carpentry, and obsession with natural materials (stone, wood, & glass), the house was designed as a habitable jewel. It is adorned with custom stained glass, sensuous woodwork, architectural antiques, and a focus on bringing the outdoors in. Following the theme, dragonflies are represented artfully in the gorgeous stained glass window, in the cherry columns inlaid with ebony & ivory (recycled piano keys), and in the cast iron plaque masoned into a welcoming granite column.
The porch was timber-framed into place and the hefty gable design was crafted to look like a Japanese letter; these large pine beams were hoisted into place using ropes and 7 strong men. The porch ceiling is fashioned from heart of pine 2x6 planks rescued from an old cotton mill, planed and V-grooved down the center.
On the interior, over 700 linear board feet of curvaceous cherry woodwork was created based on the famed Greene & Greene Brothers designs in Pasadena, CA. The wainscoting was designed to mirror the curves of tree trunks while the window skirt boards echo the front porch gable’s curves. To give the house a vintage flair, antique oak mantels, heart of pine doors, reclaimed heart of pine floors, transoms, tile, windows, and door hardware were carefully arranged and installed to complete the final ambience.
If you are interested in the renovation process of this home, check out the pdf photojournal. A virtual tour of the finished product is below.
Virtual Tour:
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The first thing you'll notice upon approaching the house is the porch gable with its timber framing/ Japanese inspired porch beams. These beams are stout and beefy and rest on massive tapered granite columns--they set the tone for the art found within. Installing these beams was reminiscent of a barn raising, and their ability to be structural and load bearing as well as beautiful allows the ceiling of the porch to soar. If you look up, you'll see the antique heart pine 2x6 inch lumber that composes this stunning beaded ceiling. The porch floor is poured concrete to ensure zero maintenance. |
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Further hinting at the interior treasures to come is the antique heart pine Craftsman front door-it has been restored with careful detail and boasts a solid brass antique lockset. The sidelights are California Mission syle stained glass, featuring a colorful depiction of art deco tulips. They sit atop 1900's vintage thick-beveled glass sidelights from an old home in Philadelphia. The pairing creates a gorgeous effect of welcome and beauty. The entryway light is a hand-crafted California bungalow fixture specifically chosen for the magnitude of this porch. |
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Upon entering the house, you will be awe-struck by the sumptuous trimwork and large, open space. Rich with detail, the living and dining rooms are framed in cherrywood moldings, custom designed for this house. The designs were inspired by the famed Greene Brothers of Pasadena, with some original designs produced by Laughing Sun. You'll note the unusual art of the cherry ceiling moldings and Japanese curves. The antique grand oak mantel of the living room features antique tile and energy efficient vent-free gas logs.The vintage bookcases are heart pine with custom-crafted tapered cherry columns. The columns are inlayed with subtle dragonflys created from salvaged antique piano keys (ebony and ivory) and walnut. Sunlight illuminates the gorgeous stained glass sidelight
panels of the front door, bringing their rainbow of gorgeous
colors into the room. |
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The living room flows effortlessly into the elegant dining room. Clearly, the focal point of this room is the dragonfly stained glass window inspired one of Theodore Ellison's original designs. The colors are rich and stunning. This is art glass at its best and this window became inspiration for the many of the house's details - the tulips were the basis for the ones in the front door sidelights, and the dragonfly form was echoed in the front plaque and inlaid ebony and ivory column detail . The cherry wainscot
in this room is organic in form and brings to mind the sumptuous
form of trees.There are over 700 board feet of cherry woodwork throughout
the dining and living rooms, a rare work of craftsmanship for a
new home. The windows
are all brand new, solid fir, and appropriately large. |
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This is the ultimate chef's kitchen. This huge kitchen was thoughtfully designed and styled with California Bungalows in mind; the styling is clearly Mission, with some creative license taken to make it unique. The vast array of hand-crafted, cherry cabinets are a wonderful balance of form and function. They feature a wine rack, plate rack, glass doors, walnut-inlaid brackets, and upper plate rail. The Carrerra marble center island with bar sink is a perfect food prep area, and also boasts built-in bookshelves and a wonderful spot for seating. Completing the look are granite counters, a honed rainforest green marble backsplash, and stainless steel appliances, including a professional-style Kitchen Aid range. An antique schoolhouse light and a gorgeous pair of art glass pendant lights sparkle and complement the light pouring in from the windows. Underneath these windows is the main sink.
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This enormous master suite is divine. It features its own roof gable and boasts soaring 12' ceilings for a sense of grandeur and space. A pair of antique heart pine townhouse style doors open up to the large private deck, also flooding the space with light. There are multiple windows, and every bedroom doorway boasts antique transoms to let in additional light. This large and lovely living room is floored with wide width heart pine, milled from century old reclaimed trees (scuba divers are rescuing them from riverbeds). This same flooring covers most of the home. The ceiling fan continues the clean lines of the room, while circulating the air of the vast space. |
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A pocket door slides open to reveal the great marble & travertine master bath with walk in shower with double showerheads. The marble floor has radiant heat for ultimate luxury and foot comfort. This lovely refinished birch medicine cabinet hails from the Ohio area. A gorgeous 100 year old beveled leaded glass transom lets in lots of light to the shower. The master closet
is a room in its own right. Accessed from the bathroom by another
sliding heart pine pocket door, this closet answers all of your
storage needs. |
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Bright and welcoming, this public bathroom is bordered with black galaxy granite and the field tile is glass black & white checkerboard, inspired by turn of the century baths. The refinished antique clawfooted tub that resides there is outfitted with a high-end telephone faucet. Antique touches like the Kohler Memoirs pedestal sink, refinished heart pine medicine cabinet, beaded board painted wall, diamond transom window add ambience to this bathroom. Except for the crispness of the lines, it's hard to remember that you are in a new construction home. |
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The front bedroom in this house is equally large and beautiful. It features an antique mantel with period crackle glazed tiles and an antique fire screen. It also boasts a built in bookcase, a bay of three large windows, and lots of light and air. Most of the chandeliers in the house are authentic antiques that have been polished and rewired and add the period pizzazz and uniqueness of this home. |
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This center bedroom is large and superb with tons of storage and closet space. Ideal for a roommate or a child, it is steps away from the bathroom. All of the bedrooms feature built in transom windows above the antique doors and re-milled heart pine floors. The doors to bathroom and front bedrooms are tucked away from the
fray of the public rooms courtesy of a small hallway
that provides access to all three. |
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Off the rear of the kitchen is a private staircase that winds it way down to the two car garage and basement. This area is lit by an upper transom window. The rear entry to the house features a beautiful antique townhouse style door with beveled glass panes-the door is made of solid birch and comes from Ohio and sports its original hardware. The garage and full basement are wonderful for storage, maintaining the value of your car, and enabling you to enter your house without exposure to the elements.Between the huge full basement, the expansive attic, and the enormous closets, this is a house that doesn't lack storage space. |
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The large flat backyard is great for kids and dogs (the backyard goes all the way back tho the stockade fence). The deck (left) is up high off the ground and offers nice views of the yard for entertaining and grilling out. The driveway leads to fenced backyard, with a garage hidden underneath the back of the house. |
email: paula@laughingsun.com
