"Sunny High" is an extraordinary 6,600 square foot estate designed and built by architect Francis Gugert in 1902 in Wayne, PA.

We were commissioned by the new owners to preserve and restore the original fabric of this Arts and Crafts interpretation of the Tudor style with its rich detail but also to update the house to meet the needs of their family. We were charged with making that restoration livable for today’s world with kitchen, family entry, garage, master suite and systems improvements that shared the spirit of the original house rather than running counter to it as previous alterations had.

Our work included restoration and re-fabrication of exterior and interior millwork after years of neglect. This included restoration and replacement of exterior pebble-dash stucco and Tudor framing and cleaning and restoration of leaded art glass. The new garage replicates the vocabulary of the main residence while assuming a greater massing to balance the southern wing and to serve as a big simple party room when desired.

The new kitchen takes advantage of a more central location, in place of the original dining room. This allowed formal dining to take center stage in the Great Hall. Secondary spaces such as the back stair, pantry, and mudroom take their rightful place at back of house. Every effort was made to salvage existing doors, hardware and millwork throughout.