Having owned my 1916 bungalow since 1985 and it feeling aged and a bit cramped with accumulated acquisitions over the years, I deliberated about updating and/or remodeling and/or expanding the 1,000 square feet. Trepidation over procuring an architect and contractor led to a few years of procrastination and consternation. I am, admittedly, fussy and an appreciator of perfection, and the thought of inadvertently selecting and then collaborating painstakingly with potentially presumptuous professionals evoked an obnoxious perception of fingernails scraping a chalkboard.
Then, a colleague and friend enthusiastically offered the name of an architect she had retained to advise on aesthetic improvements to the exterior of her vintage home. So, I called Sarah Sabiston, reCAST. We met, we clicked, we entered into a contract, and began discussions. Sarah quickly became acquainted with me and my taste and preferences.
Amenable to phasing the work to accommodate finite budget, we began with the remodel of the tired Arts and Crafts living room and dining room, and some exterior improvements to the front. She supported me in selecting a reliable and competent contractor and, consulting with me frequently, she oversaw the work…ensuring the materials were the quality she prescribed, work was completed to specification, and the quality of the craftsmanship met her high expectations. New oak floors, wainscoting, specially milled crown molding, chair rail, mantle and book cases flanking the fireplace. If a task wasn’t completed to her satisfaction, she insisted the work be redone. The outcome… a fabulous facelift, within budget, that receives complimentary gasps from visitors!
While that work was underway, she began designing the next phase: remodeling the kitchen and complex addition to include a master bedroom suite and detached garage. Considering constraints of code and lot size, not to mention finicky municipal permitting constraints, she arranged the puzzle pieces in a handful of different ways until … voila! a masterful design emerged that appealed to us both while being mindful of the aesthetics of the historic neighborhood. Once again, Sarah supported me in selecting a reliable and competent contractor and she oversaw the work with the same dedication and attention to detail. Both Sarah and the contractor were conscientious about budget and worked together well to find solutions to unforeseen issues that arose. Knowing my taste and preferences, she narrowed the range of design choices (lighting, faucets, tiles, sink, basin, commode, finishes, etc.) from which I chose…a tremendous burden lightened for me. The bedroom addition is 500 square feet, but feels much more spacious because of the proportions, height of the walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows and tall glass that open to the courtyard providing a pleasing view and ample welcome light. The exterior of the addition blends remarkably with the older part of the house and the interior flow from old to new is an inviting transition. Sarah offered to and did confer with the landscape architect on the design of the adjacent courtyard. And, upon occasion, she still calls to ask my impressions about living in the reinvented home and see how I’m faring in my beloved space.
Would I employ Sarah’s services again? Absolutely…there is no doubt in my mind.
