Belote Residence

PROJECT

Historic Kitchen Remodel and Bay window Addition

The existing building is a substantial early Craftsman residence known as a Prairie Box or American Foursquare, with characteristic rectangular plan, low pitched hip roof and covered entry porch. This property is a designated historic resource within the City of Redlands West Highland Avenue Historic and Scenic District. All proposed modifications are designed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the preservation and treatment of historic structures, to maintain and preserve the integrity of the historic resource.

Kitchen Remodel Includes: Work-island integrated with existing stone chimney/chase; 6 burner cooktop range (likely centered between two windows); existing window to bay window for built-in breakfast nook conversion; new base and upper cabinets to maximize utility and storage included; new coffered ceiling treatment to complement adjacent dining room: new flooring, countertops, lighting, plumbing fixtures and appliances.

SolutionS

A Certificate of Appropriateness was required for this project due to proposed exterior modifications to the historic resource. The existing kitchen had been remodeled in the 1970’s. It was inadequate in size and inapproriate to the historic house built in 1905. By combining the existing kitchen with the adjacent pantry the new kitchen space nearly doubled in area. The load bearing wall was removed and replaced with a steel wide flange beam. A wood coffered design was utilized in the ceiling to integrate the structural, mechanical and plumbing systems. A new bay window was added to provide a breakfast nook dining space. The bay window structure was designed to match the historic detail of the existing house, to preserve the integrity and value of the resource. Granite, travertine tile and maple cabinetry with seeded glass combined to create an upscale and elegant kitchen appropriate to the high style of the historic resource.