We fell in love at first sight of our lovely 1920 Craftsman Bungalow. Sue and I had been looking for an authentic Arts & Crafts-era house in the Plymouth, MI, downtown area in which we could start and raise a family while restoring the home over time. We knew generally what we wanted—a home that blends the practicality and handsome details for which the timeless American Bungalow is famous, with improved user-friendliness (primarily in the kitchen) and energy efficiency. We wanted this without increasing the structure’s physical footprint. What we couldn’t envision were the floor-plan, mechanical systems changes, and other key specifics that only a professional could provide.
Executing this home-revitalization project to fit our vision required a careful approach. We needed an architect who understood and respected the ethos of the Craftsman Bungalow, knew how to reduce its overall energy consumption – and who could undo a few typical 1970s indiscretions, in the unfortunate ‘remuddled’ area of the house. Looking through an issue of American Bungalow magazine one evening, Sue and J saw a feature article on a wonderful home upgrade similar to what we had in mind. Remarkably, that project and its architect—Michael Klement AIA of Architectural Resource (AR)—were located 25 minutes from our place!
What followed was a straightforward collaboration that was keenly executed and remained 100% true to the soul of the home. Michael, from our initial discussion, stressed the importance of up-front planning, design, and close communication to the project’s success. This was particularly critical for incorporating the many “period-faithful” materials and finish details Sue and I desired including use of quarter-sawn white oak trim and custom cabinetry; cork flooring for the kitchen area; and a corner countertop crafted from 3-in. yellow pine slabs that my late carpenter father had salvaged decades ago.
With the help of AR’s delightful design process, Sue and I were given a succession of virtual “fly- throughs” which helped us decide on a final architectural plan. AR’s thorough up-front planning helped reduce the number of design iterations while providing a robust master blueprint for our project’s carpenters and subcontractors. The builder’s team reported at various stages how AR’s attention to detail was helpful indeed.
The end result is a restored-and-updated gem that is as handsome as when it was new in 1920, and yet eminently more functional and energy-efficient. AR put the home back the way it was meant to be, only now better. Sue and I are proud of our tastefully updated vintage bungalow, and find the newly redesigned home so incredibly easy to live in. We credit Michael Klement and the Architectural Resource team with our ongoing satisfaction. Well done!