A recent (Spring 2021) and unfortunate house fire brought a young family to us in their time of need. We find that these situations tend to be more mentally taxing for homeowners as they work through the pains and struggles one doesn't typically associate with new home construction. Working with municipalities, builders, renovation contractors and insurance adjusters compounds this stress. We were proud they chose us as their builder, enjoyed navigating them through this emotional journey, and will always hold these types of builds near and dear to our hearts, knowing this home will bring them peace and joy in the future.
House prior to fire. Photo credit: Google.
From the time this family closed on the preexisting house to the time of the fire, which started in the garage, it was only a few short days. Thankfully, they had been able to move a few of their belongings into the basement, which avoided the areas most heavily damaged by fire. During their rebuild process, which initially started out as a restoration project, they met with a few different builders and contractors. Cypress was fortunate and excited to be the ones to help them accomplish their vision.
Looking back, they felt Cypress handled the situation with a certain care, compassion, and agility not too often experienced within the building industry. Cypress was able to visit them at the site, accompanied by many of our subcontractors and trade partners, to help them navigate this unique situation as they developed a concrete plan for their rebuild.
One of the features the homeowners loved most is the added light provided by the dormer with window off the front of the home. The great room and living space opened up more than the original floor-plan, modernizing the space entirely. They were able to add open railing, improve sight lines, and gain valuable space in this heavily trafficked living space. The homeowners also decided to go with a more natural wood look for the trim of the doors, windows, and home, which added a certain warmth that seamlessly blended with the stained maple cabinets.
Hand-selected granite countertops, stunning custom maple cabinets, the perfect use of open shelving and a luxury gas range all formed to create a truly stunning kitchen---a space that the homeowner calls her favorite. Their vision, coupled with the insight of our interior designer team, arrived at a reimagined space in what used to be the same footprint of the room. The beautiful granite island and countertops, flooring, trim, and floating shelves perfectly interact to create a space that is both functional and eye-catching. And who can forget the incredibly practical pot-filler behind the stove, eliminating the need to carry a loaded kettle of water across the kitchen? Furthermore, this family is looking forward to the added living space that the sunroom located off the dining area will bring.
During the consultation and design phases of this home, spaces didn't always have to be cloned or "stuck in the past". What used to be a powder room off the kitchen of the home became a practical mudroom, helping to improve the laundry room space as well. Check out these bathroom and mudroom spaces that will serve these homeowners into the future.
In every step of this process, Cypress attempted to utilize what could be repurposed for the benefit of cost savings. The original homeowner built the home with his bare hands, when it was actually the first home on the block. This revealed some beautiful craftsmanship, but also revealed where modernization may be needed. Cypress attempted to reuse the floor-joist system, but the strength of modern TJI joists , as well as the inability to salvage some of the fire-and water damaged material, meant that the floor system needed to be redone. The homeowners were comfortable with the steps taken during this sensitive time, as the focus was on doing the job right versus doing the job inexpensively.
Are you considering building a home, undergoing a rebuild or teardown idea or know someone who recently had a house fire? Shoot us an email or give us a call at 920-734-2324 to talk about how you can build you a home that suits your needs. We build homes in North Appleton, and within 1 hour of the Fox Cities, and would love to listen to your story and help you through your process.