Ranch Re-Do

Bette Lacey had work done on houses before, but having every room in a house worked on plus a new kitchen and two new bathrooms was a big task. The house she was working on was built in 1967 by her dad . There was no doubt that she wanted everything to be done to perfection. She knew she needed some expertise in home improvements. Thank goodness she found someone who had these credentials --John Princiotta-- whose experience, ideas, and professionalism was unparalleled in the market place. 

Time had taken its toll on the once lively and lovely property. It needed a little TLC-- and maybe a wall moved here or there--to bring it back to its former glory. Lacey knew that living in Virginia while working on a property in Massachusetts was not the most convenient work schedule in the world. She also knew that re-doing a house is a big project that would probably run smoother with someone especially trained in that area at the helm.

She met painter and home improvement consultant, John Princiotta, while garnering estimates to have the home’s exterior painted. Though not a contractor, Princiotta had worked on enough home improvement jobs to know what needed to be done. The Boxborough resident impressed Lacey enough to not only be hired to repaint the outside, but to serve as the home improvement consultant.

"It’s very overwhelming to re-do a house," said Lacey. "There are too many different projects and too many different contractors to coordinate at different times. He knows the right questions to ask. I probably wouldn’t know what to ask because I’m just a regular home owner."

MAJOR CHANGES

Work began when summer did. One of the first recommendations Princiotta offered was to move the side door to an adjacent wall. Lacey quickly agreed.

Under the original design, the side door--which also served as the main entrance to the house--opened into a small windowed foyer and a wall that divided the room from the kitchen. No furniture, save a bookcase, could be placed there

The doorway was moved, and a wall and window put in its place. The kitchen wall was removed and was replaced by an island. Those two simple reconstructive steps created a sunny breakfast nook. It also enlarged the kitchen, which was scheduled to be remodeled a couple of months later.

It also enhanced the adjacent family room. This room was built with a knotty pine-panelled bookcase surrounding a fireplace; a woodburning stove had since been added, blocking the view of the fireplace.

Princiotta first suggested removing the stove, and he painted the walls white. He painted the wood around the fireplace an oil-base sheen of Washington Crossing Blue and varnished the inside of the fireplace, leaving a little soot "for an antique look." This resulted in a whole new room.

We’re taking a home and making it your dream home without any major construction," said Princiotta.

Updates were also added to the living room and dining rooms. When Ervin Putnam laid the floor there, placing wall-to-wall carpeting over plywood was the thing to do. The carpet was now as worn as that concept.

Princiotta selected subcontractors who specialize in the installation of hardwood floors. Before the select oak was even laid, it was left in the house several days to "breathe."

"Artisans," as Princiotta calls them, then placed each select oak board individually in the family room, living room, dining room, foyer hall and the master bedroom. Eventually , they did the same procedure for the kitchen .

Each floor was then hand-sealed with four coats of oil-based finish. The whole process kept the subcontractors on all fours eight hours a day for six days.

"People come in and they stop," said Lacey, adding the floors still look wet and people are afraid to walk on them.

Another show stopper is the new French glass doors leading to a new deck. Before, the living room featured an oversized picture window. Princiotta’s suggestion to replace it looked even better when the exact door he wanted was found at Somerville Lumber’s going-out-of-business sale.

"They had a 9-foot door in stock," Princiotta said. "Someone special ordered it and didn’t take it." The doors open to a 6x25 foot cedar deck with fir floors. No pressure-treated wood here, Princiotta said, because it splits easier and does not bond well with paint or stains.

Facing the front door from the French doors was another makeover. Highly polished floors give the foyer a grand appearance, as did the freshly-painted front door.

The staircase to the unfinished upstairs was made over. It features a polished banister, and a new banister for the top stairs plus new carpeting.

Built-in shelves that once faced the stairs were replaced with a solid wall. This gave the foyer a cleaner look and added space to the kitchen, which is on the other side of the wall.

Hardware on all doors was updated to solid brass giving the perfect accent to the new paint.

LOWER LEVEL

The basement also underwent cosmetic surgery. It is still the family room, large enough to feature a shuffleboard game and sewing room, but Princiotta recommended the pine paneling stained golden oak be caulked, spackled, puttied and painted--many times--with Benjamin Moore’s white linen. The two hugh picture windows were professionally cleaned, and their heavy, dark drapes discarded. The floor--and shuffleboard game--was covered with a thick berber carpet.

After the job was completed, Lacey still wonders how it all got done with no delays or major problems. Thanks to Princiotta , it was better than she ever expected.

Return to our homepage