Janet Butler
Remarkable transformations and renovations are nothing new to Robert Young Architecture and Interiors, so it should come as no surprise that the Hedge Row Lane House is yet another successful example. Looking at the “before” pictures, you see a rather ordinary white house with a rambling stone front walk, shrubbery almost obscuring the windows, an exterior brick chimney, and a ramshackle back porch that seems to divide the house in segments rather than tie it together. By contrast, the first thing you’ll notice on the newly refurbished and refreshed version of Hedge Row Lane is how the light wood grain siding ties the house together, gives it a warmer look, and visually melds it with its environment. However, that’s just the beginning. As one design site puts it, this renovation lets the house “reach out and make itself bigger” in many ways.
One of these “bigger” areas is the altered family room, with its new glass-enclosed porch in place of the old “divisive” one. The result? Both more living space and an improved façade, without a huge disruption to the basic floor plan. A more dramatic change came with the alteration of a stairwell wall, allowing views from the stairs into the living area below and filling both spaces with light. Kitchen upgrades, sleek new cabinets and fixtures in the bath, and a totally redone pool all improve this property’s functionality and “curb appeal.” Speaking of curb appeal — note the absence of the old scrubby shrubs! New, low-level plantings tuck close to the house, while taller foliage is limited to places where it doesn’t block sightlines, in or out. Now at Hedge Row Lane, a neat stone walk leads to an easygoing space perfect for year-round family comfort.
