From the outside, the modest-sized English cottage front of Allison and Thomas Lee’s Riverview home looks much as it did in 1940 when it was new. But like the carpet bag of the famous English nanny, the deceptive exterior of the house disguises the abundant space within, about 4,000 square feet.
Two additions, a second floor in the 1960s and a recent main floor expansion, have opened up the home for the couple, their two teenage girls, Claire and Kylie, and their 6-year-old son Thomson. “Our whole thing is about creating a comfortable environment to live in,” says Thomas.
When he bought the house in 1997, he was attracted by its location and its solid build. The son of a former antiques dealer, Thomas likes old things and old houses. But he knew that the wall-to-wall carpeting and wallpaper would have to go and so would the outdated kitchen and bathrooms. Removing carpet exposed original hardwood floors, and new paint in each room let detailed trim work and crown moulding capture some attention.
Thomas, an entrepreneur, and Allison, a Realtor, are natural go-getters and do the hands-on work of remodeling themselves. When they transformed the kitchen for the second time six years ago, Thomas laid the marble subway tile backsplash himself among other projects. The couple also gave the sturdy original cabinetry new fronts and knocked out a wall between the kitchen and keeping room. Now, the view of the keeping room’s original, built-in corner cabinets and natural light enhance the kitchen.
Thomas and Allison gave the bathrooms the same enduring appeal as the kitchen. The couple selected fixtures and materials in line with the era of the home’s construction, like marble countertops and subway tiles.