Ask Jeannine Foxx or her husband Bill to describe their family’s original split level house on Washington Avenue, and you may hear the word “tiny” from time to time. Jeannine grew up in Pelham and lived elsewhere after her marriage, but moved back when her oldest daughter was starting kindergarten. That was ten years ago.
As the kids grew, Jeannine and Bill realized they would soon have to find a bigger house, but prices were rising beyond their budget. Many families will recognize this dilemma. Although they had initially made some cosmetic improvements to their house, the size of the lot just wasn’t large enough to push out walls for more bedrooms. Just when there seemed to be no solution, they spotted a neighbor’s renovation that might work for them. Why not just raise the roof?

Just to make sure their crazy idea would actually work, they brought in Pelham builder Tom Bennett (Bencar Building Corp.) who studied the structure and agreed that they could add at least two more bedrooms. And that was the start of the project that dramatically changed their house.

In early 2009, they chose Don Swetz, an architect based in Yonkers, to draw up the plans. By raising the roof over an unfinished attic, there was enough new space for two bedrooms and two baths. The plans also removed an interior kitchen wall so that the area flows conveniently into the family room, formerly their living room.

Last July 13 was a day Jeannine clearly remembers as the day the roof came off. “It was surreal. Of course, we couldn’t use the kitchen, we couldn’t even live here, so we had to empty our house and move in with my parents.”

Planning the kitchen meant a lot of decisions for Jeannine, although a designer helped with the initial cabinet layout. They chose to replace a large bay window with a smaller unit that left more room for cabinets and counter space. Neutral colors were selected so that the room blends easily into the family room. The Kraft Maid cabinets are finished in off-white, and the dark countertops are Caesar Stone, a form of polished quartz that is extremely durable and stain resistant. Among the new appliances, all from Tiso Appliances, are a GE Profile refrigerator, a GE Profile range and a Bosch dishwasher.

The old ceramic floor tiles were not in good shape. By installing new oak flooring, the carpenters were able to match perfectly the refinished floor in the family room, making the two rooms like one.

During the summer construction, two new bedrooms and two baths took shape on the 2nd story over the old living room. But as workmen tore into old walls, they found a tangle of electrical wiring, which meant rewiring much of the house. At the same time it became clear that new air conditioning and heating systems would have to be installed for the new space.

With the project now completed, the Foxx’s can’t quite believe how much easier their lives have become. There’s a separate bedroom for each child, and one to spare. The new kitchen/family room space has now become the hub of many family activities. The exterior lines no longer depict a typical split level. As the upper story moved forward, it provided an overhang that now serves as a front porch where none existed. And the old vinyl siding that no one liked, has been replaced with cedar shingles.

Every family member has their favorite feature, but perhaps their collective enthusiasm is best expressed by Bill who, according to Jeannine, often exclaims “I love my house.”