Taken to The Studs: Vickery Place Craftsman Has a New, Stylish Life

Bart Thrasher is nothing if not honest with his clients. And when Matt Simons wanted to renovate 5235 Vickery Blvd., Thrasher was reluctant to hitch onto the project. The home was in such a sad state that, as Thrasher admitted, it was a better candidate for a teardown. But Simons wouldn’t be dissuaded, and Thrasher, who is not one to back down from a challenge, fully signed on for the stem-to-stern renovation of this charming Vickery Place Craftsman bungalow. 

The results speak for themselves, and we couldn’t be happier to call this incredible project our High Caliber Home of the Week sponsored by Lisa Peters of Caliber Home Loans. It’s a huge success story for Thrasherworks, the design/build firm helmed by Karen and Bart Thrasher that focuses on historic renovation and commercial spaces that inspire. We can’t wait to see what they do next, but first, let’s ogle the results of this completely redone 1923 Craftsman bungalow.  

The renovation, which was completed last year, transformed this three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath bungalow into a show-stopper both inside and out. Special care was taken to ensure that the house would stand the test of time, with special attention being paid to the overall structural health.

Simons says beams were added in the attic to straighten sagging ceilings, and all shiplap on the walls and ceilings were re-nailed. Fresh drywall, green rock, and hardy-backer were installed and finished with a museum-quality texture. Sherwin Williams paints cover the inside and outside of the home, except for the beautiful cedar shake shingles, which will weather beautifully. 

Special attention was paid to the pier-and-beam foundation, Thrasher noted. It’s essential that, in homes of this age, drainage issues are addressed as well. The foundation was beefed up with new girders and new piers, stabilized, and leveled, said Simons. “Nearly all floor joists in the kitchen and bathroom areas were replaced,” he added, noting that the site was regraded and a French drain was installed to keep the foundation crawlspace dry. 

Naturally, wiring and electric, as well as plumbing was upgraded. And though all of these updates aren’t really sexy, they are necessary for a property that is almost 100 years old. However, what is sexy is the thoughtfully reconfigured floorplan, the beautifully restored original windows, and the hand-made doors on both front and rear entries.

“The dysfunctional floor plan of the original kitchen, butler’s pantry, bathroom, and enclosed back porch were enlarged and reconfigured into an open, beautifully functional kitchen with breakfast nook,” said Simons. In the kitchen, Thrasher and Simons settled on wood-grain floor tile, new espresso cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, contemporary fixtures and hardware, and tons of prep space on the quartz countertops.

Just beyond the bright yellow barn door is another brilliant surprise.

Homes of this age are often devoid of functional storage and utility areas, and this design, complete with room for high-efficiency washer and dryer, folding table, and a drying rack, makes any homeowner’s heart sing. Thanks to the bifold doors, everything remains perfectly hidden and out of the way until needed.

 

 

We just love how this home turned out, especially since Simons and Thrasher went through the exhausting process of completely rebuilding this home from the foundation up. It’s a wonderful outcome for such a beautiful bungalow in the Vickery Place Conservation District. Perhaps more homeowners could learn from these two!

And, not shockingly, we’re not the only ones pleased as punch by this project.

“For the first six months after completing the renovation, I leased the house out as an AirBnB,” Simons said. “Just about every guest commented on how they loved the house, it’s feel, and it’s comfort and design. It was my intent to completely reinvigorate this tired, old house. I believe we accomplished our goal.”

We agree!