Lafayette remodel features French facade and new front entry

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Published February 20th, 2019

Lafayette remodel features French facade and new front entry

By Jennifer Wake

The new front entrance with its French touch Photo provided

It's a well-known fact among those in real estate circles that curb appeal can be the difference between a home selling quickly or sitting on the market. Orinda architect Rick Kattenburg, of Kattenburg Architects, says when homeowners consider a remodel, they recognize the front entry as the key part of the overall design. Soon after Steve Umberger acquired a residence in Lafayette, he decided to upgrade the front facade by adding more symmetry and a French touch. He contacted Orinda resident Bill Hinkamp of Rockridge Builders who partnered with Kattenburg to create the design and finish the project.

The original plan had an awkward indirect entry through a small covered porch that hid the actual door into the house, said Kattenburg. "The owner disliked the way it was. The opening of the original entryway went straight into a dingy porch area. Now it has a different use." The remodel also extended the distance between the garage and the front door.

"We added three new double inward opening French doors with wrought iron railings above the relocated lower floor windows and the new entry door," Kattenburg said. "We upgraded the existing Mansard roof with new slate shingles, copper gutters and trim, and ran crown moldings below the roof soffit.

Horizontal trim bands were added to balance the design."

Dana and Oliver Olsborg - who purchased the home in June, after moving from San Francisco - were drawn to the style of the home. "We love the French facade. My husband was born in Montreal and French was his first spoken language," Dana Olsborg said. "Our boys speak French and this home just seemed very fitting for us! We also fell absolutely in love with the countryside views out the back."

Olsborg says her family loves their beautiful home and they love Lafayette.

Info: https://www.kattenburgarchitects.com/; http://www.rockridgebuilders.com/

Entrance before the remodel.



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