A Character Building Renovation

Brian and Dianne McIntosh loved the Myers Park location of their home. But like so many homes built in the 1940s, it needed updates. The couple knew they would remodel as their family grew, but they wanted to maintain their home’s existing character.

“It was important to us that the house blend in with the neighborhood,” explains Dianne. “There are a lot of tear downs in our neighborhood that don’t match. We didn’t want to be one of those. This is our home to stay and we wanted it right for the neighborhood.”

The McIntoshes interviewed builders, looking for one who shared their commitment to the neighborhood. Their search led them to Thomas Pruitt Builders.

For Thomas Pruitt, maintaining the character of houses in neighborhoods like Myers Park is personal. “I grew up in this city and I love adding the modern amenities people need today while preserving what the house looked like years ago,” he says.

The McIntoshes gave the builder three goals for their remodel: improve curb appeal, add bedrooms upstairs, and a master suite with a large master bedroom, master bath and walk-in closet downstairs.

Thomas and his crew started their work with a new look for the home’s façade. The home had a small front entryway, a side porch, and a large bay area that stuck out into the yard. The proportions were strange and unbalanced. Thomas tied the two porches together in an Arts and Crafts style, using half columns of stacked stone. “This downplayed the bay area and it is beautiful,” says Dianne.

Space was added upstairs with a higher gable. “We didn’t want to tower over other houses in the neighborhood, so we didn’t go up very high from the outside,” says Dianne. “It’s very deceiving from the street. People don’t realize how much space we have until they’re inside.”

The new space upstairs provided room for three new bedrooms and a playroom, with a “fort” area tucked under some gabled walls. “Thomas made this little area nicer than we had envisioned. Our two year old loves it – he sits in there and ‘reads’ his books.”

The footprint of the home was extended 20 feet off the back, giving the couple their master suite, complete with a sunken family room and porch.

Throughout the process, Thomas and his crew paid attention to the details that create a seamless renovation. “The house features old plaster arches downstairs. He replicated those arches upstairs. He matched the hardwood floors and all of the moldings perfectly. You can’t tell where the new part of the house begins.”

“Every day when we walk through the house, we are still amazed and thankful for Thomas’ eye for design and attention to detail,” says Dianne.

Thomas Pruitt Builders is located at 1520 Lyon Court in Charlotte. Visit them online at www.thomaspruittbuilders.com or call 704-333-5363.