Distinctive Exterior Details

Natural, synthetic and cultured materials blend harmoniously in this Water Mill renovation.

Starting with a small, early 20th-century bungalow situated on a beautiful lake property in Water Mill, general contractor Gary Courtier both modernized, and enlarged this home while paying attention to the surrounding homes and landscapes.

“When we do a job, we try to make it look like it was always there,” said Courtier, owner of Bohemia-based Gary Courtier Home Improvements.

“An architect drew the plans, but we made some small changes in the field too.” His team started by expanding on the original footprint of the home which lacked a basement.

A new foundation was poured to not only build on, but place all the mechanicals below grade, freeing up space on the first floor previously used for this purpose. The basement also has a storage area, something the owners requested. Inside, some bungalow touches remain, like the eat-in kitchen, a sitting room and the living room that overlooks the lake.

A guest bedroom and bath finish out the first floor space. Upstairs, three bedrooms with full ceilings replace the existing cramped headroom sleeping areas. Off the master suite is a balcony that also offers views of the lake.

Certainly, the new interior configuration and floor plan of this home makes daily living easier by improving the flow of the house but the exterior is where this home really shines. And Courtier accomplished this vision by the use of strong, exterior details and a combination of high-end building materials.

Starting with the roof, Grand Manor shingles by CertainTeed emulate slate tiles. These shingles differ from regular roofing and their wide exposure between courses and shading makes a statement in an area that is usually mundane. Courtier also extended the upper roof beyond the exterior walls to create overhangs, providing relief and shadow detail. A second lower roof that wraps around the home has lighting recessed underneath. Exterior cedar shingles came pre-finished and saved the cost of a painting crew when the renovation was complete. The manufacturer offers a 15-year warranty on these, which should mean that the only reason to paint this decade is to change the color.

Azek window trim and fascia boards are synthetic where the white is impregnated into the material, offering a maintenance-free product. Courtier noted, however, that this material could be painted if someone didn’t want white trim.

Pella Architectural Series windows are double-insulated and have true divided lights in eight-over-one and four-over-one patterns. On one wall, Courtier mulled four windows together providing a wall of light with the functionality of double-hung windows that let in cool summer breezes.
Completing the exterior work is a massive cultured stone fireplace topped with a bluestone cap. Inside, a gas fireplace in the living room and a wood burning stove in the bedroom feed the dual flues. Built completely for this renovation, this fireplace looks like it must have been part of the original home.

Connect with Gary Courtier Home Improvements www.garycourtier.com

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