Heritage Home ProgramSM Provides Beachwood Homeowners with Free Home Improvement Advice and Subsidized-Rate Financing For 23 years, the Cleveland Restoration Society has operated the Heritage Home ProgramSM in order to provide the owners of older homes with access to advice on restoring and improving their properties. For houses located in a participating community such as Beachwood, homeowners have free access to a site visit with a construction specialist, information on local contractors, and impartial review of any estimates received from contractors. Color consultations for exterior painting are provided at no cost. The Heritage Home ProgramSM also offers a subsidized-rate loan to cover the costs of eligible improvement and maintenance projects. This financing option is in the form of a fixedrate equity loan with a current rate of 2%. Most projects are eligible for this financing option. Originating in two historic districts within the City of Cleveland, the program now operates throughout more than 40 regional communities. In order to qualify, properties need not be designated as historic in any way – they simply need to be at least 50 years old. Even in ‘younger’ cities such as Beachwood, an overwhelming percentage of the housing stock meets this 50-year-old benchmark. Beachwood’s mid-century housing stock is unique in its consistent use of high-quality building materials. Cedar-shake siding, slate and tile roofs, and stone or brick exteriors are all common. This fact places Beachwood’s mid-century gems at the very top of the quality range among post-war developments. By implementing these traditional materials and design elements, architects and builders used construction projects in Beachwood to bridge the gap between the Colonial Revival exteriors of the Heights and the long, low homes so favored in post-war America. On the interior, chopped up living areas were abandoned in favor of open floor plans. Expansive walls of windows and sliding glass doors often opened onto exterior patios, helping to bring the exterior and interior living spaces together. Clean, simple geometries and a tendency towards asymmetry added to the sense of modernity. In recent years, the attitude toward these mid-century homes has changed entirely. As they reach their 50th and 60th birthdays, mid-century designs and materials that once seemed dated and undesirable are now viewed as unique and worthy of preservation. Instead of ripping out their interior paneling and brightly colored bathroom tile, homeowners are now creating remodel designs that accentuate and showcase these modern elements. Additionally, new home buyers and young families are widening their house searches to include the once-passé ranch home. The pendulum of taste has swung from outdated to trendy and mod. Through their direct interaction with homeowners and home buyers, the Heritage Home ProgramSM staff has witnessed this change of perception firsthand. The project pictured herein is a perfect example. Purchasing this home from its original owner, the buyers of this Beachwood property knew they were in for a long list of interior remodeling projects. They also knew, however, that their desire was to stay true to the mid-century era of the home. The remodeling was carefully planned to be an even balance of old and new. The entry foyer retains its original glass block partition wall, paneling and staircase railing. In the main living area, the floor plan was opened up to create one large living space. The remodeled kitchen, done in flat-panel contemporary cabinets, overlooks the living and dining areas and the backyard beyond. The asymmetrical fireplace surround was painted a warm gray to lighten the space and coordinate with the serene color palette throughout. Contemporary pendant lights were selected to brighten the space. Elsewhere in the house, the homeowners saved other original design elements. In the basement, the wet bar was left untouched and the Jetsons-esque pool table, bought by the home’s first owner, resides in the children’s playroom. Upstairs, the main bathroom was painted and given new lighting, but the baby blue tile and bathroom fixtures were left as is. The entirety of the project struck a balance between preservation and modernization. “I believe that preserving our old houses is a great way to end up with a more creative and interesting living environment,” says Michael Caito, the project architect. “Beachwood has a plethora of mid-century homes situated on well-landscaped lots that have great bones, spacious rooms, a lot of glass, and are built with quality materials. Many of these homes just need to be refreshed, or possibly reprogrammed (like swapping out a living room for an expanded kitchen family room space). These homes will look good and feel ‘fresh’ well into this century.” Through support from the City of Beachwood, the services of the Heritage Home ProgramSM are available at no cost to the owners of houses over 50 years old. Interested homeowners may visit www.heritagehomeprogram. org for more information. If you are planning projects at your property, have concerns about potential maintenance issues, or would like assistance in finding and selecting contractors, contact the Heritage Home ProgramSM to schedule a site visit. This may be done by emailing HHP@heritagehomeprogram.org or by calling 216.426.3116. Additionally, there will be an informational presentation led by Heritage Home ProgramSM staff at Beachwood City Hall on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 pm. Please consider attending to hear more about the services available to you. Additionally, there will be an informational presentation led by Heritage Home ProgramSM staff at Beachwood City Hall on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 pm. Please consider attending to hear more about the services available to you. Heritage Home ProgramSM If your home in Beachwood is 50 years old or older, you have access to free technical assistance regarding home maintenance and improvement projects! The Heritage Home ProgramSM offers free advice, personalized site visits, and access to 2% fixed-rate financing to cover project costs. To schedule a free site visit or to learn more about qualifying for a low-interest loan, call 216.426.3116 or visit www. heritagehomeprogram.org . Before and after photos of Beachwood renovation. 16 Beachwood Buzz n March 2016