Plumbing and heating upgrades with a leaky bathroom are costly add-ons to remodel a 1925 Tudor home.
N.J. Home Makeover is a new feature on NJ.com. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city.
Christiane and Edward Connor knew a long list of big-ticket projects would come with getting their vintage Montclair home ready for comfortable modern living.
What they didn't anticipate was a leaky surprise and invisible improvements that would require them to go over budget by about $60,000.
Last fall, they purchased a 1925 Tudor in Montclair after returning to the states from one of Edward's work assignments that took their family of four to Switzerland for two years. (Edward is a marketing executive.)
The 4,000-square-foot house had curb appeal in its slate roof, exterior brick and half timbered facade. The hillside location was perfect, being a short walk from the excitement downtown. Inside, the view into a bright and spacious sunken living was framed by a spectacular series of arches.
The renovation
"We felt this house had good bones," Christiane said. "We also loved the street the house is on because of the diverse architecture," she said. "We have been thrilled. We love all the homes here."
But, as is usually the case with grand old homes, theirs would need some work. Along with their remodeling plans, upgrades to the home's systems were required that won't likely add to resale value. The original pipes were replaced with new plumbing. All the radiators were removed, and central heating was installed using the ducts of central air conditioning installed by a previous owner. Recessed lighting was placed throughout the house.
Then there were privacy issues associated with the Jack-and-Jill configuration of two of the home's three full baths.
"If you wanted to use the bathroom, you had to go through the bedrooms," Christiane said. They reconfigured both bathrooms, and one bathroom now has an entrance from the hallway.
Then came the lifestyle-related updates. The couple decided that the master bedroom needed more space and facilities. So they absorbed the guest bedroom to make room for an enlarged master suite with a walk-in closet and dressing room. "We have a free-standing tub, a free-standing shower and a double vanity," Christiane said of the new master bathroom.
To enlarge the kitchen, a hall closet and the pantry were eliminated. "The kitchen, by today's standards, was quite small, and we knew we wanted an eat-in kitchen," Christiane said. "There wasn't space for a kitchen table, so the island provides that and tons of storage."
But as all the work was being done, they learned that a tiny third-floor bathroom had been leaking into the bathroom below. The contractor suggested repairing the leak and renovating that bathroom as well.
"We knew were going to do the kitchen and two bathrooms, but the third floor bath we hadn't intended to touch," Christiane said. "Though it wasn't beautiful, it was functional."
As an interior designer, the small bath would present her with a series of challenges. Christiane opted to expand the bathroom, taking space from a wide hallway to add a shower.
"The house is a Tudor and so it needed to stay fairly classic, but on the third floor you can have fun," she said.
Since the bath is tucked into space where the roof slopes beneath the eaves, it has an angled wall. Christiane opted to place the sink along that wall because it allowed her to maximize counter space.
The new shower features iridescent glass "peacock" tile on the angled wall, the floor and in a niche. The back wall has white subway tile. She chose bamboo cabinetry and a Spanish gray travertine floor. "There's a lot of materials going on, but they all work with one another," she said.
"In hindsight, we're glad we did it," Christiane said, noting that the third floor now works as a guest suite.
"It also has the best view of in house," Christiane said. "We can all just stand in that small bathroom and see the New York City skyline from the one window."
Who did the work
Dan McMahon of Castle Contracting, Glen Ridge. Merit Kitchens supplied cabinetry.
How long it took
One month for the third-floor bathroom remodel, other work is ongoing
How much it cost
The homeowners did not disclose the total project cost, but said the third-floor bathroom, plumbing and heating work put them over budget by $60,000.
Where they splurged
On glass tiles for the third-floor shower
How they saved
Christiane painted all the rooms. She likes to change color frequently, so the cost can add up, she says. "I would rather spend the money elsewhere."
While it was an unexpected project, they also saved by integrating the third-floor bathroom into their remodeling project. "We also balanced glass accent tiles with ceramic tiles in the third-floor shower," Christiane said.
What they would do differently
"Not a thing," Christiane said. "We are absolutely thrilled with the end result and our guests are as well."
Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached at home@starledger.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.