Preserving the footprint of a home during remodeling is often seen as a limitation, but in the case of a Windermere, Fla., house, the restriction was a major asset.

The most compelling reason to preserve the footprint was the presence of several mature oak trees. Aside from its lakefront location, these trees gave the lot its greatest appeal, and building within the existing footprint did not disturb them.

The advantage of preserving the footprint didn’t end with the trees, however. For tax purposes, the project was assessed as a renovation and not as new construction. Second, as a remodeling project, it avoided the setback restrictions that would have applied to new construction. Under new construction setback requirements, a new house would have been considerably smaller.

Unfortunately, the original home didn’t have a lot of character. “We’ve done a lot of projects where we’ve been able to salvage really nice ceiling treatments, masonry fireplaces or something of value,” says Jim Ross of Ross Design Group in Orlando, Fla., “but in this case the home didn’t have a whole lot of value itself other than the fact we used the existing footprint.”

Evolving neighborhood

The neighborhood is an evolving one, Ross relates. Originally an area of little fish camps on the western shore of Lake Butler, it’s not a typical subdivision. Rather it’s a shoreline and a single road that travels along the shore. Ross Design Group also remodeled the home next door, adding a second story and giving it a Key West theme, complete with a metal roof.

The goal was to build a functioning house that would work well for entertaining and would be a great place for kids to grow up, Ross says. The layout is unusual in that the main living area is on the second floor and comprises the family room, kitchen, covered porch, study and secluded master suite overlooking the courtyard and lake. The children’s rooms, a game room and the pool and recreation area are all on the ground floor.

When entertaining, guests can come right to the pool and deck area and into the summer kitchen through a breezeway without ever entering the main house. The children’s play room is on the first floor and is not connected to the main house; one has to go outside to access it. Besides daily use, it serves as a venue for birthday parties and other gatherings.

No structural challenge