back

Charlotte Magazine, Volume Eight, Number Seven July 2003 www.charlottemagazine.com

Good Things Come in Small Packages
By Brian Folk

On the Dilworth Home Tour in August, this Kennedy-era classic house proves that style is no respecter of size.

JANICE AND LARRY ELDER STAND NEXT to the island in their kitchen, a pot boiling on the stove behind them. With a chopping board loaded with peppers, a bowl of baby lettuces nearby, plus mangoes, tomatoes, and a bottle of aged balsamic vinegar, they're calculating their next salad move. Cuban rhythms spice the atmosphere and laughter occasionally breaks their questions to one another and steady concentration. Though the kitchen is at the rear of the house, it's the metaphorical center of their home, and they've taken care to make it comfortable.

The Elders lived on a nearby street in Dilworth for many years, and when they decided to downsize, they were fortunate to find a suitable home in the same neighborhood. Though it's considerably smaller than their previous home-2,1oo square feet compared to 3,8oo-they were attracted to its open floor plan and garden-facing kitchen.

With a second home in the mountains, the Elders found they no longer wanted to maintain two large residences. Larry convinced Janice that downsizing their Charlotte home was the best solution, and they set about investigating their options. They considered building a new home, but there weren't ample opportunities in the in-town neighborhoods. They were impressed by some of the lovely new condominiums available, but they realized they still wanted at least a small yard to call their own.

This house had the type of yard they wanted, and they believed it also had "good bones." Built in 1963, it was

designed by noted Charlotte architect Jack Boyte, who gave the home its progressive design and floor plan. The house still had its original owner and its original decor-when the Elders found it, so

they knew it would require extensive remodeling. Recognizing the difficulty of living in a house during renovation, they decided to stay in their previous home until the new one was complete.

The changes began just inside the front door, where new hardwood floors were installed throughout the house. A large walnut credenza once stood to the left-it was removed and given a new life as office furniture in the home office at the back of the house. Its departure

opened up the entryway so that now steps lead down into a light and airy living room. Dark walnut paneling and the brick surrounding the fireplace were removed; in their place are off-white walls, clean white molding around the fireplace, and lit built-in cabinets that showcase art. Next to the living room, the dining room windows were converted to double doors that lead to a new patio on the side of the house.

"It was just amazing what that did," Larry says.

Back at the entrance, the guest bathroom to the right was also remodeled. They kept the same footprint but added tile for the floor, tile and clear glass for the shower, and a handsome new lavatory with a stainless steel basin sitting atop the black granite countertop with an elegant faucet emerging from the wall. Squares of marble mosaic add a classic touch to the tiny but striking space. At the back of the house, the kitchen saw the biggest changes. The original appliances still worked, but along with the original decor, the look was dated. A large L-shaped bar divided the cooking and sitting areas and restricted movement.

Their neighbor, John Fryday of Fryday & Doyne Architecture/Interior Design, helped them redo the space. The utility room and pantry were removed to make room for a bar and to add counter space and storage. Nearly two entire walls were

lined with cabinets and countertops. Following the principle of creating a triangle with the stove, sink, and refrigerator, an island was added to improve efficiency and ease of mobility.

"That was one of my concerns about downsizing," Janice says. "I wanted to be sure we had a kitchen that was comfortable, functional, and easy to work in, because we spend a lot of time there."

A close look at the built-in bookshelves that cover an entire wall in the sitting area gives a clue as to why they spend so much time in the kitchen. Nearly every item on the shelves is a cookbook. Janice and Larry use the

cookbooks for research, inspirati

on, and guidance in their hobby: entering recipe contests. Janice began the hobby as a young bride, and Larry joined her years ago.

From the beginning, Janice says she "saw the fun you can have with it and the way it can open up your life." They've been very successful in the contests, winning trips to Germany,

Portugal, Japan, and Hawaii, among others. The most recent prize is a cooking-school vacation in France.

"I call it a life-enhancing hobby," Janice says. Larry adds that they've also made many good friends around the world and met many notable people. About five years ago, they were featured on Oprah Winfrey's TV show.

The back wall of the kitchen is filled with windows that look out into the small back garden, where a patch of grass is surrounded by mulch and beautiful flowers. A path of pea stone and crushed brick leads to the side patio and then around to the front yard, which also has a patch of grass surrounded by natural areas. Larry says, with obvious pleasure, that he can cut the front and back yards in four minutes each.

The yards are like the home they surround-comfortably elegant, well conceived, and easily managed.

"We're into simplicity," Larry explains. "That's why we moved here,"

Like the garden, the home's interior design is uncluttered. The Elders say that's due in part to their personal style but also because it's conducive to the display of another of their interests: fine art. Larry owns Elder Art Gallery on South Boulevard, and beautiful art is found in every room.

Downsizing is rarely easy, especially when it includes a renovation. The Elders credit contractor Sherwood Lapping-and Larry's project-oriented nature-with making it an enjoyable process. They're especially happy to have found such a suitable house in the neighborhood they love.

"Dilworth is a great place to live," Larry says. "We're so pleased that we're still here, close to downtown, our jobs, and the friends and neighbors we've established over a sixteen-year period."

Standing in their kitchen, the Elders are clearly content with the lifestyle their new home affords them.

Brian Falk is a freelance writer and regular contributor to this publication.