After 25 years devoted to pursuing careers and raising a family, Sunita and Shankar Chaudhuri are finally realizing their dream of renovating their 1887 Victorian house in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Architectural details such as a gracious front porch with decorative posts and brackets have been covered up over the years and the shingled exterior has been concealed under a layer of asbestos siding.
With their children grown, the Chaudhuris have an additional goal: to prepare the house for a multigenerational future. Their plans will pay homage to the original house while reconfiguring the interior so the couple can age in place as well as welcome their grown daughter and her husband, who want to raise their own children in the house. Updating old HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems is also a priority. Working with local builder Zack Dettmore and the TOH team, the family looks forward to seeing their home regain its Victorian-era splendor with upgraded systems providing modern comforts for all.
Glen Ridge Generational Renovation Plans
The rear façade will see the biggest changes. A shed that had been added on to the left of the house will be demolished. In its footprint will be a two-story addition that will hold a new kitchen on the first floor and a new primary suite on the second floor.
Plans for the front foyer (first image) include keeping its authentic front door, including the stunning 1887 doorknob and escutcheon (second image, left) and lion-motif door knocker (second image, right)—beautifully aged elements from the Victorian era.
Newly installed pocket doors will be added in the doorway to the foyer as well an additional set to separate the room into living and sitting areas. These small tweaks will enable part of the room to function as a first-floor bedroom if needed in the future. The fireplace will also be removed.
A growing family calls for a bigger kitchen. The layout will be reconfigured and expanded at the back of the house. The wall separating the kitchen and living room will be knocked down to create an open-floor plan that more readily lends itself to gatherings.
The interior of the shed addition that had been tacked on by previous owners will transform from a family room to part of the new kitchen expansion.
Although the dining room will remain in its existing location, the interior walls will be reconfigured to create a more open flow to the new kitchen.
Two second-floor bedrooms at the front of the house will be overhauled into a single larger bedroom and a staircase landing.
With the construction of the new addition, the primary suite at the back of the house will be expanded.
All second-floor bathrooms, including this shared bath, will be gutted and fitted with modern plumbing and fixtures, being mindful of retaining the century-old charm.
Third-floor rooms currently include a bedroom (first image) at the front of the house and an office (second image) in the rear. These spaces will be gutted and converted into Sunita and Shankar’s suite, complete with a bedroom at the front, an open living area in the rear, and a vaulted ceiling above to create a sense of spaciousness.
Looking Ahead
Remodeling this Victorian gem will require a gut renovation to address the poorly executed past remodels and improve the home’s overall efficiency and comfort. The bones of the house are in bad shape and shoring them up will take priority over fancy finishes. But at the end of the project, the family will be back in a Victorian beauty that has been thoroughly transformed and will stand ready for another 100-plus years.