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With little room in the back and even less space on either side, Madeline and Brian Green thought their options were up when they wanted to add onto their North Chattanooga home.
They were right, in a way.
Their friend Frank Greene, a local architect, told them he could “pop the top,” literally raise the roof to add a second floor to the existing onelevel, 1,700-square-foot house. It was the ideal solution, according to the couple, who wanted more room for Mr. Green’s two daughters in the three-bedroom, two-bath house. “We really didn’t want to move,” Mr. Green said. “We loved our neighborhood. Our neighbors are absolutely amazing.”
EARLY REMODELING
The Arts-and-Crafts-style bungalow in North Chattanooga was built in 1925. Mrs. Green’s mother bought the house in 1983 as a rental unit before selling it to her daughter in 1992. The Greens married in 2000, and the renovations began three years later.
“It’s been a nonstop process of never-ending renovations,” Mr. Green said.
The original floor plan was like many in the old neighborhood, with a large front porch, living room, dining room and kitchen, with bedrooms connected by a small hallway and a bathroom in between.
The bath was one of the first transformations. Mrs. Green had the old linoleum floor removed to reveal honeycomb tile in perfect condition. She replaced the old window with glass blocks and added a retro update with a pedestal sink.
To make room for an office, the Greens enclosed a section of the wraparound porch just off the formal living room. Dining room windows were replaced with French doors to access a deck and brick patio in back.
In the kitchen, a pantry was removed to add space, and new cabinets and countertops were installed.
They called on friends in the home remodeling business to accomplish the changes. Steve Mikel custom-made the kitchen cabinets, some of which feature glass fronts to showcase Mrs. Green’s extensive collection of Polish pottery. Bill Lieper made the custom cabinets in the new master bath.
And then came Frank Greene. His changes began with the family room, which was once a separate apartment. This inviting space was made even cozier with a fireplace designed by the architect and a tray ceiling for added dimension.
“I was worried that the original 8-foot ceiling made the room feel too closed in,” Mrs. Green said. “So Frank suggested the tray ceiling, and it really opened things up.”
POP THE TOP
Mr. Greene has used the “pop a top” technique on four houses, including his own in St. Elmo, but the Greens’ is his favorite.
“I really think I captured the feeling of the original house,” he said.
Mr. Greene began by designing a beautiful staircase of gleaming wood to match the original hardwood floors downstairs and the new ones to be placed upstairs.
Noting the need for storage, he incorporated a bookcase alongside the staircase that houses the Greens’ stereo system.
The new space increased the home’s living area by 900 square feet. The top of the stairway centers the new addition, with its sitting area in front and master suite at the back of the house.
Given that the structure is more than 80 years old, building it was no simple task. Contractor Ken Bivin custom-fitted every single floor joist to ensure an even, level second floor.
Mr. Greene made sure every detail of the second floor reflected the home’s history.
In the sitting area, “huge windows would have clashed with the design,” said Mr. Green, the homeowner. Instead, the architect chose small windows placed above eye level. They provide natural sunlight throughout the day, as well as a view of the morning sunrise over Missionary Ridge.
The master suite is a magnificent retreat for the Greens. Mr. Green, manager of business intelligence at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Mrs. Green, occupational, safety and wellness manager for the city of Chattanooga, say Mr. Greene designed the perfect escape.
‘POPPING THE TOP’
Raising the roof is not practical for every home, said local architect Frank Greene. “It depends on the home’s style, how well it’s built and how long the beams and joists are. If you have a more modern truss roof, it’s harder to do,” he said.
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