Fixing a house in an historic neighborhood.

[@tc9148]

No wonder the HOA rejected that horrible modern design. Brent’s design tells a unified Colonial Revival story and is easy and fun to look at.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you.

[@sharonvik2068]

I appreciate that you are seeking approval of the narrative using the front facade before tackling the entire building. Your design looks like the residence grew over time - charming, useful, and comfortable.

[@BrentHull]

I appreciate that, that was the goal.

[@renuing]

Front passes for sure, back is a definite fail. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the major hang up. Look forward to seeing what you do with it and how it effects the interior. Obviously they want a lot of windows but that leads to the more modern look. Great stuff as always.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!!

[@michaelbissen1946]

Brent, really enjoy your videos!! A lot of good information. Thanks!

[@BrentHull]

I appreciate that! Thx.

[@inreallife21]

I am so happy I found your channel! You are EXACTLY what I have been searching for. Thank you!!

[@BrentHull]

I'm so glad! Thx.

[@pcatful]

Very nice! A problem we often come across with double hung windows is that in order to qualify for egress/rescue windows in bedrooms, they have to be very big. If those rooms have rear balcony, the problem is solved. Hope to see more about this house!

[@BrentHull]

Noted. thanks.

[@pointnemo369]

Huge disconnect from the front to the back. I really like what you've designed. If I was on the board I would say yes!

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!!

[@who2u333]

Really interesting to see your thought process.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, good to hear.

[@user-steve_wrwoodclassics]

The new design is very balanced and would definitely fit in a historical area , the original plan looks like it was designed from the inside out and the back of the house screams cheap . Landmark boards need to watch Brent’s videos !

[@BrentHull]

Haha, thanks.

[@rebeccas5024]

I like what you have done here. Your rendering reminds me of a house we toured in Historic Deerfield Village. It was added onto over time. The middle portion was the original house and had high windows as you have shown.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks.

[@BrentHull]

Ok, Thanks.

[@peggyhemenger8983]

I'm not a builder or architect, but some design flaws can be pretty obvious. That initial design reminds me more of a loft/warehouse design, which I like within the appropriate context, (Detroit, for example), but I can completely understand why it was rejected for the neighborhood you've described. I love your improvements, and am hoping channels of communication will be open and in place to communicate your 1920s narrative.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much!

[@BealyGood]

Looking forward to when you get to my consultation

[@andrewkennedy9704]

You picked the right guy for it. Good luck with your home.

[@BrentHull]

Ok, thanks.

[@rogerhodges7656]

I like the narrative on the front. You mentioned that the main portion of the house needed to be raised five feet but didn't elaborate. You also mention and are mostly saying HOA but say this is an older area. This sounds much more like a Historical Commission.

[@BrentHull]

5 raises because of flooding.

[@pagecourts1474]

Hi Brent, Can you show some stone on that lower level about 4 or 5 feet up to line up with the foundation on the upper part? Then you could have flag stone steps leading into that lower door and carry the random stone into the floor of that lower part going into the kitchen. That might give the lower area more character and substance. You could use stone on the main entry steps too. Then you could incorporate stone into the back portion. These are just some thoughts I had..... I like what you are doing very much. I hope the board will approve your concept. I am a huge fan and hope I am not being too overbearing.

[@BrentHull]

Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing.

[@ryansoo4000]

Hey Brent, you like historic documents so I was wondering if you had ever heard of the Indian book The Mayamatam which contains 4500 year old texts about architectural design and construction techniques? For example, one of the texts gives the formula for something called an “Ayurvedic Paste” which is used like mortar to join stonework together and is supposed to be up to 20 times as strong as modern cement. It was used to build the 7th century AD Surang Tila Temple in Sirpur, India, which is still standing even after a powerful earthquake in the 11th century leveled every other building in the area. Also, in your studies of ancient Roman and Greek architecture, have you ever traced the orders further back in time to places like Crete (who apparently were influenced by architectural styles that migrated up from Egypt)?

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, I have not heard of it but will definitely check it out. Yes, on the Egypt thing. Thx.

[@wherebear]

If anything you were too kind on the previous design! I don’t have the words or expertise to describe what was wrong with it, but I think most people would be able to tell it doesn’t look right. Yours was so gorgeous! Did the Design Board approve your design? If they did, would love a follow-up video to see your design of the back and side of the home.

[@BrentHull]

Coming soon. Thanks.

[@robertbamford8266]

I couldn’t really tell what you redid to eliminate the motel back elevation. But anything had to have been an improvement. It’s too bad the HOA could not explain their objections well enough to form a basis for an acceptable revision.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, they said they didn't like the massing.

[@bradleyroe7270]

Your concept is a great improvement. The only question I had is what looks like shed dormers on the roof. Wouldn’t traditional dormers be more appropriate? I am probably missing something.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, yes a 1920's approach gives the option for a shed dormer. It contributes to an early 1900's story.

[@AvoidAFeud]

Would love to see videos on your thoughts on (a) John Ruskin and (b) Roger Scruton, if you have any!

[@BrentHull]

Interesting ideas. thanks. Love Scruton by the way.

[@seattlebeard]

I can't imagine wanting to live under the thumb of an HOA. I'm a homeowner in an historic neighborhood without such odious restrictions.

[@BrentHull]

They can be really strict and hard to get around.

[@AVSMedical1]

Let us know how it turns out!

[@BrentHull]

Will do.

[@ryansoo4000]

Hi Brent. I like the massing of your design but I don’t like the front door (sorry!). It seems a little grand and ornate for a shingle style New England home. What about using a front porch across the taller right section instead of the pediment? I also don’t like the spacing of the windows on the kitchen. The upper dormer is obviously centered on the chimney but the three kitchen windows aren’t aligned so that the middle window is also centered on the chimney. Maybe center the middle window and then adjust the spacing between that one and the windows on either side?

[@BrentHull]

Ok, thanks for sharing.

[@ryansoo4000]

Hi. I can always tell when you don't like a suggestion because you only reply with "Thanks for sharing" :) I'm sure you considered using a porch for part of the front facade so why didn't you go with that idea? Also, when you are dealing with things that line up visually, like the location of the dormer and the chimney, and then a third thing doesn't quite line up, like the locations and spacing of the kitchen windows, how do you decide which alignment takes precedence?@@BrentHull

[@danielelse3914]

The original design made my eyes hurt. I like the direction you're going. The proposed changes to the front facade will, I suggest, drive more changes than you anticipate to the other sides. Are you restricted by the owners' preconceived ideas regarding the interior layout (the inside out vs outside in approach)? 🤔

[@BrentHull]

Thanks. Yes, the plan assumes changing nothing on the inside.

[@АндрюхаК-о9в]

They will definitely like it, but there may be other reasons for rejections =(They may have other plans for this territory.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx.

[@Daihatsu_Hijet]

That house is butt u-g-l-y 😮 something old Mrs. O’Leary’s cow could fix 🐄🕯️🔥🏚️ 😉

[@BrentHull]

Haha, thx.

[@BealyGood]

I think it will pass. The first design was too modern for sure.

[@BrentHull]

We'll see. Thanks.

[@piggly-wiggly]

The front, even before your improvements, looked okay. Not great, for reasons you pointed out, but okay. The back though is shockingly bad. Horizontal wire railings? Picture windows? This seems to be a common theme these days, that some kind of attention is given to the aesthetics of the front, but the back and often the sides have no rhyme or reason except to say that they are designed from the inside out. I think the front that you've designed should definitely pass, but you may need more concrete reinterpretation of the back if the reviewers are light on imagination and trust. In a rational world, you could simply go to them and say, "I'm Brent Hull. I don't do ugly" and get whatever approval you need since, let's face it, you know way more about this than they do.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@CrankyHermit]

You're really working without an explanation of their previous objections? An institutional Landmarks Commission or Design Review Board should be able to offer some specific and logical guidance. A good one would already have codified and published their design guidelines, online or in print. With HOA boards, of course, there's no telling what kind of irrational, unprofessional nonsense you'll have to deal with. Wishing you luck.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, the only notes so far is they "don't like the massing"

[@kevintreon5099]

Hope things go your way. Your house story is attractive, maybe they will have enough sense to see that. That was an awful design, unless they went for the jumbled look.

[@BrentHull]

Ok, thanks for watching.