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Bolton House
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Bolton House as it appeared in 1982 with our new color scheme. Since house was built in 1906 both ends were expanded, living room terrace was enclosed, and a large bay was added, requiring porch eaves to be clipped.
Over time additions altered the original character, proportions and scale of house. Since most of the changes were over 60 years old, they were considered by some to have attained historic significance.
1908 photo shows entry porch with full eaves and a shallow flat bay for stair landing. Terrace was the same depth as porch, enclosed by a half-wall. Photo Environmental Design Archives, UC Berkeley
1908 photograph shows original width of house. Entry appears larger, since it is in scale with original width. Additions expanded the house 9 feet on the left and 6 feet on the right. Photo EDA, UC Berkeley
View of restored entry hall shows original stair and 58" wide entry door. Note the Greenes' art glass in door. We employed their trailing vine motif for new firebox header. Photo is coutesy of Popular Woodworking.
When we removed canvas that had been glued to living room walls and ceilings in 1918 remodel we found the Greenes' original paint colors and a perfect impression of box beams and trim. We rebuilt these in Port Orford cedar. Clearly, those big windows to the right had been added later. Hmm.
We also found buried in the wall the Greenes' orignial Grueby tile fireplace! It, too, was covered in 1918 remodel. We were eager to restore it, but holes had been punched in corners of some tiles to secure a new Tudor mantle.
To cover damaged tiles we designed a new cooper firebox header. Metalsmith cut design from a full size drawing we provided. Trailing vine leaps at the right moments to cover holes in tiles. Okay, we admit it was a more glamorous solution than necessary. Historians want our scalps.
Serene view of restored living room, courtesy of photographer Alex Vertikoff, shows original features we reproduced based on a tiny pre-1918 photo. Small casements (found in the basement) above new bench, box beams, and trim were all installed by master craftsman Glen Stewart.
Original kitchen was lost decades earlier, but its narrow footprint remained. Our kitchen design replaced a 1952 remodel done in Chuckwagon Modern. New cabinets were modeled on those in the Gamble House. Glen Stewart built them on-site in clear heart redwood.
We renovated and restored the 1906 W.T. Bolton house in Pasadena, California, by architects Charles and Henry Greene. The house had been modified and enlarged over its long history, and many original features were lost.  Wherever possible we restored the Greenes' designs. Most of the house could be restored, but living room, exterior terrace, and kitchen had to be entirely rebuilt. Our designs were modeled on G&G precedents.
Tim Andersen Architect