Modernizing a mid-century house

A family turns to TOH to renovate a 1960 house that had been awkwardly expanded over time. Their goal: to create a contemporary, energy-efficient, open-plan home that is fully accessible for a son with mobility issues

- JILL CONNORS

For most families, finding a new place to live is a whirlwind of decisions in which size, location, cost, and gut feelings guide the choice. But for Michelle Werner, Billy Lester, and their three children-Wix, Caffrey, and Marlowe-there was an additional factor to consider. Thirteen-year-old Caffrey has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive disease affecting his mobility; it's a given that he will be using a wheelchair at some point in the future. So when the family moved to the Boston area last year for Michelle's job, their house hunting involved considerations such as first-floor bedrooms, large open-plan gathering areas, and space for an elevator. "We needed a house that would help set our family up for success," says Billy.

Their search led to a mid-century modern house in Lexington, Massachusetts, that hardly fit the bill but had potential. "It had lots of character, and we liked all the living spaces on one level," says Michelle. But the primary bedroom was on top of the garage, far from the main-level bedroom where Caffrey would sleep; the galley kitchen was too cramped for sharing meal-prep duties; and most interior doorways were a standard 32 inches wide, while wheelchair use requires at least 36 inches. Plus, from an aesthetic point of view, the house had become a hodgepodge as it was expanded over time.

Billy and Michelle consulted architect Sandra Jahnes and TOH home builder Charlie Silva to see how they could reconfigure the house to meet the family's needs, and enhance its mid-century modern style. They had heard that This Old House was looking for projects to document for its 45th season and were glad to raise their hands. "We knew This Old House would do a great job, and the show's schedule would help keep us on track," says Billy.