Kingston, N.J., is part of the Millstone River Valley Scenic Byway, which offers insight into clashes between local militia and the British during the American Revolutionary War. In fact, local lore asserts General George Washington’s Continental Army camped in Kingston. The community, just north of Princeton, also lies within five historic districts and hosts a number of historic homes.
In 2018, the McParland family transferred from the Chicago area and purchased an 1845 farmhouse in Kingston. The area in which the farmhouse was built has been popular since the mid-1700s as a midway stopping point between New York and Philadelphia. Although the McParlands’ farmhouse is considered non-contributing, it is located within a designated historic district in Kingston.
Not only were the McParlands intrigued by the location of the farmhouse and its ample size—about 1,850 square feet at the start of the renovation—they also admired its historic charm and wanted to invest in renovations to upgrade the home to suit their modern lifestyle.
Fortunato Architecture, which was commissioned for this project, is experienced with historic-home renovations and partners with structural engineers, historic-preservation commissions and historically experienced builders to ensure these homes maintain their remarkable characteristics while incorporating contemporary amenities and technologies.
CHALLENGES ABOUND
Because the home is located in a designated historic district, the team had to present its design and renovation plans to the Franklin Township Historic Preservation Commission three times for approvals. The street-facing exterior of the home was only allowed minor changes to its existing form. Although color was not restricted, the homeowners opted for a similar color fiber-cement siding to replace the existing siding. The new siding is the same dimension and lapped in the same direction as the existing. A new 24-gauge standing-seam metal roof also was approved by the historic commission.
which had collected rainwater and supplemented the home’s well. The cistern was kept in its original location and repurposed into a wine cellar that can hold 300 bottles.
The McParlands were interested in creating additional living space in the farmhouse’s unfinished basement. The main obstacle in the basement was the ceiling height, which would need to be raised from 6 feet, 4 inches to 15 feet. Rather than raise the house, the team installed high- compressive-strength concrete masonry units and dug down 8-feet below the basement’s original dirt floor. The house was supported with steel framework on support cribbing during the basement excavation. Additional basement space was dug under a newly constructed parking deck, making the basement twice the size of the home’s first floor.
To improve the comfort of the new basement, exterior footings and walls were wrapped with a waterproofing membrane followed by drainage board and rigid foam board insulation. A 16-mil vapor barrier and 2-inch rigid foam board were installed under slab to maintain consistency in temperature and humidity. An emergency egress and window wells bring natural light into the space.
During excavation, the team discovered a brick water cistern, which dates back to the construction of the home. The 8-foot-tall by 6 feet in diameter cistern had collected rainwater and supplemented the home’s well. The team and McParlands opted to keep the cistern in its original location because of its historic connection to the house. Three feet had to be added to the back of the house to accommodate the cistern’s location. The cistern was cleaned, repointed, structurally supported with concrete and repurposed into a wine cellar that can hold 300 bottles. Today, the basement is a modern entertainment hub, consisting of a home theater/gym, kitchen/bar, bath and a half, and spacious in-law suite with laundry.
MOVING ON UP
The first floor was completely renovated by opening the plan. Load-bearing walls were removed and two large steel beams that span the entire depth of the house now support the structure. A custom, open center stair was built in essentially the same location as the original. The stair leads to the basement and second floor of the home.
To improve the comfort of the first and second floors, the walls were insulated with closed-cell spray foam before drywall was installed, and windows were replaced with energy-efficient versions. The double-pane casement windows also are impact-resistant and were approved by the Franklin Township Historic Preservation Commission.
The first floor has been transformed into a modern family area with an open kitchen, dining and living room, as well as a full bathroom. A bonus feature is a custom display case that was built into the plan to showcase hundreds of artifacts discovered during the renovation. For example, the team found colonial copper that predates the house by about 150 years. An American Revolutionary War uniform button and hand-carved wooden dice found in a met- al can suggest troops camped on the property. In addition, a New Jersey Rifle Corps Civil War coat button, an 1876 Centennial celebration coin and a 1909 New Jersey license plate are displayed in the case. The McParlands chose to display these artifacts because they contribute stories about the people who once occupied the property, as well as underscore the property’s longevity.
The second floor now features a primary suite with walk-in closet and full bathroom. A second full bathroom was added for two guest bedrooms. In addition to the laundry in the basement in-law suite, another laundry room was added just outside the primary bedroom. A bonus feature of the second floor is the 700-square-foot walk-out deck with a 36-inch blue-glass fire pit.
Smart-home features were included throughout the now 3,800-square-foot home. For example, the house boasts seven surround-sound zones—inside and outside—Wi-Fi and Alexa-embedded technologies, CCTV, fire-prevention and alarm systems, cellular boosters, water monitor- ing and shut-off technologies, and air- and water-purification systems.
THINKING AHEAD
The McParlands were interested in ensuring the longevity of this historic home for future generations and did so by agreeing to construction materials and practices that exceed today’s building codes. For instance, sheathing and decking dimensions were increased for siding and roofing; the metal roof gauge was increased; all windows and doors are high-impact-rated; and the home was fully encapsulated with a closed-cell foam insulation to improve energy efficiency. Materials and systems were used throughout the home with sound, comfort and health in mind, ensuring this historic home will continue to tell stories of the past into the next century.
PHOTOS: Tamara Gillon
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: Fortunato Architecture
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: MPP Engineers
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Lachenmayr Construction LLC
SITE ENGINEERS: Geo-Technology Associates Inc.
SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY: Grande Systems & Security LLC
CUSTOM ALUMINUM STAIRS: American Stair & Rail Artisans
DISPLAY CASE AND PRIMARY SHOWER: Somerset Glass Co. Inc.
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Tri-County Roofing
Materials
24-GAUGE STANDING-SEAM METAL ROOF: Drexel Metals
IMPACT-RESISTANT WINDOWS AND DOORS: Pella
SIDING: JamesHardie in Evening Blue
WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE: Blueskin by Henry
DRAINAGE BOARD: TREMDrain NW by Tremco Commercial Sealants and Waterproofing
XPS RIGID FOAM BOARD INSULATION: Owens Corning
CLOSED-CELL SPRAY FOAM: Huntsman Building Solutions
CABINETS: American Woodmark
FLOORING: 7 1/2-inch Monterey Bay Hickory Engineered Wood from Virginia Mill Works
PAINT: Sherwin-Williams
CISTERN MORTAR: LimeWorks
INTERIOR SOUNDPROOFING: Acoustiblok and QuietRock
HOME THEATER RECEIVER: Onkyo
CCTV: Hikvision
SIX-BURNER GAS DOUBLE OVEN RANGE: Café
CUSTOM VENTILATION HOOD: Zline
DISHWASHER: Samsung
REFRIGERATOR: LG
SINKS AND TUBS: Kohler
BATHROOM FIXTURES: Moen