When a couple with an eye for midcentury modern design saw a 1950 home for sale in Mountain Brook, Alabama, they snapped up the residence—never mind that the house was dilapidated and far too small for their growing family of four.

Convinced of the home’s potential, the couple turned to Atlanta–based Surber Barber Choate + Hertlein Architects to resurrect the post-and-beam structure and add a sensitive extension to double the footprint to 3,600 square feet.

Dubbed the Harrison House, the restored and enlarged abode makes a clear distinction between old and new. To respect the original building, the architects placed an open courtyard between the existing single-story structure and the new two-story extension. The extension is connected via an elevated bridge and an open-tread stair that descends through the roof of the original home.

Before: Front Facade

After: Front Facade

Before: House Rear

After: House Rear

Before: Living and Dining Area

After: Living and Dining Area

Before: Extension

After: Extension

More Before & After:

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Surber Barber Choate + Hertlein Architects

Builder/ General Contractor: Classic Renovations & Contracting LLC

Structural Engineer: Bennett & Pless, Inc.

Landscape Design Company: Endless Summer Landscapes & Jenny Carpenter

Interior Design: Alchemy Design

Cabinetry Design/ Installation: MDM Designs

Appears In

Before & After: A Glass Bridge Links an Alabama Midcentury to a Strategic Expansion