Italian Renaissance home is unique style
There are many reasons why prospective new owners of a home are attracted to a particular structure. Sometimes it’s the location, the specific size and desired aesthetical appeal or simply affordability. Not often is one attracted to one of a structure’s noteworthy design elements. Such was the case when the present owners, Drs. Kim and Mark Rabatin, first gazed upon the home that would eventually be theirs.
Actually, it was Kim Rabatin who first noticed the magnificent front-door entry area and realized she had found the home she was looking for. The front entry is indeed one of the most appealing exterior design elements that is directly related to the structure’s distinctive style.
The home’s unique architectural style can best be categorized in the overall moniker of an eclectic-style home with Italian renaissance influences and features.
The Italian renaissance style is found in early 20th century homes but was not quite as commonplace as colonial revival, craftsman and Tudor-style homes. The style was mostly prevalent in heavily populated metropolitan areas from the late 1880s through the 1930s. Since the home was constructed in the 1940s, it is a rare example of a rather unique style.
Of specific interest regarding the home’s overall appearance is the simplistic beauty of the foremost front wall façade surface, which exhibits a certain level of asymmetrical balance regarding window and door placement.
The exterior walls are surfaced with beautiful ashlar square-cut natural quarry face stone veneer in an irregular course pattern, with concave-tooled joints.
The windows are nicely accented with wonderful stone features along the sills, sides and top header panel areas. The front first-floor window stone details are further enhanced by the placement of glazed-tile header accents, which form a splendid highlight feature.
The second-floor windows are smaller in size and are not treated with the same level of embellishments as the first-floor windows, which is a trademark feature of the Italian Renaissance style.
The front-door entry area is a superb example of the aforementioned architectural style as its arch top and recess area are quite common characteristics. Although, it must be noted, the intricate cut-stone door surround with glazed-tile accents that match the windows is a truly wonderful design element.
When speaking of the stone façade, the roof overhang/wall interface details are definitely quite interesting. Most Italian Renaissance homes feature a large roof overhang with decorative arch brackets.
The minimal roof overhangs with stone veneer frieze board-type projection and individual stone dentil-type embellishments are splendid examples of Romanesque-type features, which are quite fitting. The hip roof construction and glazed-tile chimney-top details are design elements that are directly related to the home’s style. The right-side structure projection rather interesting regarding the overall character, as it is highlighted by the formation of the second-floor balcony complete with original iron railing. Two first-floor specialty rectangular fixed-pane windows with rounded corner treatments are a very nice design detail that additionally enhances the stone veneer walls of the right side projection area.
The interior layout is somewhat conventional of a home built in the 1940s, with a few added features. The first-floor entry is quite pleasing, as it not only serves as a wonderful greeting/welcoming area but also boasts a splendid viewshed to the formal living room. On the left, the stairway to the second floor, directly ahead is the family room with adjacent breakfast/sunroom on the right. The family room and adjacent breakfast/sunroom were constructed as a combination of space of an original garage and an addition area toward the right rear. The family room and breakfast/sunrooms are a step below the first floor. A fully functional kitchen, formal dining room and powder room are also located on the first floor. The overall first-floor layout features vistas from room to room as well as a splendid viewshed to the rear patio/exterior entertainment area.
The second floor boasts a master suite and bath as well as two additional bedrooms with full baths. The second-floor balcony is accessible from one of the bedrooms. A full attic serves the utilitarian needs of the inhabitants. The lower level features a nicely sized home entertainment room, personal office and fully functional laundry room. The exterior grounds are nicely landscaped and the rear patio area offers a terraced view of the west end of Uniontown.
The one predominant feature that Dr. Kim Rabatin noticed about the home she and her husband would soon purchase was the inviting front door and recessed entry, which is actually one of the defining features of the home’s rather unique architectural style. Although, it must be noted, all of the features of this Italian Renaissance style home are wonderful, especially the way they interact and relate to one another in complete harmony.
(Editor’s note: This is another in a series of stories by Robert Adamovich, a residential architectural designer since 1974, a retired design engineer and local architectural historian. The creator and host of HSTV’s “Historically Speaking,” Adamovich is also an award-winning historical artist. He can be reached by phone at 724-439-3711. His website is www.RobertAdamovich.com.)