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PrintA Model of Innovation
an ordinary ranchette becomes an extraordinary home
Photography by David J Swift
The top message on the entryway’s magnetic wall holds special meaning for the Burkes. It was crafted by the Norris family, the home’s original owners, after paying a visit last summer. The Burkes say they couldn’t have received a better compliment.
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Jackson’s Cottonwood Park subdivision isn’t exactly renowned for its architecture. Like many subdivisions built during the boom tweny years ago, Cottonwood Park is full of standard homes, each one differing little from the next. At least that was the case until the Burke family moved in and started remodeling.
Kevin and Carolyn Burke, both architects, had spent years helping clients design their dream homes. Now, it was time for them to create their own. But rather than start from scratch, the Burkes were committed to transforming what they had into what they wanted. Today, after two major remodels, the Burkes’ home rises above the rest of the subdivision’s low-slung ranchettes—a model of style and originality.
Like much of Jackson’s workforce, Kevin and Carolyn spent their first nine years in the Tetons commuting from Victor, stymied by the high cost of real estate in the Jackson valley. In 2000, the Burkes heard of a lucky lead on a house for sale by owner in Cottonwood Park. While cutthroat-bidding wars racked Jackson’s real estate market, the Burkes offered, closed, and moved into their new home in the span of just twenty days.
“I remember one of our first nights here eating dinner and watching this line of car lights going up and over the pass,” says Carolyn. “Here we sat in our new home watching what we used to do every day. We were excited to finally park the car and not have to drive.”
Brendan, Kevin, and Caroyln Burke achieved their dream home by modifying their existing place.
The Burkes were ecstatic to have landed in a Jackson home that fit their budget and a neighborhood that fit their lifestyle. A community park borders the backyard and multiple bike paths zigzag the area—perfect for their young son Brendan—with schools only a short ride away.
But at the same time the house’s dull personality grated on their architectural sensibilities. With its dingy off-white walls, an awkward floor plan, and minimal natural light, Carolyn describes the home as “humdrum.” The wall-to-wall carpeting and poor ventilation irritated not only Kevin’s sense of aesthetics but also (and more importantly) his chronic asthma.
“It was a typical spec home. Design isn’t the first thing on their mind [during the building process]. It’s turning a quick buck,” says Kevin. “There was no life to it, no design ideas, it just didn’t flow.” He still cringes describing the awkward reception guests would receive as they pushed through the small (3.5-foot wide) entry hall that opened onto the kitchen.
“The point of entry shouldn’t be looking into someone’s dirty kitchen,” says Carolyn.
To appease Kevin’s asthma, the Burkes first replaced the carpet with wood flooring. But instead of opting for traditional woods like pine or fir, they used oriented strand board (OSB) cut into three-foot squares and arranged in a checkerboard pattern for added flair.
“Choosing materials that are unconventional can often be more affordable,” explains Carolyn, adding that carpeting is a standard choice in many spec houses because it’s cheaper. Instead of adding thousands of dollars to their new mortgage with a traditional hardwood floor, the Burkes’ new floor cost a total of $283.
At that point, they decided other changes would have to wait; Carolyn and Kevin are firm believers in the importance of living in a place before making alterations. In the Burkes’ opinion, the best way for homeowners to realize a house’s true potential and make informed decisions is to spend time in it. Carolyn frequently tells her clients, “Live in it for a year. Feel the seasons, the light, the noise, everything about it.”
Four years later, Kevin and Carolyn were ready to begin phase one of their home’s remodel, with increased natural lighting and a more functional floor plan as top priorities.
“We wanted the house to be our own,” says Carolyn. Although “some people do that with drapes and furniture,” their approach to personalizing the space was moving walls and windows.
“Too often we try to boil everything down to the lowest, common denominator. In these spec homes, there’s a better design for everyone,” adds Kevin.
