Leonard Masonry Co.

In fall 2005, the masonry contractor began work on multiple enhancements to a home originally built in 1921. Completed in spring 2006, the project included an addition to the house, extensive site work and a beautiful new pool house that mimics the historical design of the home.

The existing home is composed mainly of brick with limestone frieze trim, arches, pilasters, brick terraces with stone rails, and slate roofing. It was vitally important to the owner that the new and old blend perfectly. To achieve this look, the masonry contractor installed a brick veneer with limestone window sills, brick soldier and limestone key headers at all openings, and a limestone panel base.

The pool house incorporates carved and profiled limestone that matches the dining room patio entrance to the main house. Detailed carvings under the roofline are identical to those found at the main residence. Fluted, tapered columns separate the openings into the pool house. The two-way tapers were difficult to carve, tapering from the ground up and from left to right. On the east side, stone balustrades guide visitors from a brick-paved terrace down into the yard, while the west side leads to the pool.

The site work included installing walls by the garage, stone walkways leading to the street and a 5-foot-tall brick and limestone wall with a masonry fountain at the center.

Through careful material selection and detailed stonework, the masonry contractor successfully concealed the new construction with the character and history of the existing home.

Built in the 1920s, this beautiful mansion is modeled after a 17th century French chateau, with intricate limestone carvings gracing both the exterior and interior. In 2006, a stairwell and elevator were added.

The 480-square-foot, four-level stairwell addition, located on the right side, and the elevator shaft at the rear mimic the style of the existing exterior. Using Indiana limestone, the masonry contractor incorporated details such as quoins at the corners and intricate carvings around the door and windows. The mason carved lintels with fruit and floral themes, jambs with scrolls, sills and keystones. Before creating shop drawings, the mason measured each of the courses, matching the lengths of stone as closely as possible. The masonry contractor applied a light sandblast finish so that the stone would appear weathered like the original stone.

The interior of the stairwell includes a significant amount of limestone. Although it is more modern in appearance, using similar materials was still important. The masonry contractor also had to transform two window-like recessed areas in the existing lower level into openings for the stairwell door and elevator. It involved removing a section of the limestone dado that wraps around the room and adding detail to the new doorways. The mason also patched the masonry on either side of the openings, recreating a diamond-shaped brick and stone pattern and locating a type of marble that was hard to match. From the inside out, the result is a seamless transition from old to new.