Elmwood Restoration

Converting a four unit Elmwood Village Victorian into a 5,300 square foot single family home is worth every penny for this Buffalo bound family of six.

STORY BY CHRIS HILL     PHOTOS BY MATT BROWN

At a time when many young professionals have chosen to move from Buffalo to pursue house, home, and employment out-of-state, a core of Buffalo folk have decided, unquestionably, that they are here to stay--a friendly regime with blood type “Go-Buffalo,” and a tie so strong to their city that they will take risks, get creative, and have patience beyond belief in order to stay.  Such are Peter and Lisa Sauer, born and raised on Buffalo’s east and west sides, respectively.  The story of their homestead is  interesting from the perspective of smart realty and eclectic home decor, but it is most inspiring to the young Buffalonian professional who might somehow defer their dream of finding the “perfect house” just long enough to realize they may already be living in it. 

     The Sauers purchased their Highland Avenue Victorian in the fall of 2001. Lisa was raised in a similar Auburn Avenue double, and was naturally drawn to the large wooden front porch, and ornate wooden foyer and staircase, while Peter was impressed by the home’s intangible benefits: off-street parking, backyard green space, a family-friendly neighborhood, and the income potential that a multi-family property could afford the couple early in their careers.  Built in 1907, the home had many of its original features such as light fixtures and woodwork intact. Yet the family had no idea what beauty would lie beneath the wood and plaster that had been covered when the home took on a two-story addition and became four apartments in the 1940s. 

     The decision to purchase and reside in the 3-story, wood framed property was the beginning of the homeowners’ journey, which would include cramped stints living in the home’s one-bedroom studio apartment, and most recently, modest quarters for six in the second floor flat of 1100 square feet.  Parents to four school-aged kids, the Sauers had made a decade of memories together thoroughly enjoying--and outgrowing--their space. 

     In the fall of 2010, after exploring their options in single-family properties available in Buffalo, the Sauers thought it would be worthwhile to try to stay in their Elmwood Village home because of its unmatched character and structural opportunities.  They would stay, and they would convert the 4-unit dwelling into a single-family home.  Peter now compares the Highland restoration to a pregnancy: “As you get closer and closer to the birth, things become more and more painful and you begin to question whether or not you knew what you were getting yourselves into...but then you see the result of your labor, and you love it.”

     The simultaneous undertaking of both the multi-unit conversion and Victorian restoration took approximately one year.  In the fall of 2011, the Sauers Six moved in to their “new” home, started the school year, and have been enjoying spreading their (Buffalo) wings in their 5300 square-foot project.  Entrepreneurial at heart, the Sauers designed every room themselves. Lisa states,  “We imagined the space suiting each family members’ needs.  Now, the house always looks neat because we designed it so that everything has its place. We made great effort to restore the Victorian elements of the home while making it functional for our family.”  The Sauers have revived the charm and elegance of the Victorian foyer and stairwell while transitioning to a contemporary living space that is now the “modern Elmwood Village Victorian” of Buffalo’s young professional family. 

The Kitchen

The enormous 4 x 9-foot granite center island is Lisa’s favorite part of her modern kitchen.  It is both gorgeous and functional, and serves as the “hub” for the entire family.  The meeting-place allows seating for six barstools, and has stainless steel appliances strategically placed beneath. The bright, contemporary kitchen reflects tons of natural light on the glass subway-tile backsplash, with a monochromatic color scheme and bamboo-colored Silestone quartz countertop. Small bursts of color in the pendant lighting and accessories give the space a cool flair, while the ceramic tile floors warm underfoot with radiant heat (a feature Lisa particularly loves while enjoying her morning “joe” at the hub with her kids!).  The pot filler faucet above the five-burner gas range “was a surprise for my Italian wife,” says Peter.  The family is now enjoying over 800 square feet of kitchen living, which they especially appreciate after a decade in their apartment-cozy 10 x 12 nook.  A 4 x 9-foot custom-built wooden breakfast nook, nearby mud room with large lockers for each family member, and a convenient half-bath, as well as a large sundries pantry complete the space which was once the first-floor apartment unit.

The Foyer

Taking into account budget, time, and feasibility, the Sauers carefully planned to restore as much of the Victorian charm as possible in the grand foyer and stairwell.  In fact, the foyer is now restored to a near replica of its original form.  Because the entrance had formerly been utilized as a quick, transient space to unload groceries, pile snowy boots, or run through to the shared laundry room in the basement, it never gave the family much pause; however, the family restored and refinished the hardwood floors in the foyer and throughout most of the first floor living space, restored the light fixtures, and built new banisters and railings leading to a new staircase to the third floor living space.  They carefully matched the grain of the wood to the original oak finish of the foyer.  After doing a little digging and demolition, the crews unearthed a gorgeous wall of stained glass windows that had been boarded and hidden in the 1940s.  “The stairwell really unifies the home.  It always has, but now it’s both beautiful and functional. It’s the showpiece of the house, the backbone,” Peter adds.

Chris Hill was born and raised in the Elmwood Village area and currently lives in East Amherst with her husband Tom and their three children.  Their local company, Evanhill Paint distributes C2 Paint throughout the Western New York region. C2 Paint can be found in beautiful homes around the country and at evanhillpaint.com.