708 ‘A’ Avenue – The Historic Sherman Mansion gets restored

Kevin Rugee Architect, Inc. has completed the restoration of a well known two-story Italian Renaissance style historic home on Coronado.

The house was originally designed by Architect Reginald D. Johnson for Frederick B. Sherman in 1915. It is historically known as the Sherman Mansion and more commonly known to Coronado residents as the Darnell Mansion, after James and Barbara Darnell, the third owners of this residence.

The original 5,200 square foot, sixteen-room home is situated on a 28,000 square foot lot. It has a stucco exterior and double hipped roof with two chimneys at the center and features a detached garage, swimming pool and tennis court. There are two recessed porches on the second story with columns and balustrades. The front entranceway is recessed and has a flat roof, supported by columns. The house is a symmetrical U-shape, with a rectangle main portion and recessed wings.

In 2011 local Coronado Architect, Kevin Rugee was commissioned by the newest owners of the property to do a full interior remodel and expansion of the home. The home now features a covered loggia and second floor balcony off of the newly configured master suite that opens up to the expansive backyard. Reconfiguration of the majority of the interior walls creates a modern open floor plan on the first floor, perfect for entertaining. Additionally, the home now features four large bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, a study, and art room.

In order to preserve the historical integrity of the home, no original details were altered on the exterior street-facing elevations of the home. Kevin also took care to design the addition to reflect the original detailing.

Kevin Rugee has over twenty-five years experience in the architectural profession and is best known for his attention to detail. His appreciation for the historic element is apparent in both his renovation and new construction projects.