At Charlie Allen Restorations our commitment to historic preservation and attention to period detail extends beyond our client projects to our own office space.In 2002 we completed a renovation of our company’s office. The property, an 1899 flat iron building, was in disrepair and not suitable for our needs. Many storefront businesses had occupied the space over the 103 years of its existence. Most recently, the street level space was an antiques shop, and the large unfinished basement was used for storage and housing the mechanicals which served the apartments on the upper levels of the building.
This project afforded us the opportunity to completely restore the original storefront and execute a comprehensive basement renovation. We worked with both the historical society and the city of Cambridge to accomplish these goals. Our customers can now meet with us in a space designed and constructed by our company - for our company. The office space, where we live everyday, highlights our dedication to the harmonious integration of modern amenities with period details.
The Difference is in the Details
There
were many things to consider and to research when renovating our office. Over
the years, the space had been stripped of its original trim. To know what the
original trim had been, we looked to the apartments, stairways, and hallways
located in the rest of the building. We then had the trim for our office fabricated
to match the original. The belly casings, rosettes, five-panel doors, wainscoting
and chair rail all match the building’s Victorian period details.During our research, we located an article about the building when it was built in 1899. The article stated that the flooring was North Carolina heart pine. Using a local supplier of reclaimed wood, we purchased and installed the same antique heart pine for the floors, stairs and radiator pads.
In many instances we located and installed recycled building materials which appropriately fit the space, including antique doors and an antique leaded glass window, purchased from a building materials salvage company in Kennebunkport, Maine. We installed an intricate tin ceiling and researched period lighting, ordering light fixtures from a reproduction products company. Restored cast iron radiators are the source of our heat, and on the first floor we installed an 1879 wood burning Franklin Stove, venting into a chimney we lined with a SolidFlue cast-in-place masonry liner.
Paint colors
and furniture were carefully considered. We worked with the Cambridge Historical
Society to choose a historically appropriate color scheme that complemented
the rest of the building and surrounding neighborhood. Our office furnishings
are a combination of modern cubicles with laminate desk surfaces and antique
furniture brought in by employees and purchased at a local antique store. We
believe the eclectic mix of furnishings, along with the color palette, complements
the space and provides a calm and inspiring work environment.The goal for creating our office space was to integrate modern amenities and building infrastructure into the project while at the same time restoring and recreating the period details and character. We welcome you to come visit us and see first hand what a simple commitment to quality, details, and history can create.
