Charlie Allen Renovations, Inc. | 91 River Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
617.661.7411 | info@charlie-allen.com | www.charlie-allen.com

INTRODUCING CHARLIE ALLEN RENOVATIONS

We’ve got a new name, new logo, new look, and new leadership. But really, not much has changed.

When Charlie founded this company in 1978, his goal was to renovate older homes thoughtfully and respectfully, to accommodate modern-day living without diminishing the artistry of the men and women who meticulously designed and built these singular treasures. His commitment to the restoration of period details during the renovation process inspired Charlie to name his company “Charlie Allen Restorations.”

But over the years, we’ve realized that for many homeowners, ‘restoration’ is a misleading term. Some have told us that they thought that we focused only on preserving historic structures. In fact, while true restoration work is something we’ve always done, the cornerstone of our business is renovation and remodeling.

So, while we still offer all of the same services, we’ve decided that Charlie Allen Renovations is a better reflection of who we are as a company.

With change comes more change: our new name prompted us to consider a new logo and a new look. 

A prominent element of our original logo was the stately home that sat to the left of the company name.  Charlie had selected this image because it signified the well-earned charm of an older home, but its size and grandeur eventually troubled us: like our name, it sent mixed messages, leading some to believe that we only take on large-scale projects, when in fact, we work on projects of many different sizes and in all kinds of homes.  So, we removed the house.

This left us with a new decision: should we find another image to accompany our name? In the end we decided no. We felt the bold new graphic approach we’ve selected for our logo, featuring two solid color blocks of brick-red and gray, would provide a clear, clean, and memorable icon to represent our company.

And finally, as most of you know, Julie Palmer, who has worked with Charlie since 1999, was recently promoted from Operations Manager to President of the company, while Charlie has assumed the new title of CEO. In their new roles, Julie continues to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company and all projects while Charlie meets with prospective clients and provides deft counsel and expert guidance to employees, sub-contractors, and homeowners alike.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

The owners of this historic Cambridge home asked us to renovate a section of the house previously used as a pottery studio to create a comfortable guest suite for visiting relatives. They wanted the new space to feel like a private residence with living, sleeping, and basic food prep needs all considered.

We began by introducing a custom entertainment center (with retractable television) to the center of the room, to provide distinction between seating and sleeping areas. Because the family also wanted to use the space as a music room, we introduced dramatic shelving with space for piano, drums, guitars, and other instruments along one wall.

The floor, which features radiant heating, was painted in a playful checkerboard pattern. A breakfast bar, to one side, provides guests with a handy space for light snacks and coffee preparation.

The en-suite bathroom was completely gutted and remodeled with new floor tile, shower tile, and wall tile, including a decorative pebble stone border. A double basin Kohler sink with polished chrome fixtures, handsome honed black granite counter top and shower threshold, and sconce lighting add to the room’s elegant but casual appeal.

EVENTS CALENDAR

CAMBRIDGE OPEN MARKET: Friday, September 13, 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.,
The Cambridge Open Market – at the Plaza at Harvard University – brings together an eclectic group of local artisans, artists, and craftspeople offering a variety of handmade products. For more, visit www.cambridgeopenmarket.com

MOVIES FOR LITTLES
Saturday, September 14, 11 a.m. – 12 noon
Bring your book-loving toddlers to the Main Library, 449 Broadway in Cambridge, to watch “favorite picture books come alive on the big screen.” In the Curious George Room. For more information, contact the Main Library at 617/349-4040.

CAMBRIDGEPORT HISTORY DAY
Saturday, October 5, 12:30 - 6 p.m.
The 5th annual Cambridgeport event celebrates the history of the neighborhood with music, re-enactors, and activities in Dana Park. Walking tours of the neighborhood spotlight notable buildings and “If This House Could Talk” participants post signs featuring interesting facts about their homes and places of business. For more, visit www.cambridgehistory.org.

WHAT IS A PERIOD HOUSE: ART DECO

The Art Deco style of home design emphasizes a combination of clean, straight lines with unexpected geometric shapes and designs. The heyday for this architectural style was brief – roughly 1920 to 1940 and its most prominent example isn’t a house but instead an icon of New York City: the Chrysler Building.

The term ‘art deco’ was originated by the French architect Le Corbusier. The style first took off in France, where “The Cubist House,” an early example of the style, was displayed at a 1912 Salon. A reproduction of the house was then exhibited in New York, Chicago, and Boston.

Considered the most modern of styles at the time, art deco homes and buildings incorporated materials like aluminum, stainless steel, chrome, and plastic. Vivid colors, including stained glass, were a signature of the design. During the boom years of the 1920s, the style represented luxury and glamour, but the one-two punch of the Great Depression and World War II put an abrupt end to the style, which can still be seen primarily in apartment buildings and public buildings in the Cambridge area .