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REMODELING |
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Recent projects demonstrate that at Charlie Allen Restorations, it's not about project size—it's about finding smart solutions that accommodate your needs while maintaining your home's unique character and respecting your budget |
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FUNCTIONAL AND WELCOMING
Visitors to this 1850s transitional Victorian entered into a cramped foyer, their eyes drawn to a steep staircase leading up to a dark, second-floor landing. The home’s living area was down a narrow hall while the adjacent front room served no purpose but to hold the homeowners numerous books and random possessions. It was time to rethink this home’s welcoming spaces!
We rebuilt the staircase, creating a more comfortable incline and wider treads. Original period detailing is retained with matching ballustrades and handrail, and a larger newel post, an exact design replica of the original. Enlarging the staircase required the removal of a window from the living area; it was preserved and moved to the foyer, adding much needed natural light to the entryway.
The front room, which had become a de facto closet, is now a stylish library/office, with original wide pine flooring and abundant custom-made cherry shelving for books, photos, and mementos. Redesigning the room also allowed us to create a much needed half-bath off the main hallway.
The end result is a useful, well designed, and welcoming space.
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FRESH & BRIGHT BATHROOMS
Two recent bathroom projects demonstrate that a thoughtful renovation can make a big impact even without changing the footprint of a room.
 #1 This bathroom is part of a modest condo in Cambridge. In the original layout the tub was located perpendicular to the window with the sink and toilet at the end of the room. The new plan moved the tub beneath the window, with the toilet and sink against the interior wall, allowing for better flow and placing the most-used functions closest to the door. New porcelain shower tiles, lighting, a Corian seamless sink, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and a new vanity provide an appealing update at modest expense.
 #2 Two bedrooms were merged to create a large master suite with sitting area and walk-in closet and at the same time the outdated bathroom was remodeled. The new bathroom now contains a large double-sink vanity with sconce lighting and elegant white countertop, and a spacious glass-paneled shower with built-in seating. The master bath receives extra light from new frosted glass panels inserted into the original door. The owners shopped almost exclusively online for sale and discontinued items to stretch every design dollar, allowing them to splurge on a custom frameless shower door.
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KITCHEN IS UPDATED AND PERSONALIZED
 Cooking and baking are among this homeowner’s favorite activities (and throughout the renovation, she kept our crew happy with fresh baked cookies every week) Her kitchen needed updating, but the footprint of the room couldn’t be changed and the budget was small. Still, we were able to introduce better storage with smart placement solutions, (for instance, placing a narrow spice cabinet against an existing—and unmovable—heating duct, ) and to improve function with fixes like a new deep “bowl-and-a-half” under-mount sink. During the renovation process, insulation was added to the ceiling to reduce noise from the condo above, and track lighting was installed. This homeowner is a scientist and refused to have any stainless items in her “home cooking lab”—she therefore chose materials for their aesthetic appeal as well as function. Colorful granite countertops, a porcelain sink, black appliances, and marmoleum flooring were all budget friendly decisions that helped to create a warm welcoming kitchen.
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KITCHENS
