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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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SLEEK AND SERENE
 When two university professors moved into a 1915 Colonial in Cambridge, they loved its many period charms with one exception: the master bath and dressing suite’s jarring 1970s design aesthetic. Seeking a clean and bright spa-like design, they asked us for help.
The process began by gutting the bathroom — which revealed an alarming situation: a previous renovation had eliminated all of the floor joists! With a deep and heavy soaking tub moving into the room, reframing of the entire floor became the first priority.
Next, the large tub was moved into the space while walls were opened, and repositioned around the room as the radiant heating system and new Ann Sacks tile were put in place. And because the tub would be located directly beneath the window, the original glass panes were replaced with tempered glass for safety.
Another issue – due to the location of an elevator directly behind the second-floor bath, electrical and plumbing systems needed to be run inside the shaft. And to achieve the clean look of a spa-style bath, the room’s lines had to be perfectly level — a real challenge in a 95-year-old house.
The comforting design, by Sandra Fairbank of Fairbank Design, Ltd., called for a lack of hard edges on the vanity. To accomplish this challenging feat of engineering, a countertop and apron were crafted as a single piece of Azul Cielo marble.
Handsome pullout cabinetry provides lots of room to place toiletries out of view, maintaining the uncluttered appeal. Pale blue tile by Ann Sachs lines the shower stall and surrounds the tub. And after enjoying a relaxing bath, the heated towel rack provides a warm and finish.
We also remodeled the attached dressing area. By removing a sink from the space and adding square footage from the adjacent laundry room, equally spacious his-and-hers dressing areas were built, with shelving in warm maple and new oak flooring.
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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
