REMODELING

Recent projects demonstrate that at Charlie Allen Renovations, it’s not about project size or budget — it’s about finding smart solutions that accommodate your needs while maintaining your home’s unique character.

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 Sacks 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.

Return to Restorations Page

BATHROOMS

A carefully restored period bathroom can be a great place to enjoy all the relaxing elements of today's spa lifestyle, from steam baths to soaking tubs, radiant floor heating to electric towel warmers.
view bathroom restorations

KITCHENS

New technologies have dramatically improved how we use our kitchens. A thoughtful renovation introduces these modern amenities without compromising the period charm of the room where we love to gather.
view kitchen restorations

EXTERIORS

New England is blessed with a wide variety of period homes representing many different architectural styles and historical eras. Meticulously restored, these homes are charming and distinctive highlights of the neighborhood landscape.
view exterior restorations

INTERIORS

Every period introduces new interior architectural and design features. A successful period home interior renovation restores original features and thoughtfully integrates them with the personal tastes of the modern day homeowner.
view interior restorations

CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES

The key to safe wood burning in any home is a proper flue liner.  The highest quality and longest lasting is a cast-in-place masonry liner.  Our poured flue lining system is a unique chimney lining process ideally suited to reline and restore old, damaged, or worn out chimney flues.
view fireplace restorations