Historic Restoration & Makeover Videos

This video is somewhat elementary for this is the first video I created using a not so great program.

This 1885 had undergone many changes over the years that totally destroyed any trace of architectural character. Unfortunately it is too late to put all these residents in jail where they belong. Fortunately a new homeowner  will now restore this house to bring back its beauty. Unfortunately there were no photos or information to do an accurate restoration so a historically inspired design was implemented.

Scope of Work:

• Remove full porch and create space for parking.
• Install wood siding.
• Remove and replace large 1940’s window on first floor.
• Replace windows with 2/2 wood windows.
• Extend roof eaves outward 1 foot.
• Add brackets and frieze board under eaves.
• Add new trim, window casings, window crown, window sill, window apron.
• Open up existing transom window, new entrance and Italianate double doors.
• Add real shutters, glass and lace curtains.
• New concrete steps and top quality iron railing appropriate for city houses.

Understand the importance of real shutters.

This house and a historic neighboring house were purchased together by the same owner. Unfortunately all that remains of this interior is just a shell. The owner planned to restore the exterior of both buildings. The neighboring building was in much better condition.  I requested the owner to research the Sanborn Maps in order for me to prepare a scope of work for this project to produce a design for the owner and his architect to follow.  The Sanborn maps would show the design of the original front porch.

This project began at the outbreak of the Corona virus which prohibited the owner from doing proper research since offices of the historical society and preservation commission were closed.  The owner contacted a local architectural historian who sent an early 1900’s map of the area that was similar to a Sanborn Map. I don’t remember why they did not have a Sanborn map. On the map they sent the house did not have a porch. Although a full porch would be logical for a house like this there weren’t any ghost marks showing an earlier porch. I therefore created a Brownstone style entrance as shown in the video. I later discovered that the historic map was not correct and that there was a Sanborn map showing a full wrap-around porch. This is very unfortunate and proves that good research is very important.

Scope of Work:

• Add witches hat roof to turret.
• Design and repair top of turret add trim.
• Add new stained glass window.
• Add new entrance.
• Add new entrance steps.
• Historic paint colors.
• Original windows restored.

Understand the importance of original windows.

This is a relatively new home designed in the Second Empire style. There are so many new homes that copy the style of a historic home but the are far from resembling anything like the original style. This house was not that bad and was able to be modified to appear more accurate to the style it represents.

Scope of Work:

• Reduce pitch of porch roof to that of a tim roof.
• Design a tower that would be used on a Second Empire house.
• Replace windows.
• Add appropriate trim and decoration and fix proportions.
• Correct architectural errors in bays etc.
• Fix step cut-outs.

After spending 3 years stripping the interior woodwork of years of paint, my restoration work was shown on HGTV. Read about the episode here.

Scope of Work:

• New clapboard 4-5 inch reveal.
• Add frieze board and corner molding.
• Add trim to fascia board.
• Add vertical trim to separate gabled section.
• Remove porch roof pediment and keep roof flat.
• Add historic door.
• New windows and casings with apron.
• Fix window placement.
• Remove 3 ganged casement windows in center and replace with 2 double hung.
• Remove 3 windows to far right and redesign.
• Remove and replace existing porch columns and balustrade and replace with style to be determined at an architecturally correct height.
• Paint colors.

Scope of Work:

• Correct color placement.
• Historic paint colors.