Rhonald Angelo Blogs

Renovation

Renovating Your Home

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Renovating your home requires thorough research and a detailed plan to guarantee the desired outcome. Are you thinking about adding an addition? Or perhaps laying new hardwood flooring, replacing windows or replacing the roof? Maybe it is just interior and exterior painting. Do you live in a historic district/home?

Whatever the decision, you want be sure to allow plenty of time to create a workable plan. As we approached early spring, 2020 most of the world had shut down.  After getting settled to a new way of doing things, perhaps now is a good time to begin planning for 2022 and beyond. My current design project is out-of-state in Sewickly, Pennsylvania.  It is not a renovation, but rather a historic preservation of a 1815 original structure with amazing history and details. My first site visit was in August, 2021.

Checking the critical details

The Basics

The first step is to conduct research on your home.  It's important to under the architectural style, the materials originally used to build it, and how it relates to the neighborhood that you live in.  Continuity is what creates desirable curb appeal and adds to property values.  

I have seen the results from a lack of diligent research neighborhoods around the country. Look for a post soon on the appropriate/inappropriate aesthetics when it comes to exterior renovations/remodeling. Many factors determine a successful outcome.

In some cases, the budget may not enable a homeowner to completely fulfill their vision. This means taking a step back, and perhaps doing a part of it now, and the remainder later, or scaling back the project to fit within a set budget.

In other cases, there is too much money allotted, which can lead to the tendency to over-renovate for the property value, and the location of the property.  For example, it is better to reduce the footprint of a dining room addition and have fewer windows or French doors that are of higher quality, than to only focus on too much space and incorporate low-end materials that will not last as long.  Too much of anything is never a good thing.

In addition, suppose a kitchen renovation is in your mind.  Spending $200,000 on a kitchen renovation for instance, may or may not  be wise depending on the home's value and overall aesthetic; just ask yourself, "Would most people want to buy what I am about to do if I decided to move?"  The choices in the marketplace are endless, and constantly change.  I can help guide you in this area. The companies with more integrity and experience will work with you on suitability and aesthetics in creating your plan.

A design professional can be helpful at this stage to avoid costly mistakes and aesthetic problems later on.

Preliminary Planning:

            -    How do you live? How do you entertain? formal or informally?

             -    Do you have children and/or pets?

             -    Do you have in-laws who visit frequently?

             -    What is your daily routine?

              -   What is your budget?

              -   Do you want active involvement with the contractor/architect

Floor Plan with Kitchen and Family Room

The Process

As most people know, renovation in general is not as much fun as the planning stages, or the final walk-through after completion.  The best scenario is to live off the premises while it is under construction. If you are wanting to live in the house while renovations are going on, be prepared for dust, noise, trash, debris, and more trash, debris, and some toxic odors. Spring and Fall are the best times so that open windows can ensure adequate ventilation.  

If possible, be sure that your contractors/tradesmen seal off the area and pay attention to the floors below.  Sanding dust from wood and plaster/wallboard is extremely fine and can travel through between floor boards through openings for lighting fixtures, and the wall base. In addition, be prepared for the unexpected, as you will see in the videos further into the post for a current attic renovation project.  

Renovating Your Home

Residential  European flat undergoing renovation

Retaining the decorative plaster ceiling shown in flat above is a key feature in the future of this room.  Sometimes plaster just needs a bit of restoration, and other times it requires major work.  It can be expensive to hire tradesmen that understand how to work correctly with plaster, however in the end, it is worth every dollar spent.   This is critical when working in historic properties. Understanding what you have is the first step in any successful renovation/restoration. Sometimes you may need a paint historian, whose job is to analyze structures and surfaces to determine construction sequences, and original color palettes. It just depends on where you want to take it.

Libary under construction at AVOCA

The Library at historic AVOCA, in Ellicott City, MD  Plaster and window frame repairs

Row house renovation in Washington DC

Hmmmm, now what's wrong in the picture above?  HVAC and water don't mix, at least not like this.  I can just imagine what happens if the dishwasher were to overflow.  The home owners will empty that bottle sitting on the counter and it won't be to celebrate anything! This is why hiring experts in any field is beneficial to you.

The Experts

I have known Anthony Kochis (Tony) proprietor of A.J. Kochis Co., LLC. since the early 90s. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in architecture from Cornell University in upstate New York, Tony set out on his life-long journey in architecture and design/build. Working on numerous projects, including his own home through the years, he has built an impressive project resume. A.J. Kochis Co., Inc. specializes in residential remodeling of all types and scope.

In 2007 he joined Glass Construction in Washington, DC. and worked on major construction projects including  several properties in Northwest Washington, DC (one is shown below).  

In 2020, he returned to working exclusively for himself and large roster of projects with an amazing attention to detail as  shown in the two video clips on your right.

This is part of an ongoing project for long-time clients.  The clients wanted to convert the attic into the master bedroom suite.  A failing roof ridge was beginning to alter the roof construction and would eventually lead to a collapse.  Tony explains the challenges on this project.  The before and construction images are shown below.

Individually cut and laid slate creates the inset floring in Tony's own home.  Serious detail and patience!

From American Bungalow, to American Federal

Georgetown Town House

Federal  "Smith's Row" Townhouse in Georgetown, Washington DC  Renovation by Glass Construction, Washington, DC

I have heard the phrase, "you can't always judge a book by its cover."  In this case, one can never assume what is behind the front door of a home.  Tony,  acting as the project manager, oversaw this Chrysalis Award winning interior design inside this stately traditional brick home. This is the beauty of living in a historic district; you won't have to worry about the disasters that I have seen all around my city through the years.  Honestly, I am just baffled by what I see sometimes.  More of THAT in the next post on renovations. For now, let's go inside. This renovation resonates well with me. First because is respects the original architectural shell. Second, I like the staircase design, and how the fenestration retains the classic character inside, and allows daylight and air into the rooms.  Overall, it is modern, yet not austere.

Georgetown Renovation

Architecture: Jacobsen Architecture, LLC; Project Managment, Tony Kochis, Glass Construction, WDC;                               Photography: Hoachlander Davis Photography

Georgetown Home Renovation 2

Architecture: Jacobsen Architecture, LLC; Project Management, Tony Kochis, Glass Construction, WDC;                               Photography: Hoachlander Davis Photography

The Experts

In 2021, I had the pleasure of meeting Mathew Tao. Matthew is a small business entrepreneur in Montgomery County, Maryland. His career began with painting and landscaping at age 16. Through the years, major construction projects with Luther Contracting included an 1800’s farmhouse renovation (2015), an entire house remodel with a 540 square foot master suite addition (2016), and an entire house remodel with 1000 square foot addition (2017-2018). In 2019, he launched Tao Contracting, LLC. He currently specializes in restoration and remodeling of old and new homes alike, with older homes being his specialty.

TAO Construction

TAO Contracting home page

Other Projects

Shown below is the hallway leading to a master bedroom in a home owned by a property developer from Baltimore City.  The master bath is on the left, and the to the right, the future dressing room. This was a small part of a large brick home in Maryland and was owned by the decendants of Edgar Allen Poe.  I had the distinct pleasure of submitting a bid on the master bedroom (end of this hallway) to participate in the 2018 BSO Decorator Show House. You may see part of my submission on my main creative design website.

Second Floor Hall leading to Master Bedroom

Hallway leading to master bedroom

Do you have a renovation or new design project on your mind?  If so, book your Discovery Call with me and let's talk about it.  Spring is not that far away. I can assist you with the interiors after the renovation/new build is complete. On a general principle, I don't follow trends.  It is more about what is appropriate for the architectural style, and how individual components can work harmoniously together, and what you desire to live with.  After all, this is your home.  

Historic Preservation Two

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Historic preservation is rewarding. In addition, restoring neglected structures is important and sustainable. Why is this?  First, the vast existence of abandoned or neglected structures are endangered and are begging for restoration. Second, preservation builds character in neighborhoods, and finally, preservation is sustainable because the process reuses valuable building materials, some of which are no longer available.  This is one of the benefits of living in a historic district; higher property values for homeowners.  

In many cases, it costs less to preserve, than to tear down and start over in most cases. However, there are exceptions, especially when the neglected structure is in danger of collapse, which also endangers its surroundings. 

Sometimes the economic pitfalls may not agree with a community or the property owners. It is a decision, owners and preservation boards have to make. 

Historic Preservation

Main Facade Photo Credit: Charles Sable

This post is the second in an ongoing series on the subject. This time, we find ourselves in Detroit Michigan's historic suburb, known as "Berry Sub." Located a short distance from Stanton Park, the property is 1923 Tudor Revival, designed by American architect, Robert O. Derrick, for the American Film director, John Ford.  This red brick home contains 7538 square feet, and has six to nine bathrooms, and four fireplaces. Tudor style domestic architecture originated in the United Kingdom.

Level One Floor Plan Photo Credit: Charles Sable

History

"American Tudor Revival is among the most recognizable styles of domestic architecture. These picturesque houses, usually of brick or stone, fill entire suburban neighborhoods. English architecture had long influenced American taste, of course, from the Colonial houses of New England and Virginia, through the Gothic Revivals of the 19th century. But never was Anglophilia more apparent than during the Tudor craze. In the first wave, the wealthy asked their architects to build stone manors replete with Jacobean parapets and oriels. As the style peaked during the 1920s and ’30s, streetcar suburbs sprouted pitched-roof cottages with masonry veneer and decorative half-timbering. Mansion or cottage, the Tudor Revival house is usually asymmetrical and dominated by a steep, multi-gabled roof.

The revival dates back to late-Victorian interest in medieval times. From about 1895 to 1915, picturesque half-timbering was rare; the stone buildings tended more toward Flemish gables and Renaissance façade ornaments. Tudor took hold after 1905, coincident with the American Arts & Crafts movement—another medieval revival. By the 1920s, Tudor was more popular than even the Colonial Revival style, in some upscale towns. Steep roofs and half-timbered gables appeared on small planbook houses and stockbroker manors alike. Most houses were well built but not opulent; the style hinted at deeper “roots” and lent an illusion of Anglo aristocracy to the middle and upper-middle classes moving to new suburbs."

Front Entrance Details Photo Credit: Charles Sable

Entry Hall Photo Credit: Charles Sable

Living Room Photo Credit: Charles Sable

Second Floor Hallway Photo Credit: Charles Sable

The Architect

Architect Robert O. Derrick designed the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, Michigan.  Charles Sable is the curator for the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, and writes a detailed article on the website's front page. 

He begins by saying, "Robert Ovens Derrick (1890-1961) was an unlikely candidate for the commission. He was a young architect, trained at Yale and Columbia Universities, with only three public buildings to his credit, all in the Detroit area. He was interested in 18th century Georgian architecture and the related Colonial Revival styles, which were at the peak of their popularity in the 1920s..." 

Architect Robert O. Derick in 1930. Photo Credit: Charles Sable

Henry Ford Museum Proposals - Drawings

Front of Museum, southeast corner. Photo Credit: Charles Sable

"...view of the front of the museum from the southeast corner. This view is close to the form of the completed museum, at least from the front. An examination of the side of the building shows a two-storied wing."

Museum Corridor Photo Credit: Charles Sable

Museum Corridors

"These corridors, known today as the Prechter Promenade, run the width of the museum. Floored with marble and decorated with elaborate plasterwork, the promenade is the first part of the interior seen by guests..."

You can access this links below to the museum to read the full story on the collaboration between the architect and Henry Ford, and browse other properties around the country with their own story to tell.

Explore Cira Old Houses for more properties. Explore the Henry Ford Museum and learn more about the architect and to see the rest of the drawings.

Read more in general about the economic impacts of historic preservation (civic building), "Measuring the Impacts of Historic Preservation."

Read more about historic preservation on the domestic side in Kentucky, that can apply to any state, city, and community.  If you have further interest conduct your own research from where you live.

Finally, look for a future post in July on Art Deco architecture and preservation history in Washington, DC and beyond.

Historic Preservation One

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Historic Preservation One is important to established communities.  Why? Because the vast existence of homes, some destroyed, some restored, and some abandoned and on the brink of vanishing.  The phrase, "They don't build 'em like that anymore" is so true, for architecture and fine motorcars such as Mercedes, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, and a few others.

This first post on historic preservation showcases an abandoned property in New York State.

Main Entrance Photo Credit: Bryan Sansivero

History

A 19th century farm house, known as "Marion Carll Farmstead" (shown above) on New York's Long Island, and built before the Civil War is the topic of this post.   The author did a wonderful job capturing this historic property so at the end, follow the link and read the entire story and see the many images.

This property is located in the Hamlet of Commack in Suffolk County, New York. Commack is a "census-designated place" named by the Secatogue American Indians.  It sits on nine acres, and also includes a carriage house, and several other out-buildings.  I don’t recall how I came across this vintage home, but possibly in 2020 while I was in an academic study program. Bryan Sansivero, a noted photographer, documented the property in a series of photographs and story, featured on online at "Past Factory."

"As a history enthusiast, Marion Carll [owner] wished to preserve as much of the farmhouse’s 19th-century character as possible and never made much of an effort to update the home to modern standards. As a result, the site is full of vintage antiques and relics of the past. Bryan also says, 'Even though it’s been abandoned since 40 years ago when Marion Carll passed, it appeared as if she was living in another century completely,'"

Entry Hall Photo Credit: Bryan Sansivero

A Grand Entrance

In this image of the entrance hall, you can see the beautiful 19th century details in the stair newel post, high baseboards, paneled interior doors, and crown mouldings. Notice how the left edge of the paneled door lines up with the stair stringing, and the beautiful box lock hardware with its porcelain handle.  Also note the antique console under the mirror and the Victorian sofa next to it.  The plaster is crumbling and I understand that the stairs have now collapsed according to Bryan.

Parlor Photo Credit: Bryan Sansivero

Rooms

An ornate piano, much like the one I have on hold for a future creative design project, is the focal point of the parlor.  Parlors were formal rooms used for entertaining, and in some households, a place for family gatherings as well. There are no technology devices, and I can imagine how this room would have looked, with candlelight, and music filling the room under the sounds of conversation, and the clinking of glasses.  I wonder, does the piano still play...?

Historic Preservation One

Stone Fireplace Photo Credit: Bryan Sansivero

Interior Architecture & Artifacts

I like the simplicity of the stone fireplace and I also think that this is a room on the upper level room, as there is no crown moulding present.  Typically, the size and detail of crown moulding decreases on upper floors.  I also like how the shade of blue in the wall covering looks with the wood in the room.

Finally, there is a large safe on the property, with an etched-in name not related to the property, antique farming equipment, and numerous other interesting artifacts.  I will stop here so you may now go to the source "Past Factory," and read the entire story. It is a great read!

Learn more about Brian Sansievero and and purchase his fascinating new book, "American Decay" which launched in May 2021.

Learn more about the Secatogue American Indians.

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