How they brought a 1970s deck house back to its mid-century modern-style glory

This article details the comprehensive renovation of a historic 1894 officer's quarters on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, undertaken by Donivon and Anne Glassburn. The project aimed to retain the home's historic aesthetic while integrating modern amenities and design. A significant aspect of the renovation involved carefully dismantling and then reusing 200-year-old oak boards from the original structure, which were milled into floorboards for the second level, creating a sense of continuity with the ground floor's reclaimed wood. This approach contributed to the home's perceived 'soul,' as noted by interior designer Allison Elebash. Architect Beau Clowney was instrumental in designing a 900-square-foot addition that harmonized with the original structure's scale and details. This addition primarily created an open living space at the back of the house, featuring steel doors that open to a pool area, envisioned by the Glassburns as a private resort. Elebash's interior design strategy focused on bridging the old and new elements through classic finishes, sculptural furniture, durable fabrics suitable for a coastal environment, and the strategic display of the family's modern art collection. The renovation emphasized creating a sense of spaciousness. The addition of a wall of steel windows and doors in the living area, despite its moderate size, makes the room feel significantly larger. Careful planning by Clowney and Elebash regarding interior doorways, kitchen layout, and furniture placement contributes to the illusion of a much larger home, with visitors often estimating it to be 3,600 square feet, when it is actually 2,950 square feet. The front room serves a dual purpose as an everyday entry and a special-occasion dining room, facilitated by clever furniture choices like a round dining table that allows for ample foot traffic. The design incorporates a mix of high-end and inexpensive items, such as antique dining chairs paired with an acrylic table and a durable seagrass rug, ensuring both elegance and practicality for daily life with pets. The kitchen, where the addition meets the original structure, features marble used in contemporary ways, such as a waterfall island and slab backsplash, creating a focal point on the range wall. Transom windows above the doorways enhance light flow and character. Shaker cabinets, painted in a diluted Benjamin Moore's Collingwood (OC-28) to match the original window and door trim's thin bead detail, and walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) complete the cohesive look. A pass-through area, originally intended as a sitting room, was converted into a cabinet-lined butler's pantry, easing traffic flow during entertaining and complementing the petite kitchen. The cabinetry in this area is painted Farrow & Ball's Stone Blue (No. 86) as a nod to the coastal setting, and polished nickel hardware was predominantly used, with brass accents in the butler's pantry. Upstairs, a bedroom was transformed into a den, initially appearing bland with white walls. Elebash introduced Thibaut's Kasai wallpaper to add a significant visual impact. The renovation budget was managed by limiting the home's size to 2,950 square feet, allowing for investment in high-end materials and features like a vaulted ceiling with early 20th-century style beams and shiplap walls that visually distinguish the new addition from the original drywall. The main bathroom includes carved storage nooks to address an awkward bump-out and a wall-to-wall mirror to enhance the sense of space. The daughter's bedroom features a cheerful Quadrille's Sigourney Small Scale fabric for the headboard, bed skirt, and Roman shades, complemented by a bright white palette, rattan accents, and colorful woven baskets as wall decor. Externally, Clowney restored the exterior to its original 1890s appearance while adding modern touches, such as a 10-foot-deep porch, substantial shutters, and dramatic rooflines with replicated trusses. Contemporary elements like ipe decking, oversized pool pavers, and modern landscaping by Sheila Wertimer contrast with the historic facade. This blend of historical preservation and modern convenience has created a home that the Glassburns cherish, with their daughter already expressing a desire to inherit it. #HistoricRenovation #CoastalHomeDesign #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalAddition #ReclaimedMaterials #LuxuryRenovation #SullivanIsland #TraditionalMeetsModern #HomeTransformation

Kelly and Brad Morrison embarked on a significant renovation of their 1950s bungalow in Chinook Park, Calgary, transforming it into a mid-century modern dream home. Initially intending minor updates like bathroom fixes and opening the kitchen to the living room, the couple discovered deeper issues that necessitated a more extensive overhaul. This led to a year-and-a-half-long renovation, during which they temporarily moved to a smaller apartment, allowing the project to accelerate. A pivotal decision was removing the original low-pitch roof and installing scissor trusses. This structural change eliminated the need for load-bearing walls on the main floor and allowed them to raise the ceiling height from eight feet to 14-foot vaulted ceilings, creating an airy, open-concept living space. Both Kelly, an architectural designer and founding partner of RAD Architecture, and Brad, a Red Seal Chef and partner at the Concorde Group, envisioned a warm, open space ideal for cooking and entertaining. The expansive 10-by-4.5-foot kitchen island now serves as both a culinary workspace and their primary dining table, fostering gatherings like their weekly Sunday suppers. The Morrisons chose their Chinook Park home in 2007, not primarily for the structure itself, but for its perfectly situated, mature corner lot and the neighborhood's established character, marked by mature trees and winding streets. They appreciated that the corner location, despite common perceptions, offered significant privacy due to the surrounding foliage. Throughout the renovation, the couple deliberately avoided increasing the home's original square footage, aiming to preserve its contextual fit within the neighborhood, which still retains many original homeowners or their descendants. Despite its modest 1,400 square feet on the main level, which is considered small by Calgary standards, the Morrisons find it perfectly suited to their lifestyle, rarely utilizing the lower level. Kelly Morrison, who was completing her master of architecture degree during the renovation, integrated her academic knowledge and fresh design perspectives into the project. The outcome is a unique aesthetic she calls "mid-century mountain," blending her and Brad’s preferred design styles. The interior features custom walnut millwork, reflecting mid-century modern design, while the exterior and window choices nod to mountain-modern influences. Light was a crucial element in Kelly's design, with large windows and skylights on the main floor allowing natural light to alter the room's mood throughout the day. Key design strategies included using timeless materials and color palettes, incorporating clerestory windows and skylights for natural light and tree-top views, and replacing outdated mechanical and plumbing systems with high-efficiency equipment. A dilapidated garage was relocated, creating space for a west-facing patio. The overarching goal was to seamlessly blend mid-century modern and mountain modern styles, with the kitchen and dining island forming the heart of their home. #HomeRenovation #MidCenturyModern #ArchitecturalDesign #OpenConceptLiving #ChinookPark #CalgaryHomes #InteriorDesign #SustainableRenovation #KitchenIsland

Full Circle Design Works, a St. Louis-based builder, specializes in the renovation and restoration of historic properties, focusing on integrating modern, frameless cabinetry into these century-old structures. The company operates its own modern shop, producing contemporary cabinets, man doors, trim, specialty mouldings, and custom furniture. While 75% of their work involves residential renovations and additions, the remaining 25% is new construction. A key differentiator for Full Circle is its in-house shop facility, allowing them to handle a wide range of custom millwork and cabinet needs, making them a preferred choice for architects seeking highly detailed work. The majority of Full Circle's projects involve extensive gut rehabs, where everything except some original walls is removed and then rebuilt. Some of these rehabs qualify for historic tax credits, necessitating the restoration of interiors to match original millwork details. The company frequently undertakes kitchen and bath renovations within these historic settings. Renovation work is particularly prevalent in various historic areas of St. Louis City, as well as wealthier suburban towns like Clayton and Ladue, where century-old homes are well-maintained. A notable project involved creating a 1¾-inch thick door with distinct designs on each side: a five-panel configuration for the dining room and five equal horizontal panels on the other side, showcasing the company's ability to tackle complex custom fabrication. Despite working with 100-year-old buildings, Full Circle's cabinetry aesthetic is distinctly contemporary and frameless. They construct cabinet boxes using melamine and maple on MDF or particleboard, with custom veneers for doors, drawer fronts, and finished ends. Maple veneer is treated with a post-catalyzed conversion varnish, consistent with the finish on doors and drawer fronts. This contemporary style is Full Circle's niche, standing apart from the traditional five-piece doors and crown mouldings common in St. Louis. The blend of contemporary cabinets with original running trim, base, casing, and doors creates a harmonious and visually appealing contrast. Matching the original look often requires creating new elements, as original casing and baseboards are rarely in good condition after a century. Full Circle specializes in fabricating new pieces that meticulously match original profiles and materials. Their commitment to precision is evident in their 2mm tolerance for cabinet reveals, a tighter standard than many other shops. As a general contractor, Full Circle also supplies its job sites with matching sills and plinths, ensuring consistency and helping to maintain project schedules. Collaborative work with architects allows them to contribute to initial project development, offer samples, and identify potential issues early on. Full Circle employs 10 people, with three dedicated to the shop, which moved to a larger 10,000-square-foot facility (a former dairy) two years prior. They utilize KCD software for design and EnRoute to feed work to their CNC router. The shop's workflow encompasses edgebanding, veneering, cutting, sanding, a spray booth, and assembly. A separate solid wood section handles jambs and other components. Equipment includes a Streibig Compact Plus vertical panel saw, a C.R. Onsrud 145M12 Mate series CNC router, Biesse Artech Levia 220 widebelt sander, and Biesse Polymac Akron 420ER edgebander. They also have two veneer presses, a Felder AD 41 planer-jointer, Felder KF7X combination machines, and a Casadei 24-inch surface planer. Finishing is done in-house using Chem-Craft post-catalyzed conversion varnish in a Col-Met spray booth. The company primarily uses Blum hardware, including the Legrabox metal drawer system, and some Grass hardware. The new facility is largely powered by solar panels, significantly reducing electricity costs. Future plans include acquiring an edgebander with premill capabilities and a widebelt sander with advanced technology to improve veneer sanding. Full Circle also aims to expand its specialty low-volume part production via CNC and custom cabinetwork for other general contractors, fostering collaborations with metal fabricators for wood components. #HistoricRenovation #ModernCabinetry #CustomMillwork #WoodworkingShop #HomeDesign #ArchitecturalDesign #CNCManufacturing #SustainablePractices #RenovationProjects

Alison Victoria of “Windy City Rehab” undertook one of her most ambitious projects, transforming an incredibly run-down 1885 home in Chicago, IL, into a stunning modern-meets-historic short-term rental. The renovation, documented in the Season 5 episode "Second Time's a Charm," spanned two years, addressing significant damage and aiming to preserve the home's quintessential Chicago architecture and history while introducing contemporary elements. Victoria's primary focus for the exterior was preservation and meticulous restoration. Despite extensive wear and tear, she chose not to alter the external appearance significantly. Instead, her team meticulously rehabilitated existing features, such as saving the corbels at the entryway, repainting the original front doors, and recreating the roofline molding to match its historic design as closely as possible. This approach ensured the home retained its original charm and historical integrity for future generations to appreciate. Inside, a major challenge arose with the staircase. Victoria initially intended to salvage the original stair railing and newel post, but these were mistakenly discarded during demolition. Committed to maintaining the home's historic aesthetic, she opted to replicate the intricate design of the original staircase from old photographs. The result was a new staircase that perfectly mimicked the historic design, appearing seamlessly integrated and indistinguishable from the original, demonstrating that features beyond repair can be faithfully recreated. The home featured four old fireplaces, which Victoria revitalized by exposing the original brickwork. To enhance their classic appeal, she added antique mantels, creating a charming blend of the home's original materials and period-appropriate additions. This design choice highlighted the inherent beauty of the building's original structure without concealing or removing its historic essence. For a touch of modern functionality, Victoria introduced arched glass and iron doors to separate the kitchen and living room. While not antique, these doors were chosen for their elegant design and ability to create a sense of openness while still defining distinct spaces. This clever addition enhanced the flow and functionality of the first floor, providing layers to the house and demonstrating a successful fusion of modern elements with the traditional architecture. Victoria emphasized that this blend of old and new, modern and traditional, was crucial to the home's successful transformation. Throughout the renovation, Victoria prioritized using materials and designs that resonated with the home's historical period. Even newly added features, such as kitchen sconces and bathroom tiles, were selected for their timeless quality. A notable example was the replacement of three small main bedroom windows with custom stained-glass windows, crafted by her team in a simple, old-fashioned floral design. This decision provided a beautiful, classic touch that honored the home's heritage, showcasing Victoria's commitment to a thoughtful, historically sensitive renovation. #WindyCityRehab #AlisonVictoria #HomeRenovation #HistoricHome #ChicagoArchitecture #ModernMeetsHistoric #InteriorDesign #ExteriorPreservation #StainedGlass

Eileen and her husband, Luke, undertook a comprehensive, room-by-room renovation of their 1930s home in Greenville over six years. The primary goal of this renovation was to restore the house to its original architectural integrity, which Eileen describes as stripping away extraneous details to allow the intrinsic charm and simplicity to re-emerge. The house, like many older properties, had undergone several prior renovations, many of which had detracted from its initial clean lines and simple design. Eileen's background, including an architecture degree, five years of experience in an interior design firm, and her current profession as an antique and vintage furniture dealer (operating under @eileenandco_ on Instagram), proved invaluable throughout the renovation process. The couple meticulously approached each room, ensuring that every modification was executed thoughtfully and correctly. A significant improvement involved addressing the home's bathroom situation. Originally having only one bathroom, Eileen and Luke collaborated with their friends, Chris and Lindsay of White Buffalo Homes, to add two more bathrooms, which was considered a transformative enhancement to the living space. Beyond structural changes, Eileen dedicated considerable effort to the home's aesthetics and decor, with a particular focus on creating an inviting and emotionally supportive atmosphere. She aimed for a feeling of 'belonging,' desiring that family and friends would feel 'seen and loved' within their home. This objective was achieved through deliberate design choices that fostered connection and comfort. Examples include arranging cozy couches to face each other, encouraging conversation, and designing a sitting room with four chairs centered around an ottoman, ideal for relaxing with a cup of coffee. Furthermore, a dining area in the kitchen was set up with upholstered benches, blankets, and pillows, creating a warm and intimate setting for meals and gatherings. Alongside their home renovation project, Eileen and Luke harbored a long-standing dream of living abroad. This dream materialized sooner than anticipated when Luke received a job assignment in central France, prompting their relocation three months prior to the article's publication. Despite their move, the couple maintains the comfort of knowing that their renovated home in Greenville remains a tangible connection to their past life, awaiting their eventual return, providing a sense of stability and a piece of 'home' even when they are thousands of miles away. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #1930sHome #AntiqueFurniture #GreenvilleSC #ArchitecturalRestoration #FamilyHome #ExpatLife #HomeTour