Everyone Wanted to Tear Down This ’60s Beach Cabin—Instead We Revived It

Debbie and Worth Brooks, a couple with backgrounds in healthcare and a shared passion for gardening and older homes, met in 2013 and married in 2017. They purchased a circa-1919 bungalow in Ardmore, a neighborhood right around the corner from where Worth grew up. Despite the house and yard requiring significant work, Debbie, originally from South Florida, recognized the property's potential. The primary bedroom's windows were a key selling point for her, and this space became the focus of the first phase of their home's renovation, aiming to create a private retreat. With the assistance of Harvest Luxury Builders, the couple transformed a bedroom adjacent to the primary bedroom into a luxurious shower and bath, creating a spa-like experience and a spacious en suite. Both Debbie, an avid amateur endurance athlete who has run 13 marathons including New York, Chicago, and Boston (for which she qualified at age 60), and Worth, who enjoys the gym and strength training, found the therapeutic benefits of their new luxury bathroom indispensable for their fitness routines. The luxury shower and bath also proved practical for two healthcare professionals who decided to take on the demanding task of landscaping their yard themselves. On the day they bought the house, the yard was cluttered with discarded motors and automotive parts. Debbie recalled the extensive effort required, stating, "We had to excavate a lot of dying trees and buried pieces of driveway from a former dilapidated garage." She estimated that she and Worth completed up to 90% of the landscaping work personally, making the spa-like experience of their new bath even more well-deserved. In the spring of 2022, Debbie's sister-in-law encouraged them to expand the kitchen. Debbie noted that while they only increased the kitchen's size by 64 square feet, it made a significant difference. Following the removal of a support wall and the relocation of the laundry room to the back of the house, a red oak beam now spans the expanded kitchen space. Original heart pine planks were revealed in the ceiling, contributing to a modern farmhouse aesthetic. A leathered granite countertop, formerly a space for folding clothes, became a favorite food preparation area. Debbie expressed her satisfaction with the renovation, highlighting that the back door now opens directly onto their deck, eliminating the need to walk through the old laundry room. She also appreciated the new location of the washer and dryer in a closet just outside the primary bedroom. The second phase of renovations addressed a rotting front porch that wrapped around the corner of the house. The Brooks opted for large cedar posts and lined the entire porch with cedar. They also re-did the porch floor with composite decking, significantly extending its lifespan. Just over six months after these changes, Debbie and Worth were delighted with their home's transformation, crediting Todd and Robin Aron with Harvest Luxury Builders for their hard work, stating, "We can't thank them enough. Not anyone can renovate these old homes." Despite the significant interior remodeling, much of which is hidden from view, the couple's sustained efforts on the exterior have attracted attention from passersby and the Winston-Salem Garden Council. The Garden Council recently requested that the Brooks' home and yard be considered for Forsyth County's Bird Friendly Habitat Certification Program. Debbie views this as a positive start and is working to gather historical documentation about the house. She hopes their private paradise will one day earn the certification, reflecting their dedication to both their home and its natural surroundings. #HomeRenovation #CraftsmanBungalow #ArdmoreNeighborhood #HomeImprovement #LuxuryBathroom #KitchenExpansion #Landscaping #HistoricHomes #WinstonSalem

This article details the journey of Alex Pires, a Washington attorney turned Dewey Beach restaurateur and nightclub owner, and his wife, Diane Cooley, in building their shingle-style cottage in Dewey Beach, Delaware. The project began when Pires purchased a 1920s oceanfront cottage six years prior. Initially, Pires attempted two renovations to bring the cottage in line with the shingle style, inspired by the architecture of Henry Hobson Richardson in his hometown of North Easton, Massachusetts. Dissatisfied with the renovations, Pires and Cooley decided to demolish the existing structure and build a new home that truly reflected their vision. They enlisted long-time friend and architect David Jones of David Jones Architects in Washington, D.C., for the design. The objective was to create a distinctive residence that stood out among the typical developer-built cottages in the area. Jones, who developed an appreciation for historic architecture throughout his career, embraced the challenge of designing a shingle-style dwelling. The project presented unique challenges, including editing Pires's numerous ideas and adhering to height restrictions while maintaining the style's verticality. To ensure historical accuracy and detail, Pires and Cooley researched shingle-style architecture extensively, including touring historic "cottages" in Newport, Rhode Island, designed by pioneers of the style. The shingle style, originating in the Boston area in the 1880s, is characterized by unpainted wooden shingles and a departure from Victorian fussiness, favoring unembellished surfaces, honesty of form, and purity of line. Interiors were designed with fewer, larger rooms to maximize sunlight. Pires compiled photographs of notable architectural details, such as the small, multi-paned windows of Richardson's William Watts Sherman house and the turret inspired by the Isaac Bell House in Newport, designed by McKim, Mead and White. The house, situated on a corner lot, features two facades: a broad gable with a deep porch facing the ocean to the east, and a more vertical tower and gable facing the street and beach path to the north. Forest green trim bands contrast with the sand-colored cedar shingles. Nautical motifs, such as a lighthouse-shaped newel post, are incorporated into the exterior. The main floor is elevated to protect against ocean surges, with breakaway walls on the lowest level for the garage and storage, a design element that allows water to flow through without compromising the structural integrity of the house. This functional and aesthetic approach prevents the common "stranded" appearance of many beach houses built on pilings. Finding a builder capable of executing the intricate design proved difficult, with three companies declining the project. Pires ultimately hired Bob Purcell, known for his craftsmanship, after admiring a home he built in Lewes. Purcell accepted the job, committing to Jones's insistence on an entirely wooden construction, which is rare in modern building practices. The detailed design earned architect David Jones a 2008 national Palladio Award for best new house under 5,000 square feet. For the interiors, Pires and Cooley collaborated with Pinehurst, North Carolina-based designer Brenda Lyne, impressed by her work at the Bellmoor Inn. While Cooley initially desired a less formal style, she appreciated Lyne's ability to combine elegance with durability suitable for a beach house. The interiors feature a neutral palette with blond Australian cypress flooring and white painted wood paneling. The main level's living-dining room, facing the beachfront, is furnished with white linen slipcovered sofas, Asian-themed accents in blue, and contemporary local art. A screened-in wrap-around porch includes a hot tub and ocean views. The kitchen, though compact, is highly functional with a bead board-covered island, cream-colored cabinets concealing appliances, and blue Bahia granite countertops. Pires's office, in contrast to the breezy aesthetic of the rest of the house, features dark walnut paneling, plantation shutters, and built-in library shelving, displaying his collection of boxing memorabilia. The second floor includes an office-sitting area, a guest room, a bedroom for Pires's daughter, and a master bedroom with ocean views from the turret. Pires reflects on the project, stating their goal was not merely to build a large house but a well-designed and crafted home, honoring American architectural history while creating a lasting, beloved residence. #HomeDesign #CoastalArchitecture #ShingleStyle #HistoricPreservation #DeweyBeach #ArchitecturalDesign #InteriorDesign #OceanfrontHome #CustomBuilt

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