Home Renovation

Featherfest.

Published on November 30, 2017 by branchville19234 Comments

In January the chronicle of our restoration Branchville 1923 officially began. While the projects aren’t moving as quickly as I would like, the story of our imperfect restoration adventure is incredibly fun to share. The greatest reward is hearing from friends who are reading along!

Some exciting surprises in the process:

The Butler’s Pantry post photo was picked up by the Schumacher company for their Instagram account (the power of social media is amazing). An email from their creative team requested to include the blog photo on the lifestyle section of their website.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, several months later Schumacher requested permission to share the photo in their new book, “The Schumacher Library of Wallcoverings.” This modern alternative to the traditional wallpaper book, includes photo inspiration in real homes around the world.

Thank you for sharing in the journey and for your support along the way. Many, more posts to come, 3rd floor, basement and so much more!

Full credit to Molly Hirsch Interiors for the gorgeous paper and color selections.

Raise the roof.

Published on November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 by branchville19235 Comments

~~Beautiful.~~ E~~xciting.~~ Necessary. At inspection we were told two years (at most) left in the existing roof. A wild summer wind storm created a bald spot and shingles scattered in the yard, so yet another low priority project takes precedent over a fun one!

Even after several homes and many home improvements, this was our first roof project. After (exhaustive) research, some things I learned and questions to ask of roofers (or contractors) you interview.

Licensed and Insured? Ask for proof.
References? Request several and check them.
How long have the employees worked for the company? If the answer is more than several years, you’ll know the contractor likely pays their crew a fair wage and has good business practices.
Shingle type? Color and style should be up to you, but every roofer should have a preferred brand. Ask them what they use and why. If the roofer says, it doesn’t matter, think again.
How many feet of ice and water shield? Check local code (your roofing contractor will know), but more is better in snowy regions. We added extra above the dormer window due to the low roof pitch.
Itemize it! Request an itemized estimate. Chimney flashing and gutters may not be included and should be inspected (and if necessary replaced) during the the roofing process.
Clean up. Roofing is messy. Nails, asphalt, tar and more. Ask what the contractor’s protocol is for clean up. A magnetic roller is the only way to guarantee a thorough job.

Glamorous, no, practical yes! Process and finished product below. And yes, highly recommend Chris from Able Roofing.

25 years shingles more than 25 years old.

Ice and water shield to meet local code. Extra coverage on the flat part of the gambrel and above the dormer to prevent ice damming.

Original lead flashing works well until it is moved or repositioned when shingles are replaced. New copper flashing in place.

For a gambrel roof, two pitches come together. Shingles should never be folded over, a ridge needs to be built. In this case copper was used to create the right divider between sections.

The finished product. If you look closely you’ll see the missing shutter from the same wind storm that precipitated the roof project. Add that to the list.

(Two) many knobs.

Published on May 30, 2017May 30, 2017 by branchville19235 Comments

Indecision or changing tastes? Neither.
Similar to those mysterious floor holes, there is a strange, but consistent pattern involving two varieties of door knobs in the house. Most are beautiful glass knobs, the others simple metal ones.

Our contractor and old house guru was the one who had the answer. Here is the story along with a few other old house facts:

While production of glass door knobs began in 1826, their popularity hit its peak during World War I when metal was in short supply. Sand, still readily available, made glass an affordable and common choice. Connecticut based Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company was one of the leaders of knob production in the United States.

Then why aren’t all the knobs glass? For one practical reason. Homes, including Branchville 1923, were coal heated. Therefore, the staff was in regular contact with soot. Rather than clean the knobs each time they entered a room, those frequently accessed rooms: the linen closet, kitchen, Butler’s pantry, and dumbwaiter, were metal knobs to disguise the dirt!

So practical!

Up next: We’re wrapping up the third floor transformation- stay tuned for all the details and the finished product!

No flowers in this attic.

Published on April 13, 2017April 13, 2017 by branchville19235 Comments

During the initial projects (floor refinishing and painting), we inhabited the attic. Reactions to this arrangement ranged from surprise to disdain- the attic? A more accurate description- finished third floor. Complete with indoor/outdoor carpeting and a color scheme to match, three rooms and a bathroom comprise the space.

A small bedroom, nursery space and living room provided an apartment-like set up. Now that we’ve moved into the main and 2nd floor spaces, the attic is available for transformation.

How do we make this space airy and bright, warm and welcoming? The attic of the Serena and Lily flagship store in Westport pictured in Architectural Digest is dreamy. A guest room, craft/playroom and office with the same look and feel would be divine!

The less than sunny current state:

Paint samples- not quite right . . .

Up next: project plan and outcome!

Ring for service.

Published on March 8, 2017April 26, 2017 by branchville19236 Comments

In the center of the Dining Room floor, a small circle opening where a button once was. There are several of these around the house. The Living Room and Master Bedroom have the exact sized floor hole.

I asked every tradesperson and service provider who came to the house, no one knew. Our long time trusted electrician immediately said, bell system. In the early 1900’s an interior bell system was used to summon the domestic help. The buttons were attached to wires that culminated in a central spot where those waiting to serve would be dispatched.

We’ve traced the wires to the basement where the summer kitchen was once in full use. In searching for more information I uncovered a detailed paper on the topic from the Clemson University Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons. Sadly the buttons and panel were long ago removed, but the wiring is still in tact.

Try as I may, no one answers when I tap my foot over the spot, but it does make for interesting dinner conversation!

Pictured is the completed dining room. In the exact center of the room, an original electrical outlet and the hole where the button once was pushed to signal dinner service. Imagine the Butler waiting in the pantry . . . now back to reality!

Design and details:

This Dining Room room furniture has served us in every one of our homes. A tight squeeze in our townhouse, these chairs have been reupholstered more than a half dozen times. Come to think of it, time for a refresh!

The window treatments were in the Living Room when we purchased. The Dining Room windows happen to be the exact size of those in the Living Room. Good bye cornice, the dupioni silk panels looked like new after a professional cleaning. The clincher, thanks to a talented local seamstress, some amazing new trim and incredible hardware- these drapes have a new identity! Their “before” state and now.

Last, but certainly not least, we painted the hidden storage closet to be just that- hidden!

More completed rooms and interesting discoveries to come!

The (im)perfect pair.

Published on February 9, 2017February 20, 2017 by branchville192311 Comments

Now, standing in the finished space the process seemed simple. In truth there were numerous iterations to determine the ideal state. Anything is possible with an unlimited budget and a clean slate. Modifying an existing space with modern amenities without creating the feel of the “new” part of the house is borderline miraculous.

Siburtek and Limekiln Studios are a husband and wife team who themselves own an older home. They understood and appreciated the 1920’s attributes and worked with great care and expertise to maintain the character and quirkiness while creating a functional and beautiful space.

And they were patient. Very patient. I like the details and wanted input on all decisions. The result- a paired laundry space and mudroom in a creative and highly functional way. On budget. It is a miracle!

Every last detail & resources:

Inset cabinets to mimic those in the Butler’s Pantry. Porcelain knobs from Rejuvenation are period relevant and the right scale. This Kohler porcelain sink and faucet with pull out spout is both beautiful and functional. Laundry stains and dirty hands beware!

The countertops are wood finished in a walnut stain. The school house pendant (another period reproduction) is from Capital lighting– the look we wanted at a very reasonable price!

All the paint is Benjamin Moore: cabinets are White Dove, ceiling is Polar Ice and walls Rodeo.

Radiant heat was added to the floor- dreamy on a snowy day.

To maintain the feel of an enclosed porch we chose incredibly durable Italian porcelain tile that looks like slate, but won’t stain with the dirt and salt the troops track in. Another budget friendly choice.

A bench with lots of room underneath for shoes, boots and whatever else gets dropped here. Pillows were made from Serena and Lily shower curtains. Yes you read that correctly- canvas shower curtain material is durable and significantly less expensive than fabric by the yard. Plus no stress if they get stained or damaged!

We left the original siding (remember this was once a porch) to maintain the authenticity and story of the house, then added lots (and lots) of hooks for hats, jacket and bags. Found these vintage 1920’s heart hooks on Etsy.

Last but certainly not least shelves for everything we need from hats and gloves to beach towels! The open space below- room for the piece de resistance and splurge- a 1920’s reproduction laundry cart! On it’s way from Rejuvenation this gem will revolutionize the laundry process (or atleast keep the dirty clothes from being dumped on the floor). Told you this was imperfect!

Next: a discovery.

Simply original.

Published on January 14, 2017March 9, 2017 by branchville19232 Comments

The beauty of a home with few renovations over the years- in tact original details. As we move down our project list, we continue to find many well preserved 1920’s elements and hints of facets removed over the years.

Here are a few of my favorites:

The home was built with two full bathrooms. One on the second floor the other on the third.

Both bathrooms include the original medicine cabinets.

One of two original clawfoot tubs is still in place (the other was removed from the second floor during a bathroom renovation in the 90s). This one, on the third floor is begging to be restored. More to come on this!

Two staircases provide access from the main floor to the second. The front staircase includes extensive millwork and wide steps- the back staircase, more simplistic for the staff (sadly the staff has gone the way of the butler) without lighting and stairs that are significantly taller with shorter treads.

Three original light fixtures are still intact and in use. The foyer, the butler’s pantry, and soon to be restored, the back porch light.

Original millwork, including picture rails, living room fireplace surround, as well as paneled doors (and knobs) are throughout. Solid hardwood, these elements are as they were when the house was built. The only change, white paint in the 1990s. The original picture of the fireplace shared by prior owners.

Bone Black BM CW-715

We’ve already looked at the floors, windows, butler’s pantry cabinets and hardware, but there are a few more original surprises to come- stay tuned.

Bursting with joy, I mean water.

Published on January 13, 2017February 9, 2017 by branchville1923Leave a comment

Abundant character and charming quirks, my sentiment until our first major cold snap and mishap at Branchville 1923.

Our wishlist of updates is lengthy, however low (probably last) on this list was the laundry room. I despise laundry. I actually would remove the laundry room completely if there was an alternative for clean clothes. So when the first frigid days of winter resulted in a cracked pipe in the “laundry room” suddenly this project topped the list.

The washer and dryer had been moved from the kitchen (photo evidence from the 1980’s) into a porch, turned breezeway turned transition room from the garage. What does that mean? Multiple doors, a concrete floor, no heat and as we learned, no insulation. None.

Photo evidence left by prior owners of the laundry room as part of the kitchen.

An emergency plumbing call on a holiday weekend solved the immediate problem. Now for a long term solution.

Do we move the machines upstairs? In order to create a laundry room for a family of our size we would need to modify existing rooms, take down plaster and (gasp) make changes to the newly refinished floors! Not to mention what a water leak or high efficiency machine vibration could do to the plaster.

If we leave the laundry in the existing space how can we create a functional room and incorporate a most needed addition- a mudroom? House number 3 had a mudroom most suburban homeowners dream of. Oh I do miss that mudroom.

Thanks to the construction and design expertise of Siburtek and Limekiln Hill Studios a plan was born! Their plan and process below.

mudroom-layout-view-1 — Moving doorways and relocating the original windows provides a dedicated laundry space, ample storage and a bench with room for shoes, jackets and everything needed for a Connecticut winter.

mudroom-layout-view-2 — Period details like inset cabinets and a wood countertop make this “new” space feel part of the original.

The floor is raised 7 inches to eliminate the step down from the kitchen also enabling insulation and heat to be added to the floor.

A door and window change places in the name of efficient space planning.

Next: All the fun details- mudroom laundry room complete.

Color play.

Published on January 12, 2017January 19, 2017 by branchville192310 Comments

Extensive paint preparation complete, the fun begins. Fresh color on the walls!

Selecting the right shade of your favorite color is daunting (and you thought the plaster repairs were painful). Even the perfect color from your friend’s house or your 1st (2nd or 3rd in this case) home may not work as well in the new space.

Here is my (almost) fool proof color selection process:

1. Make full use of paint company tools. Those companies have lots of resources and marketing dollars dedicated to ensuring your paint experience is a good one. Grab those color inspiration pamphlets from the hardware store and visit their online paint selector to define your direction and select several options. Benjamin Moore happens to be my favorite.

2. Purchase samples. Pick up a few color and shade options and paint several spots of color around the room (remember to label them). Let them dry (thoroughly) and check them at several different times of day (what looks gray in evening light may look blue in the morning sun).

3. Know when to call an expert. If you are painting the room yourself and have made a color mistake- just repaint it! The cost of the new paint and time are well worth it.

If you are working on multiple rooms, the exterior of your home or paying a professional and can’t decide on the perfect color- hire a designer!

I have always prided myself on making my own design decisions and with the exception of a series of awful browns selected for the dining room of our 2nd home, was happy with the choices. Faced with an entire house of paint colors to select though I panicked.

Enter Molly Hirsch, talented designer and color genius. Within an hour Molly had confirmed my initial selections and identified some amazing shades that I would never (ever) have considered.

The result- see for yourself! Color names listed in the captions below. For a comprehensive list visit the Branchville 1923 Pinterest Board and for more photos of the finished product visit Branchville 1923 on Instagram.

Next: Floors.

Penthouse BM CSP-35

Bone Black BM CW-715

Blue Note BM 2129-30

Schooner BM AF-520

Oxford Gracy BM 2128-40

Palace Pearl CW-650

Chesapeake Blue BM CW-595

Window(s) of opportunity.

Published on January 10, 2017February 2, 2017 by branchville19234 Comments

Before purchase, we completed a thorough inspection resulting in an 18 page document certain to put anyone to sleep. The bottom line, the house was in excellent structural shape, needed infrastructure updates over time and oh by the way, only four windows open. Four.

The estimate to replace all the windows with true divided light, real wood windows with the best insulation rating was in a word, terrifying. However the benefits and the dream factor far outweighed the cost (atleast in my mind).

Wait. We wanted the house because of the quality of construction and authenticity of its age. Time for some research.

Old windows are made of true hard wood, free of glue and epoxies that break down over time and with a good storm window have an insulation rating equivalent to modern windows. Plus a restored window can last another 100 years!

Enter the Window Doctor. A locally based artisan who restores old windows to their former glory! Restoring one window a day, the Window Doctor and his talented craftsman scraped paint, recalibrated window weights, re-roped and added copper weather stripping to each window.

According to this team, some windows in the house had not been opened in 70 years. They also said they were in the best shape of any windows that age they had ever worked on. Looks like we made the right choice!

Time to go open a window.

For excellent articles on this topic visit This Old House and the National Park Service (both preservation experts).