by Craftsman Design | Jul 11, 2018 | Awards, Historic
Craftsman Design and Renovation is proud to be a part of the 36th annual Irvington Home Tour with this beautiful Craftsman home.
Originally designed and built in 1910 by Robert Beat, this home had been neglected and was in need of some TLC! With careful design and planning, we were able to renovate and restore this home to its former glory. Located in the Irvington neighborhood, the largest historic district in Portland, it was an easy decision to showcase this Craftsman home for the tour. The Irvington Home tour boasts upwards of 800 visitors annually. The money raised from the tour funds grants that are given to neighborhood schools, meals on wheels, and many other historic preservation efforts and nonprofit charities.
Exterior Before
Exterior After
This home had remained largely untouched for the past 100 years with exception of the exterior. Once we removed the aluminum siding, the original siding and hidden architectural details were revealed which we restored and replicated where missing.
Inside all of the original wood working, plaster walls, windows and inlaid wood floors were restored. To our surprise and delight, the beautiful stained glass through out the home was still intact.
Living Room
The kitchen underwent the most extensive renovation. We removed an underused porch and butler’s pantry, and relocated the powder bathroom. This enabled us to expand the kitchen and add an eat in breakfast nook. The addition of French doors and transom windows above the original windows allowed for an abundance of natural light.
Kitchen Before
Kitchen After
Powder Bathroom
Upstairs we turned the original sleeping porch into a stunning new guest suite bathroom and adjacent laundry room. The original clawfoot tub was resurfaced and painted adding the charm and character you would expect in a Craftsman home.
Sleeping Porch Before
Guest Suite Bathroom After
Maximizing storage and space in older homes is key. We used Dewils Fine Cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms for the clean lines and customization capabilities. This careful marrying of historic details with modern conveniences, creates a home that is both functional and timeless.
by Craftsman Design | May 20, 2015 | Tips
Step Five: The Build Process
After you’ve reviewed final specifications with the designer and before construction begins, you should sign a construction agreement with a firm contract price. Know what your contract includes; for example, is the cabinet pricing for custom or off-the-shelf units? Subsequently, you should meet with the contractor, designer and carpenters in a pre-start conference to discuss the process in detail. Make sure you get a formal schedule, showing the start and completion dates for the various construction phases, as well as payment due dates. Typically, contractors will bill you for each construction phase as it starts.
As construction is gearing up, you’ll want to make sure your contractor has gotten the proper permits. Also, get to know the people on your job, especially the jobsite supervisor. This is typically the go-to person for any questions you might have. Know the production manager, to whom you might need to turn if you’re in any way dissatisfied with the on-site supervisor. For your part, make sure you communicate clearly any special concerns, from items you want salvaged to pets you fear might escape.
The construction phase is necessarily disruptive to varying degrees, and the contractor should minimize that by ensuring good communication, daily clean up, proper enclosure of the work space, and adherence to the schedule. As the project nears completion, you and the contractor should create a “punch list” of final tasks and touch-ups. The project should be considered complete only when you and the contractor have done a final inspection of the job, ensuring the list has been completely addressed.
Finally, make sure to note the warranty expiration date, and ask how warranty issues are handled. Now that the dust has settled, enjoy your project. Doesn’t that smile on your face make you glad you took that first step?
by Craftsman Design | Jan 21, 2015 | Tips
A home remodel is one of those things that can breed procrastination. Many homeowners, especially the uninitiated, put it off like a long-delayed trip to the dentist. But good things, like a bright, healthy smile, can result from overcoming ill-founded anxieties, making us wonder why we waited so long to get started.
Admittedly, home remodeling can be more involved than scheduling a dental procedure. But in starting the deferred course of dental health or a home remodel, knowing what to expect will boost your confidence in the decision-making process. We’ll be breaking down the steps in five blog posts.
Step One: Do Your Homework
Many people do more research buying a car than considering what they want from a home remodel. But the first, day-dreaming step holds the joy of anticipation. Create an idea file to share with your future designer. Make lists of what you like and don’t like about your current space. Search the internet, rip out pages from magazines, or if you’re doing an exterior project, take photos of homes in the neighborhood. Then prioritize your list, ranking your “must-haves” from your “lottery wish list.”
Not so fun but essential: get a realistic idea of costs. Look at a cost versus value report, like the one put out by Remodelers Magazine, to see how much future return you might expect from your investment. Be realistic about what you’re willing to invest in your home and the results you can expect. Gotta have that custom pebble floor in your shower? Go for it, and adjust your budget accordingly.
Budget for “surprises.” Even with reputable remodelers and the most thorough contracts, unforeseen circumstances might require additional work. (Dry rot and inferior framing, for instance, can be difficult to detect before demolition.) Or maybe you’ll be presented with an opportunity to save some money by spending a little more now rather than later. For instance, you may have decided to reduce your bedroom renovation budget by delaying the closet remodel, only to find it would actually cost less to do it now rather than later. The savvy remodeling client will budget an additional 10 percent for such a contingency.
Your final homework assignment: consider how you are going to pay for the project. Many homeowners pay cash, either by reallocating resources or saving up. Others finance through traditional methods or asking their contractor for advice on financing solutions. Contractors might also break a larger project down into smaller phases for a “pay as you go” approach. If you can’t afford to redo the bathroom of your dreams now, it might only be a delay of months to get what you really want.
