Starting the historic restoration process is incredibly exciting and often a little overwhelming. There are so many extra layers compared with new construction. However, there are also exciting opportunities for creativity and incredibly rewarding opportunities for collaboration and partnership between clients and contractors. The process can be confusing if you're new to historic home ownership. ... Continue Reading

Restoring a historic home is a labor of love. It can also be daunting and a little scary. We want to make our home comfortable and liveable while preserving its integrity. If we’re being honest, we also want to avoid mistakes that will cause irreparable harm. Sometimes, it can feel a little overwhelming. If you’ve purchased or are considering purchasing a historic home, there are two essentials to ... Continue Reading

Historic homeowners are a special breed. We love the quirky beauty that makes our homes unique. The charm and elegance are hard to match. But it’s not always easy or convenient. Many historic residences lack the convenient features of newer homes and take plenty of thoughtful work to upgrade. As historic homeowners, we want to enjoy our home’s lovely vintage charms. We also want them to be ... Continue Reading

Choosing materials for historic home renovations can be a joy–and a minefield. There’s so much to consider if you’re seeking a truly authentic feel. In some cases, we work to duplicate materials; in others, we want to use our creativity to achieve a certain ambiance with a more contemporary twist. In general, the first step is to survey the materials in the house that you know (or suspect) are ... Continue Reading

In some ways, there’s nothing more rewarding than restoring a historic home. There’s something immensely satisfying about preserving and updating a piece of history. However, significant restoration projects aren’t for the faint of heart or clients on a tight budget. A quality restoration requires money, time and flexibility from clients and skill, experience and creativity from the contractor. ... Continue Reading

As fall breezes in with rustling leaves and festive bonfires, Northern Virginia’s historic homeowners (and historic restoration specialists) have winter on their minds. One of the best parts of owning a historic home is the sense of snug coziness that’s hard to match. Think warming fires, hearty soups and convivial kitchen table conversations in warm, bright spaces. The problem is that many ... Continue Reading